For many years I taught an undergraduate course on Israelite women in the biblical world. In the very first class, before students had read any of the assignments, I asked them to jot down their image of women in the world of the Hebrew Bible, that is, in ancient Israel. Here are a few typical examples of what they wrote:
- Women were shrouded and quiet.
- I think of women as being oppressed.
- Women were vastly inferior to men in biblical times.
- Subservience is what comes to mind.
These bright students were echoing popular views. The website of an organization championing religious tolerance says this about Israelite women: “Women’s behavior was extremely limited . . . much as women are restricted in Saudi Arabia in modern-day times.”
Read Full Article »