Women

[Smith] The position of women in the Hebrew commonwealth contrasts favorably with that which in the present day is assigned to them generally in eastern countries. The most salient point of contrast in the usages of ancient as compared with modern Oriental society was the large amount of liberty enjoyed by women. Instead of being immured in a harem, or appearing in public with the face covered. The wives and maidens of ancient times mingled freely and openly with the other sex in the duties and amenities of ordinary life. Rebekah travelled on a camel with her face unveiled until she came into the presence of her affianced. (Genesis 24:64,65) Jacob saluted Rachel with a kiss in the presence of the shepherds. (Genesis 29:11) Women played no inconsiderable part in public celebrations (Exodus 15:20,21; Judges 11:34) The odes of Deborah, Judg 5, and of Hannah, (1 Samuel 2:1) etc., exhibit a degree of intellectual cultivation which is in itself a proof of the position of the sex in that period. Women also occasionally held public office, particularly that of prophetess or inspired teacher. (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Nehemiah 6:14; Luke 2:36) The management of household affairs devolved mainly on the women. The value of a virtuous and active housewife forms a frequent topic in the book of Proverbs. ch. (Proverbs 11:16; 12:4; 14:1; 31:10) etc. Her influence was of course proportionably great. [Nave] –Creation of Ge 1:27 ; 2:21 , 22 –Named Ge 2:23 –Fall of, and curse upon Ge 3:1-16 ; 2Co 11:3 ; 1Ti 2:14 –Promise to Ge 3:15 –Had separate apartments in dwellings Ge 24:67 ; 31:33 ; Es 2:9 , 11 –Veiled the face Ge 24:65 –See VAIL –Vows of Nu 30:3-16 –When jealously charged with infidelity, their guilt or innocence was to be determined by an ordeal Nu 5:12-31 –Took part in ancient worship Ex 15:20 ; 21 ; 38:8 ; 1Sa 2:22 –In chorus 1Ch 25:5 , 6 ; Ezr 2:65 ; Ne 7:67 –Worshiped in separate compartments Ex 38:8 ; 1Sa 2:22 –Consecrated jewels to tabernacle Ex 35:22 –Mirrors Ex 38:8 –Required to attend to the reading of the law of Moses De 31:12 ; Jos 8:35 –Purifications of .After menstruation Le 15:19-33 ; 2Sa 11:4 .After childbirth Le 12 ; Lu 2:22 –Difference in ceremonies made between male and female children Le 12 –Religious privileges of, among early Christians Ac 1:14 ; 12:12 , 13 ; 1Co 11:5 ; 14:34 ; 1Ti 2:11 –Domestic duties of Ge 18:6 ; Pr 31:15-19 ; Mt 24:41 –Cooked Ge 18:6 –Spun Ex 35:25 , 26 ; 1Sa 2:19 ; Pr 31:19-24 –Embroidered Pr 31:22 –Made garments Ac 9:39 –Gleaned Ru 2:8 –Kept vineyards So 1:6 –Tended flocks and herds Ge 24:11 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 ; 29:9 ; Ex 2:16 –Worked in fields Isa 27:11 ; Eze 26:6 , 8 –Was a doorkeeper Mt 26:69 ; Joh 18:16 , 17 ; Ac 12:13 , 14 –Forbidden to wear men’ s costume De 22:5 –Wore hair long 1Co 11:5-15 –Rules for dress of Christian 1Ti 2:9 , 10 ; 1Pe 3:3 , 4 –Ornaments of Isa 3:16-23 –Weaker than men 1Pe 3:7 –Are timid Isa 19:16 ; Jer 50:37 ; 51:30 ; Na 3:13 –Are affectionate 2Sa 1:26 –Are tender to her offspring Isa 49:15 ; La 4:10 –Are mirthsome Jud 11:34 ; 21:21 ; Jer 31:13 ; Zec 9:17 –Are courteous to strangers Ge 24:17 –Could not marry without the consent of parents Ge 24:3 , 4 ; 34:6 ; Ex 22:17 –Not to be given in marriage was considered a calamity Jud 11:37 ; Ps 78:63 ; Isa 4:1 –Taken captive Nu 31:9 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 35 ; La 1:18 ; Eze 30:17 , 18 –Punishment to be inflicted upon men for seducing, when betrothed De 22:23-27 –Punishment for seducing, when not betrothed Ex 22:16 , 17 ; De 22:28 , 29 –Treated with cruelty in war De 32:25 ; La 2:21 ; 5:11 –Virtuous, held in high estimation Ru 3:11 ; Pr 31:10-30 –Fond of self-indulgence Isa 32:9-11 –Fond of ornaments Jer 2:32 –Subtle and deceitful Pr 6:24-29 , 32-35 ; 7:6-27 ; Ec 7:26 –Silly, and easily led into error 2Ti 3:6 –Zealous in promoting superstition and idolatry Jer 7:18 ; Eze 13:17 , 23 –Active in instigating to iniquity Nu 31:15 , 16 ; 1Ki 21:25 ; Ne 13:26 –Guilty of sodomy 2Ki 23:7 ; Ro 1:26 –As rulers Isa 3:12 –Deborah Jud 4:4 –Athaliah 2Ki 11:1-16 ; 2Ch 22:2 , 3 , 10-12 –Queen of Sheba 1Ki 10:1-13 –Queen Candace Ac 8:27 –A Persian queen sat on a throne beside her king Ne 2:6 –Patriotic .Miriam Ex 15:20 .Deborah Jud 5 .The women of Israel 1Sa 18:6 .The women of the Philistines 2Sa 1:20 –Help in defensive operations Jud 9:53 –As poets .Miriam Ex 15:21 .Deborah Jud 5 .Hannah 1Sa 2:1-10 .Elisabeth Lu 1:42-45 .Mary Lu 1:46-55 –As prophets .Miriam Ex 15:20 , 21 ; Mic 6:4 .Deborah Jud 4:4 , 5 .Huldah 2Ki 22:14-20 ; 2Ch 34:22-28 .Noadiah Ne 6:14 .Anna Lu 2:36-38 .Philip’ s four unmarried daughters Ac 21:9 –False prophets Eze 13:17-23 –In business Pr 31:14-18 , 24 –Property rights of .In inheritance Nu 27:1-11 ; 36 ; Jos 17:3-6 ; Job 42:15 .To sell real estate Ru 4:3-9 –Sold for husband’ s debts Mt 18:25 –First to sin Ge 3:6 –Last at the cross Mt 27:55 , 56 ; Mr 15:40 , 41 –First at the gravesite Mr 15:46 , 47 ; 16:1-6 ; Lu 23:27 , 28 , 49 , 55 , 56 ; 24:1-10 –First to whom the risen Lord appeared Mr 16:9 ; Joh 20:14-18 –Converted by preaching of Paul Ac 16:14 , 15 ; 17:4 , 12 , 34 –Social status of .In Persia Es 1:10-22 ; Da 5:1-12 .In Roman customs Ac 24:24 ; 25:13 , 23 ; 26:30 –UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Ge 2:18 , 21-24 ; 3:16 ; Es 1:20-22 ; Pr 11:16 , 22 ; 12:4 ; 14:1 ; 18:22 ; 19:13 , 14 ; 21:9 , 19 ; 25:24 ; 27:15 , 16 ; 30:21-23 ; 31:10-31 ; Ec 7:26-28 ; Isa 3:16-24 ; 32:9-12 ; Eze 13:17-23 ; 1Co 11:3-15 ; 14:34 , 35 ; 1Ti 2:9-15 ; 3:11 ; 5:1-16 ; 2Ti 3:6 , 7 ; Tit 2:3-5 .See WIDOW .See WIFE .See also HUSBANDS .See PARENTS –GOOD .INSTANCES OF .Deborah, a judge, prophetess, and military leader Jud 4 ; 5 .Mother of Samson Jud 13:23 .Naomi Ru 1 ; 2 ; 3:1 .Ruth Ru 1:4 , 14-22 .And Ru 2 ; 3 ; 4 .Hannah, the mother of Samuel 1Sa 1:9-18 , 24-28 .Widow of Zarephath, who fed Elijah during the famine 1Ki 17:8-24 .The Shunammite woman, who gave hospitality to Elisha 2Ki 4:8-38 .Vashti Es 1:11 , 12 .Esther Es 4:15-17 .Mary Lu 1:26-38 .Elisabeth Lu 1:6 , 41-45 .Anna Lu 2:37 .The widow who put her two mite (small coins, Greek: leptas) into the treasury Mr 12:41-44 ; Lu 21:2-4 .Mary and Martha Mr 14:3-9 ; Lu 10:42 ; Joh 11:5 .Mary Magdalene Mr 16:1 ; Lu 8:2 ; Joh 20:1 , 2 , 11-16 .Pilate’ s wife Mt 27:19 .Dorcas (Tabitha) Ac 9:36 .Lydia Ac 16:14 .Priscilla (Prisca) Ac 18:26 .Phoebe Ro 16:1 , 2 .Julia Ro 16:15 .Mary Ro 16:6 .Lois and Eunice 2Ti 1:5 .The Philippian Christians Php 4:3 –FIGURATIVE .Of the body (ekklesia) of Christ Ps 45:2-15 ; Ga 4:26 ; Re 12:1 .Of saints Mt 25:1-4 ; 2Co 11:2 ; Re 14:4 –WICKED 2Ki 9:30-37 ; 23:7 ; Jer 44:15-19 , 25 ; Eze 8:14 ; Ro 1:26 .Zeal of, in licentious practices of idolatry 2Ki 23:7 ; Ho 4:13 , 14 .Full of deceit and licentiousness Pr 2:16-19 ; 5:3-20 ; 6:24-29 , 32-35 ; 7:6-27 ; Ec 7:26 ; Eze 16:32 .Commits forgery 1Ki 21:8 .Silly and wayward 2Ti 3:6 –INSTANCES OF .Eve, in yielding to temptation and seducing her husband Ge 3:6 ; 1Ti 2:14 .Sarah, in her jealousy and malice toward Hagar Ge 21:9-11 ; with 21:12-21 .Lot’ s wife, in her rebellion against her situation, and against the destruction of Sodom Ge 19:26 ; Lu 17:32 .The daughters of Lot, in their incestuous lust Ge 19:31-38 .Rebekah, in her partiality for Jacob, and her sharp practice to secure for him Isaac’ s blessing Ge 27:11-17 .Rachel, in her jealousy of Leah Ge 30:1 .Rachel, in stealing images Ge 31:19 , 34 .Leah, in her imitation of Rachel in the matter of children Ge 30:9-18 .Dinah, in her fornication Ge 34:1 , 2 .Tamar, in her adultery Ge 38:14-24 .Potiphar’ s wife, in her lascivious lust and slander against Joseph Ge 39:7-20 .Zipporah, in her persecution of Moses on account of his religious obligations Ex 4:25 , 26 .Miriam, in her sedition with Aaron against Moses Nu 12 .Rahab, in her harlotry Jos 2:1 .Delilah, in her conspiracy against Samson Jud 16:4-20 .Peninnah, the wife of Elkanah, in her jealous taunting of Hannah 1Sa 1:4-8 .The Midianite woman in the camp of Israel, taken in adultery Nu 25:6-8 .Michal, in her derision of David’ s religious zeal 2Sa 6:16 , 20-23 .Bath-sheba, in her adultery, in becoming the wife of her husband’ s murderer 2Sa 11:4 , 5 , 27 ; 12:9 , 10 .Solomon’ s wives, in their idolatrous and wicked influence over Solomon 1Ki 11:1-11 ; Ne 13:26 .Jezebel, in her persecution and destruction of the prophets of the Lord 1Ki 18:4 , 13 .Jezebel, in her persecution of Elijah 1Ki 19:2 .Jezebel, in her conspiracy against Naboth, to cheat him out of his vineyard 1Ki 21:1-16 .Jezebel, in her evil counsels to, and influence over, Ahab 1Ki 21:25 ; with 21:17-27 .And 2Ki 9:30-37 .The cannibalistic mothers of Samaria 2Ki 6:28 , 29 .Athaliah, in destroying the royal household and usurping the throne 2Ki 11:1-16 ; 2Ch 22:10 , 12 ; 23:12-15 .The sodomites of the southern kingdom (Judah) 2Ki 23:7 .Noadiah, a false prophetess in attempting to intimidate the Jews when they were restoring Jerusalem Ne 6:14 .Haman’ s wife, in advising him to hang Mordecai Es 5:14 ; 6:13 .Job’ s wife, in suggesting to him that he curse God and die Job 2:9 ; 19:17 .Gomer, the adulterous wife of Hosea Ho 1:2 , 3 ; 3:1 .Herodias, in her incestuous marriage with Herod Antipas Mt 14:3 , 4 ; Mr 6:17-19 ; Lu 3:19 .Herodius, by indirectly causing John the Baptist to be decapitated Mt 14:6-11 ; Mr 6:24-28 .The daughter of Herodias, in her complicity with her mother in securing the death of John the Baptist Mt 14:8 ; Mr 6:18-28 .Sapphira, in her blasphemous falsehood Ac 5:2-10 .The woman caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus in the temple Joh 8:1-11 –FIGURATIVE .Of backsliding Jer 6:2 ; Re 17:4 , 18 .Of evil people Isa 32:9 , 11 ; Mt 25:1-13 –SYMBOLICAL .Of wickedness Zec 5:7 , 8 ; Re 17 ; 19:2 .See WIFE