Ancient Israeli Women

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the passage of time has made it almost impossible to understand what role ancient Israeli women actually played in the Bible. However, the author relates that, by combining Biblical sources with archeology, sociology and other sciences, a better picture of the life of women in ancient Israel can be projected, which helps illuminate the role of women in the modern church. The paper presents examples from Carole Meyers' "Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context", which concludes that ancient Israeli housewives were involved actively in subsistence and contributions to the family's economy; on the other hand, much of Christian tradition has been concerned with relegating women to the domestic sphere, basing that separation on Biblical tradition.

From the Paper:

"The emphasis on reproduction continues to be an interesting aspect of the modern church's approach to gender roles. In many denominations that self-identify as Christian, birth control is discouraged, if not prohibited. Catholics prohibit birth control, Mormons tout the virtue of the large family, and most denominations discourage sexual activity outside of marriage or for any type of self-gratification. To encourage fecundity, many Christians point to a reference in the Bible discussing the spilling of seed upon the ground, ignoring the fact that the context of that passage was concerned with the fulfillment of a Levirate obligation, rather than with normal sexual relations."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Meyers, Carole. Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

More papers on Ancient Israeli Women:

• Book Review # 3837 : "Reviewing "Women in Ancient Egypt"
• Research Paper # 75127 : "Ancient Greek Olympics and their Influence on Sports Today"
• Descriptive Essay # 140206 : "Women in Ancient History"

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