Chapter One
The Life and Lot of Bible Women Although Bible women for the most part
are shadowy, subordinate figures, particularly
in the Old Testament, there were those
like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah,
Ruth and Esther who were outstanding,
each having a distinction of her own,
as our next chapter shows. What is striking
is the fact that whether the women were
queens or commoners, chaste or bad, their
lives are frankly portrayed, proving the Bible
to be a faithful biography of humanity.
The sacred record of woman's special creation
(Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:18-24), declares
not only her full humanity but also her superiority
to the lower animal world which
God also brought into being. Woman appeared
as the counterpart and helper of
man, and being part of his inmost being
holds an intimate relationship to him. Adam,
being a collective term for mankind, includes
women. "Let us make man . and
let them" "In the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them"
(Genesis 1:26, 27). Woman is the feminine
of man. While higher criticism and evolution
discredit the Biblical record of woman's
formation from the rib of man (Genesis 2:
21-24), the passage emphasizes, most profoundly,
the inseparable unity and fellowship
of a woman's life with that of man's.
She is not only man's helper (Genesis 2:18),
but also his complement, and is most essential
to the completion of his being. Matthew
Henry's comment on the creation of Eve is
most expressive -
If man is the head, she [woman] is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the
visible creation. The man was dust refined, but the woman was double-refined, one remove
further from the earth The woman
was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by
him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his
heart to be beloved.
Eve, then, was Adam's second self and differed
from him in sex only, not in nature.
Priority of creation gave Adam headship
but not superiority. Both man and woman
were endowed for equality and for mutual
interdependence. Often woman excels man
in the capacity to endure ill-treatment, sorrow,
pain and separation. Throughout history,
man, through pride, ignorance or moral
perversion has treated woman as being
greatly inferior, and has enslaved and degraded
her accordingly. Among many heathen
tribes today woman is a mere chattel,
the burden-bearer, with no rights whatever
to equality with man.
While the ancient world was predominantly
a man's world, woman enjoyed a
status in Israel not generally experienced in
the East. The Jews, holding to the revelation
given to Moses of woman's endowments,
worth and rightful position, were
outstanding among other oriental nations
in holding woman in high esteem, honor
and affection. Christianity, as we are to
see, brought full emancipation to womanhood,
and wherever Christ is recognized as
Saviour and His truth is obeyed, woman is
esteemed as man's loved companion, confidant
and, in many ways, his better half.
Before dealing with the manifold features
of the life of Bible women, it may prove
helpful to briefly outline the approach to
women in the Scriptures. We take, first of
all -
Old Testament Times
The position of women in Israel was in
marked contrast with her status in surrounding
heathen nations. Israelite law was designed
to protect woman's weakness, safeguard
her rights, and preserve her freedom
(Deuteronomy 21:10-14; 22:13; 22:28). Under
divine law her liberties were greater,
her tasks more varied and important, and
her social standing more respectful and
commanding than that of her heathen sister.
The Bible has preserved the memory of
women whose wisdom, skill and dignity it
willingly acknowledged. Numerous names
of devout and eminent Hebrew women
adorn the pages of the Old Testament. To
some extent, a woman was her husband's
property (Genesis 12:18; Exodus 20:17; 21:
3) and owed him absolute fidelity. While
the husband had no formal rights over the
person of his wife, nevertheless, he was
recognized as lord and master. By her
chastity, diligence and love woman created
an honorable position for herself within
family and community circles.
Any prominence woman attained was obtained
by force of character. There were
those, like Deborah, who achieved greatness.
Others, such as Esther, had greatness
thrust upon them. Womanly virtues were
foreign to pagan culture under which woman
became subject to inferior and degrading
conditions. Decline of woman in Israel
was always due to the invasion of heathen
influences. Morality lapsed as idolatrous
customs were countenanced. "The prominence
of women in idolatry and in the
abominations of foreign religions is indicated
in the writings of the prophets (Jeremiah
7:8; Ezekiel 8:14, see Exodus 22:18).
The sordid effect of-idolatrous women ruined
the religious life of Judah and Israel
and contributed to their overthrow."
Inter-Testament Times
During the so-called 400 silent years from
Malachi to Matthew, the women portrayed
in the apocryphal literature of the Jews "reveal
all the varied characteristics of their
sex so conspicuous in Old Testament history."
Anna, Edna (Tobias 1:9; 2:1-14; 7:
10, 12), Sarah (Tobias 10:10; 14:13), Judith
(16:1-17), Susanna, whose story is told in
the LXX Version, all typify the ideal womanly
virtues of "devout piety, ardent patriotism,
poetic fervor and wifely devotion."
Cleopatra (I Maccabees 10:58), influential
in the counsel of kings, and conspicuous
for political intrigue, is a striking example
of the perverted use of a woman's power.
The New Testament Times
It is from the teaching of our Lord, as
well as from His example, that we gather
the original function of woman and the obligation
of purity toward her (Matthew 5:
27-32). What an understanding of, and
sympathy with, women He manifested
(Luke 10:38, 42; Matthew 5:297-32)! The
reverence Jesus had for woman and "the
new respect for her begotten by His teaching
were well-grounded, on their human
side, in the qualities of His own mother.
The fact that He was born of woman has
been cited to her praise in the ecumenical
creeds of Christendom." With the coming
of Christ a new era dawned for womanhood,
and wherever He is exalted woman
comes into her own. From the outset of His
sojourn on the earth, women were intuitively
responsive to His teachings and devoted
to His person.
Early Church Times
Through the examples of Jesus in His attitude
toward women, and as the result of
the truth He taught, women were prominent
in the activities of the Early Church.
Among the first converts in Europe (Acts
16:13-15), the apostles set high standards
for Christian women (I Timothy 3:11; Titus
2:3-5; I Peter 3:1-6) and exalts woman as
a type of the Church, the Lamb's Bride
(Ephesians 5:21-33). Women ministered
unto the apostles of their substance, and
came to hold official positions of spiritual
influence in the church (Romans 16:1).
Later, Tertullian wrote of the spiritual
wealth and worthiness of Christian women,
and of how their modesty and simplicity
was a rebuke to and reaction from the
shameless extravagancies of the immoralities
of heathen women. That they were
among the most conspicuous examples of
the transforming power of Christianity is
manifest from the admiration and astonishment
of the pagan Libanius who exclaimed,
"What women these Christians have!"
Present Times
Through the centuries the social and legal
status of woman has fluctuated. In times
of fierce persecution they suffered much.
Where heathenism still reigns the life and
lot of women are far from the freedom and
joy they experience where Christianity is
recognized. From the 18th century on,
women in civilized lands have experienced
universal education and the right to vote,
and through the impact of the Christian
faith they are equal with men in the great
achievements of education, art, literature,
social services and in missionary activities.
Christian women, in particular, present to
the world morality, home happiness and
piety, domestic honesty, and full devotion
to Christ. As morals become more lax, and
society degenerates, God-fearing wives and
mothers are more than ever vital factors
in the spiritual elevation of the nation. Two
courses confront every woman today. The
one consists of pleasure-chasing, sin-loving,
divorce-exalting, and sex perversion all
springing from a rejection of Christ; the
other course is the noblest and most beneficial
for our homes, nation and church,
namely, that of a God-inspired devotion
which centers in the home, husband and
children, and in the Scriptures. Moral laxity
among girls today, and the ever-increasing
divorce rate with its progressive polygamy,
constitute a call to continuous intercession
that God will raise womanhood to the noble
heights He intended for all the daughters
of Eve.
As it may prove interesting to learn how
Bible women lived, worked, dressed and
expressed themselves religiously, we begin,
first of all, with the institution, God originally
created them for, namely -
Marriage
The indissoluble nature of marriage, Jesus
emphasized, is likewise demonstrated
in the first man's one wife (Matthew 19:3-11).
Originally, God sanctioned monogamy,
that is, the marriage of one wife or husband
at a time. From the earliest days in ancient
Israel marriage symbolized festive joy,
whether secular or spiritual, as well as the
union and communion between God and
His people. "I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with garments of
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isaiah
61:10, see John 3:29). Marriage, the sacrament
of human society, was ordained of
God for the purpose of a husband and wife
to share and perpetuate their happiness in
the creation of a family within the sphere
of their own love. Marriage was not meant
to be an end in itself but the means to ends
outside of those who are married. By God's
creative will Adam and Eve were made one
flesh so that the world could be populated
with family units.
The Pictorial Bible Dictionary reminds
us that -
Distinctly Christian marriage is one in which
husband and wife covenant together with God
and publicly witness their commitment not
only to each other but together to Him, to the
end that they shall in unity fulfill His purposes
throughout life (I Corinthians 7:39; II Corinthians
6:14). Marriage is contracted "in the
Lord," received as a divine vocation, acknowledged
with humility and thanksgiving, and
sanctified by the Word of God and prayer
(I Timothy 4:4,5).
Polygamy
As civilization developed, and sin increased,
man perverted the divine ideal and
purpose in marriage, and became a polygamist,
a man with more than one wife.
Lamech, of the family of Cain, the world's
first murderer, appears to be the first to violate
the original ordinance, for he is spoken
of as having two wives, Adah and Zillah
(Genesis 4:23). By the time of Noah, polygamy
had degenerated into interracial
marriages of the most incestuous and illicit
kind (Genesis 6:1-4). By the time Moses
came to write the Law, polygamy had apparently
become general, and although accepted
as a prevailing custom, was never
approved. The Mosaic Law sought to restrict
and limit such a departure from God's
original purpose by wise and humane regulations.
The curse that almost invariably
accompanies polygamy is seen in Elkanah's
home life with his two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. The Old Testament presents similar
indirect exposures of what polygamy
can lead to. Failures and calamities in the
reigns of David and Solomon are attributed
to the numerous wives each had (II Samuel
5:13; I Kings 11:1-3, see Deuteronomy 17:
7).
Under polygamy power was transferred
from the wives to the queen mother, or
chief wife (I Kings 2:9; 15:13). The husband
had to house and feed his wives.
Sometimes separate establishments were
provided for the wives collectively or individually,
"The house of the women" (Esther
2:3, 9; I Kings 7:8). Often wives had
a separate tent (Genesis 31:33). For meals
and social intercourse the wives gathered
at one common table. Since the advent of
Hollywood, film capital of the world, the
command relevant to multiplying wives - and
husbands - has been flouted (Deuteronomy
17:17). Movie manners have had
most disastrous results, particularly in the
matter of disregard for the sanctity of marriage.
Hollywood has been described as
"a town where marriages are too often
tossed aside as casually as last year's Easter
bonnet." The quick changing of partners
is a vile principle, especially where children
are concerned. What a travesty of the divine
purpose of marriage it is when a
woman has several children by a succession
of husbands!
One of the reasons why Hollywood is a
matrimonial cesspool is because husbands
and wives are continually in the arms of
others, making love for the screen. Not only
does this unnatural association make for unfaithfulness
on the part of those who make
love for the movies, but tends to create jealousy
and strife in the home life of married
actors.
Films out of movie studios produced on
TV are certainly tilting the scales against
Christian morality, and constitute one of
our most serious sinister evils. With such
a menace to marriage and morals resulting
in the collapse of a divinely ordained home
life, how can we expect the nation to be
strong? Much of the sexual perversion of
our time can be laid at the door of Hollywood,
whose terrible defiance of moral
values has produced the atmosphere of immorality
polluting a nation professing to
trust in God.
Divorce
While divorce was originally instituted
"to protect the sanctity of wedlock by outlawing
the offender and his moral offense,"
and was granted only in case of adultery
(Matthew 5:32), it is most ludicrous to see
how quickly people can be divorced today
for trifling reasons. One has read of a marriage
being dissolved because the husband
snored too much. The free extension of divorce
to include any marital infelicity, in
which Hollywood leads the way, is to be
deplored. The alarming increase of the divorce
rate is having a most disastrous effect
upon the characters of the children of broken
homes. What presently concerns us,
however, is the Biblical aspect of divorce in
relation to women.
Continues.
