Reference: Women
Fausets
Enjoyed a status in Israel not assigned to them in the East now. Mahometanism especially has degraded women in Asia and Africa; anciently they had a liberty not now accorded them, veiling was not then required as now: e.g. Rebekah, Ge 24:64-65; Rachel, Ge 29:11; Sarah, Ge 12:14-19; Miriam led a band of women with triumphant song, Ex 15:20-21; so Jephthah's daughter, Jg 11:34; the maidens of Shiloh, Jg 21:21; the women meeting Saul and David after victory; 1Sa 18:6-7; Hannah, 1Sa 2:1; Deborah, Judges 4 and Judges 5; Huldah, 2Ki 22:14; Noadiah, Ne 6:14; Anna, Lu 2:36.
The virtuous matron is admirably pictured Pr 31:10, etc. Polygamy transferred power from the wives to the queen mother (called therefore gebiraah "powerful"), 1Ki 2:19; 15:13; separate establishments were kept for the wives collectively or individually, "the house of the women" (Es 2:3,9; 1Ki 7:8); the wives had severally a separate tent (Ge 31:33); the women were present at table (Joh 2:3; 12:2; Job 1:4).
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And it cometh to pass, at the entering of Abram into Egypt, that the Egyptians see the woman that she is exceeding fair; and princes of Pharaoh see her, and praise her unto Pharaoh, and the woman is taken to Pharaoh's house; read more. and to Abram he hath done good because of her, and he hath sheep and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and handmaids, and she-asses, and camels. And Jehovah plagueth Pharaoh and his house -- great plagues -- for the matter of Sarai, Abram's wife. And Pharaoh calleth for Abram, and saith, 'What is this thou hast done to me? why hast thou not declared to me that she is thy wife? Why hast thou said, She is my sister, and I take her to myself for a wife? and now, lo, thy wife, take and go.'
And Rebekah lifteth up her eyes, and seeth Isaac, and alighteth from off the camel; and she saith unto the servant, 'Who is this man who is walking in the field to meet us?' and the servant saith, 'It is my lord;' and she taketh the veil, and covereth herself.
And Laban goeth into the tent of Jacob, and into the tent of Leah, and into the tent of the two handmaidens, and hath not found; and he goeth out from the tent of Leah, and goeth into the tent of Rachel.
And Miriam the inspired one, sister of Aaron, taketh the timbrel in her hand, and all the women go out after her, with timbrels and with choruses; and Miriam answereth to them: -- 'Sing ye to Jehovah, For Triumphing He hath triumphed; The horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea!'
And Jephthah cometh into Mizpeh, unto his house, and lo, his daughter is coming out to meet him with timbrels, and with choruses, and save her alone, he hath none, son or daughter.
and have seen, and lo, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances -- then ye have gone out from the vineyards, and caught for you each his wife out of the daughters of Shiloh, and gone to the land of Benjamin;
And Hannah prayeth, and saith: 'My heart hath exulted in Jehovah, My horn hath been high in Jehovah, My mouth hath been large over mine enemies, For I have rejoiced in Thy salvation.
And it cometh to pass, in their coming in, in David's returning from smiting the Philistine, that the women come out from all the cities of Israel to sing -- also the dancers -- to meet Saul the king, with tabrets, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments; and the women answer -- those playing, and say, 'Saul hath smitten among his thousands, And David among his myriads.'
And Bath-Sheba cometh in unto king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king riseth to meet her, and boweth himself to her, and sitteth on his throne, and placeth a throne for the mother of the king, and she sitteth at his right hand.
and also Maachah his mother -- he turneth her aside from being mistress, in that she made a horrible thing for a shrine, and Asa cutteth down her horrible thing, and burneth it by the brook Kidron;
And Hilkiah the priest goeth, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the garments, and she is dwelling in Jerusalem in the second, and they speak unto her.
Be mindful, O my God, of Tobiah, and of Sanballat, according to these his works, and also, of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who have been making me afraid.
and the king doth appoint inspectors in all provinces of his kingdom, and they gather every young woman -- virgin, of good appearance -- unto Shushan the palace, unto the house of the women, unto the hand of Hege eunuch of the king, keeper of the women, and to give their purifications,
and the young woman is good in his eyes, and she receiveth kindness before him, and he hasteneth her purifications and her portions -- to give to her, and the seven young women who are provided -- to give to her, from the house of the king, and he changeth her and her young women to a good place in the house of the women.
And his sons have gone and made a banquet -- the house of each in his day -- and have sent and called to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them;
And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,
and wine having failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, 'Wine they have not;'
they made, therefore, to him a supper there, and Martha was ministering, and Lazarus was one of those reclining together (at meat) with him;
Smith
Women.
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.
Jacob saluted Rachel with a kiss in the presence of the shepherds.
Women played no inconsiderable part in public celebrations
The odes of Deborah, Judg 5, and of Hannah,
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.
Ex 15:20; Jg 4:4; 2Ki 22:14; Ne 6:14; Lu 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.
etc. Her influence was of course proportionably great.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Rebekah lifteth up her eyes, and seeth Isaac, and alighteth from off the camel; and she saith unto the servant, 'Who is this man who is walking in the field to meet us?' and the servant saith, 'It is my lord;' and she taketh the veil, and covereth herself.
And Miriam the inspired one, sister of Aaron, taketh the timbrel in her hand, and all the women go out after her, with timbrels and with choruses;
And Deborah, a woman inspired, wife of Lapidoth, she is judging Israel at that time,
And Jephthah cometh into Mizpeh, unto his house, and lo, his daughter is coming out to meet him with timbrels, and with choruses, and save her alone, he hath none, son or daughter.
And Hannah prayeth, and saith: 'My heart hath exulted in Jehovah, My horn hath been high in Jehovah, My mouth hath been large over mine enemies, For I have rejoiced in Thy salvation.
Be mindful, O my God, of Tobiah, and of Sanballat, according to these his works, and also, of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who have been making me afraid.
A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible men retain riches.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones is one causing shame.
Every wise woman hath builded her house, And the foolish with her hands breaketh it down.
And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,