The View of Women in Biblical Thought

If a fellow Hebrew, man or woman, is sold to you, s/he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall set him/her free. When you set him/her free, do not let her/him go empty-handed: Furnish her/him out of the flock, threshing floor, and vat, with which Adonai your God has blessed you. Bear in mind that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and Adonai your God redeemed you; therefore I enjoin this commandment upon you today. But should he say to you, "I do not want to leave you" --for he loves your household and is happy with you -- you shall take an awl and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall become your slave in perpetuity. Do the same with your female slave. When you do set him free, do not feel aggrieved; for in the six years he has given you double the service of a hired slave. Moreover, Adonai your God will bless you in all you do. [JPS translation edited for gender-neutrality]

Now the priest of Midian [Yitro] had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock; but shepherds came and drove them off. Moses rose to their defense, and he watered their flock. [JPS translation]

As he (Abram) was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. If the Egyptians see you, and think, 'She is his wife,' they will kill me and let you live. Please say that you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive thanks to you." When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how very beautiful the woman was. Pharaoh's courtiers saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's palace. And because of her, it went well with Abram; he acquired sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels. But God afflicted Pharaoh and his household with mighty plagues on account of Sarai, the wife of Abram. Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me! Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife; take her and begone!" And Pharaoh put men in charge of him, and they sent him off with his wife and all that he possessed. [JPS translation]

What a rare find is a capable wife! Her worth is far beyond that of rubies. Her husband puts his confidence in her, and lacks no good thing. She is good to him, never bad, all the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax, and sets her hand to them with a will. She is like a merchant fleet, bringing her food from afar. She rises while it is still night, and supplies provisions for her household, the daily fare of her maids. She sets her mind on an estate and acquires it; she plants a vineyard by her own labors. She girds herself with strength, and performs her tasks with vigor. She sees that her business thrives; her lamp never goes out at night. She sets her hand to the distaff; her fingers work the spindle. She gives generously to the poor; her hands are stretched out to the needy. She is not worried for her household because of snow, for her whole household is dressed in crimson. She makes covers for herself; her clothing is linen and purple. Her husband is prominent in the gates, as he sits among the elders of the land. She makes cloth and sells it, and offers a girdle to the merchant. She is clothed with strength and splendor; she looks to the future cheerfully. Her mouth is full of wisdom, her tongue with kindly teaching. She oversees the activities of her household and never eats the bread of idleness. Her children declare her happy; her husband praises her, “Many women have done well, but you surpass them all.” Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory; It is for her fear of God that a woman is to be praised. Extol her for the fruit of her hand, and let her works praise her in the gates. [JPS translation]

The woman precedes the man in being fed and sheltered and redeemed from captivity because the man is usually returned, while the woman is not, and her embarrassment is greater. If both of them are in captivity and they are both commanded to commit a violation, the man is redeemed before the woman because it is not his way [to behave like that]. A male orphan and a female orphan that were prepared for marriage — the woman is married off first because her embarrassment is greater, and she should not be deprived of less than six dinar and a quarter of pure silver, and if one has tzedakah in one’s pocket one should give her according to her honor. [AJWS translation]

What is the significance of Devorah judging Israel and prophesying for them? Did not Pinchas ben Elazar stand, [saying], "I testify by the Heavens and the Earth, whether non-Jew or Israelite, whether man or woman, whether a male-slave or a female one, all is according to the merit of his or her deed--so the Holy Spirit rests upon him or her." [AJWS translation]