Images of Women in the Talmud: Saint or Sinner

Rav Avira taught: In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt: At the time these women would go to draw water, the Holy One, Blessed be He, would materialize for them small fish that would enter into their pitchers, and they would draw half water and half fish. And they would come and place two pots on the fire, one of hot water for washing their husbands and one of fish to feed them.

Rav Naḥman said: Haughtiness is not befitting a woman. There were two haughty women, whose names were identical to the names of loathsome creatures. One was called a hornet, Devorah, means bee; and one was called a marten, Huldah means rat or weasel. With regard to Deborah, the bee, it is written: “And she sent and called Barak” (Judges 4:6), but she herself did not go to him. With regard to Huldah, the marten, it is written: “Say to the man that sent you to me” (II Kings 22:15), but she did not say: Say to the king.

Rav Ashi said: And according to what Rav Naḥman said, Manoah was an ignoramus; he did not even learn to read the basic Torah stories that even children learn in school, as it is stated: “Rebecca arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man” (Genesis 24:61); they followed him and did not walk in front of the man.

Matrona asked Rabbi for help regarding one sin in the incident of the golden calf and three deaths connected to it. He said to her, "There is no woman's wisdom, rather a garment," as it is written, (Shemot 35), "every woman who has wisdom in her hands twists [it]...

He said to him, "Burn words of Torah and do not give them to women."

The Gemara asks: What is the incident involving his daughter? He had a very beautiful daughter. One day Rabbi Yosei from Yokrat saw a certain man piercing a hole in the hedge surrounding his property and looking at his daughter. Rabbi Yosei said to him: What is this? The man said to him: My teacher, if I have not merited taking her in marriage, shall I not at least merit to look at her? Rabbi Yosei said to her: My daughter, you are causing people distress. Return to your dust, and let people no longer stumble into sin due to you.

It is written that Goliath’s mother was “Harafa” (II Samuel 21:16), and elsewhere it is written: “Orpah” (Ruth 1:4). Rav and Shmuel engaged in a dispute regarding this. One said: Her name was Harafa, and why is her name called Orpah? Because everyone came at her from behind [orfin] her. And one said: Her name was Orpah, and why is her name called Harafa? Because everyone threshed her like groats [harifot].

Regarding the mitzva to have children, the Gemara discusses marriage in general. Rabbi Tanḥum said Rabbi Ḥanilai said: Any man without a wife is without joy, without blessing, without goodness. Without joy, as it is written: “And you shall rejoice, you and your household” (Deuteronomy 14:26). Without blessing, as it is written: “To cause a blessing to rest in your house” (Ezekiel 44:30), i.e., one’s wife. Without goodness, as it is written: “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). In the West, Eretz Yisrael, they say: One who lives without a wife is without Torah, and without a wall of protection. Without Torah, as it is written: “Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven from me?” (Job 6:13), one who does not have a wife lacks wisdom. Without a wall, as it is written: “A woman shall go round a man” (Jeremiah 31:21), similar to a protective wall.

'Ulla visited the house of Rab Nahman; he wrapped the bread and said Grace and gave the cup of benediction to Rab Nahman. Rab Nahman said to him, "Let the master send the cup of benediction toYalta." He replied, "Thus spake R. Johanan: The fruit of a woman's body is only blessed through the fruit of a man's body; as it is said, 'He will also bless the fruit of thy body' (Deut. vii. 13) — it is not said 'the fruit of her body' but 'the fruit of thy body'." There is a teaching to the same effect : R. Nathan says : Whence is it that the fruit of a woman's body is only blessed through the fruit of a man's body? As it is said, "He will also bless the fruit of thy body" — it is not said "the fruit of her body" but "the fruit of thy body." Meanwhile Yalta heard [that the cup of benediction had not been sent to her]. She arose in anger, went to the wine-cellar and broke four hundred flasks of wine. Rab Nahman said to him, "Let the master send her another cup." 'Ulla sent it to her [with the message], "All this measure of wine belongs to the benediction." She sent back the reply, "From pedlars comes gossip, from rags come vermin."

Rabbi Simlai said to Rabbi Yochanan: Teach me the Book of Genealogies in 3 months. Rabbi Yoḥanan took a clod of dirt, threw it at him, saying, Berurya, wife of Rabbi Meir, daughter of Rabbi Hananya ben Teradyon, was so sharp and had such a good memory that she learned 300 halakhot in 1 day from 300 sages, and nonetheless she did not fulfill her responsibility in 3 years because it is especially long and difficult. And you say in 3 months?

And Some Say Because of the Story of Beruriah- One time [Beruriah] mocked what the Sages said (Kedushin 80b), "Women are light minded." He replied to her, By your life, you will eventually agree to their words." [Rabbi Meir] instructed one of his students to seduce her. He urged her for many days; eventually she gave in to her urges. When she realized what she had done she strangled herself and Rabbi Meir fled from the shame of this incident.