Women in the Biblical World

Study Guide for Midterm

Fall 1999

Problems approaching the material

The problem of History

Goddesses

Primal Goddess?
Differing models for the origins of religion
Ancient Near East and Old Testament
Polytheism / monotheism
Isis
Demeter
Aphrodite
Artemis
Ishtar

Gender of deity as theological construct

The Androgyny of God
El Shaddai
Physical vs. psychological androgyny
Theological implications

Gender and social location

Marriage and family life

Ruth
Naomi, Boaz
Levirite marriage
Social levels (foreigner, slave, concubine, wife)
Marital and extramarital sex
Premarital sex
Laws governing divorce
Adultery
as violation of property rights
as taboo violation
punishment for
Homosexuality
Marrage contracts from the class page

Intermediaries:

Prophetesses
Psychological states of prophecy
Deborah, Huldah
"Witch" of Endor
Pythia
Prophecy, music and gender
Miriam
Professional mourners

Priestesses

Vestal virgins
Hieros Gamos

Prostitutes

Hierodules
Tamar
Courtesans
In the Epic of Gilgamesh
Rahab
Harlotry as symbol
Proverbs, Hosea, Jeremiah

Theology of gender in the ANE

Religion and sex in the ANE
Song of Songs
As allegory
As drama
As liturgy
Interpretation samples from class page

Wise Women

Skilled/professional women
The Woman Wisdom

The Woman Foolishness

Women as temptresses/sexual snares
Eve as temptress
Courtesan in Gilgamesh
Reltationship between beauty and lust
Islam
Purdah (dress laws)
Islam as reforming preIslamic Arabian treatment of women

Women with political power

Queens
Jezebel
Ahab
Elijah
Athaliah
Esther
Mordecai
Deborah as judge & warrior
Jael