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The Woman’s Place – In the Ancient World and in Scripture

The speaker in this YouTube video from Founded In Truth Fellowship aims to challenge modern perceptions of women’s roles in the ancient world and within scripture. He argues that many people today view the ancient Near East and the first century as times when women were oppressed. He suggests that while some scholars interpret biblical texts as supporting a view of women as lesser beings, this perspective is not always accurate or comprehensive. The speaker’s core message is that women were actually respected and held significant status in many aspects of ancient society, and their roles were often more complex and nuanced than typically understood. He also emphasized the importance of the role of men in a family unit, including responsibilities to God, their wives, and children.

Women in the Ancient World: More Than Meets the Eye

Contrary to popular belief, women in the ancient Near East were not universally oppressed. In many cultures, they had rights, including the ability to own property, make legal decisions, and receive inheritance. For example, in Numbers 27, daughters of Zelophehad were granted inheritance rights because they had no brothers. This shows that women could inherit land, challenging the idea that only men could possess property. Additionally, women could engage in business, serve as priestesses, and even become queens. The speaker shared a story from the ancient city of Ur where a priestess was buried with an entourage of men and women who committed suicide to accompany her, indicating her high status and respect within the community.

The speaker also acted out a story written in 1200 BCE, in which a wife instructs her brother-in-law to get the corn himself, rather than getting it for him. This highlights that women in the ancient world weren’t just subservient and obedient and that they had independence in their decisions. The speaker noted the biggest contrast in rights was between social classes, not between genders, with rich people being respected more than poor people.

Marriage, Contracts, and Divorce

The speaker discusses marriage in the ancient world as a contractual agreement, primarily between the fathers of the bride and groom rather than directly between the man and the woman. The father of the bride was responsible for negotiating the terms of the marriage contract, including what would happen if the couple couldn’t have children, divorced, or if the husband didn’t provide for his wife. The marriage agreement was often viewed as a transaction, with the groom paying a bride price to the father for his daughter, who was seen as his most valuable possession. The abstract word for marriage in ancient Assyrian language, utum hatan, signified a relationship between the groom and the bride’s father, with the woman being the passive object of the transaction. The concept of virginity was tied to this transaction, with the father being responsible for ensuring his daughter’s virginity at the time of the marriage.

Divorce in the ancient Near East was not exclusively initiated by men; women could also leave their husbands. When a woman divorced, she was often considered a widow and could receive financial settlements and return to her father’s household. The speaker explained that while Deuteronomy 24 discusses grounds for divorce from a man’s perspective, it did not mean that women had no recourse. The “unclean thing” that was considered grounds for divorce was likely a perversion, like adultery.

The Importance of the Husband’s Role

According to the speaker, the primary focus of the teaching is the husband’s role in the family unit. He highlighted that while women were respected in many ways, a hierarchy existed in the household. Men were responsible for leading their families spiritually. He references Psalms 128 and explains the blessings of a man fearing the Lord as trickling down to his wife and family. He interpreted this to mean that a man’s righteousness affects his wife’s well-being. The speaker argues that the husband is responsible for petitioning God for the blessings in his wife’s life and that he should lead by example, not by demanding obedience.

The speaker challenges the common interpretation of the word “submit” in Colossians 3:18, arguing that in non-military contexts, it means a voluntary attitude of cooperating, assuming responsibility, and assisting in carrying a burden. Therefore, wives should be seen as a “helpmate,” not just someone who cleans, but someone who is an equal partner and a protector. This is based on the Hebrew term for helpmate, “ezer kenegdo”, which implies an equal strength component within the marriage. He then uses a story to demonstrate the meaning of the term helpmate as a protector, not merely a helper. The speaker concludes that the woman’s place is to be honored, encouraged, and supported by her husband.

Application for Everyday Life

• Men, take responsibility for the spiritual leadership of your household and lead by example, not by force.
• Pray for your wives and petition God for their blessings.
• Understand that marriage is a partnership where you work together and assist each other in carrying the burdens of life.
• Women, be a helpmate to your husbands, supporting and protecting them, not just tending to domestic duties.
• Honor and respect your spouse and understand that they are a valuable possession to you and a gift from God.
• If you are divorced or a widow, the community should help you, with your father or the men of the community as your covering.
• Remember that God wants to hear your prayers, whether you’re a man or a woman, and that He desires a relationship with you.

References

• Bible Verses:
  • Numbers 27
  • Deuteronomy 22
  • Deuteronomy 24
  • Genesis 25:21
  • Genesis 2:18
  • Colossians 3:18
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • Hebrews 11:7
  • Romans 7
  • Psalms 128
• Books: Vine’s Expository Dictionary
• Other: Mishnah, Assyrian Law, Mesopotamian and Hittite divorce letters

Resources:

• Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

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