What were women really like in Old Testament times?

In my off-again, on-again efforts at maintaining this blog, I today feel a need to address the myth that the Bible perpetuates the idea that women are an inferior or weaker sex. If you are reading this blog, and you hold that myth against the church, this will give you a reason to think past the myth. And if you are someone who uses other parts of the Bible (wrongly) to keep the myth alive, this will show you why you are going against the will of God. In other words, if you are perpetuating the myth, you are just wrong, you are a sinner, so suck it up and repent!

My blog entry today will focus on Psalms 68, which Don and I read in a time of couple's devotional time that we have done regularly since at least 2004. If you are married and a Christian, I encourage you to schedule devotional time regularly for your family. Don and I have a goal, usually realized, of doing this once a week. Sunday morning works well for us because we don't go to church until 5:15. We used to do it on Saturday mornings, or sometimes on Sunday afternoon AFTER we got back from church. We do this after the weekend late morning breakfast, but some families might have to find a different time, not necessarily after a meal. If there isn't a time the whole family is together, don't skip devotionals because one or two kids are off doing something else. Have devotionals with whoever is there.

But back to Psalms 68. If you read it in either of my two favorite translations, the NIV or the New King James Version (which is WAY EASIER to read than the Old King James Version, but to me a very clear way of saying things) you might not notice V. 11. In both of these versions, it tells you the Lord "gave the word" (NKJV) or "announced the word" (NIV) and a great "host" (NKJV) or "company" proclaimed it. So, you would say "Great. A lot of people did what they were supposed to do and praised God. And then what happened?"

But Don's favorite version of the Bible is the New American Standard Version. And its version of Psalm 68: 11 states "The Lord gives the command and THE WOMEN who proclaimed it were a great host." This begets two questions, especially if you were reading all three versions at the same time, as we were. Why just the women? And why is this event making it into a story that is about praising God? (The Psalms are songs, or poems, of praise to God.)

If you are reading the NIV the next verse would tell you that "Kings and armies flee in haste, in camps, men divide the plunder." But both the NKJV and the NASV tell you something quite different. They tell you "she who remains at home will divide the spoil." I'm going with 2 out of 3 here, and asking again "Why the women? Why is this in praise to God?"

My knowledge of Greek and Roman culture is not in any way extensive. But I do know that those two cultures, starting before the time of Jesus, put excessive limits on women's freedom. There are references to it in the New Testament, and there are examples of New Testament writers, the pastors of their day, instructing congregations to concede to these limitations. Certainly many 21st Century Christian pastors, church leaders and faithful attenders, in varying degrees, expect Christian women to continue within these limitations. Sadly, some of these same people try to impose these limitations on women outside of the Church. Even more tragic is the greater extent to which Muslim governments and/or quasi-government terrorist groups, most of which are quite near where Jesus lived, limit the freedoms of women in those countries.

But I believe Psalms 68: 11-12 is one of several places in the Old Testament where God makes clear he does not expect women to sit on the sidelines severely limited by the norms of their church, culture or government! I believe this because of some research Don, a Bible scholar and Christian for 50 years and I, a Christian for 28 years, were able to do with materials we had readily available.

Don's NASV Bible has study notes referring us to Exodus 15:20 and 1 Samuel 18:6. In Exodus, Miriam, sister of Moses, took a timbrel (small tambourine-like instrument) in her hand, and all the women followed her with timbrels and dancing. This was to praise that their people, the Israelites, had successfully crossed the parted Red Sea, yet when Pharoh's army followed in pursuit of them, the Red Sea filled back up and drowned them.

1 Samuel 18:6 refers to a time several centuries later when King David and his army returned victorious from defeating the Philistines. Once again, women came out of the cities singing and dancing. It is my opinion that no man told them to do this, but in each city, an influential and God-loving woman led her peers to get up and dance!

Do you know a woman like this in your church? I can think of at least two in mine. And if you go to a church like mine, you will see a lot of people freely praising God during the worship portion of the service. However, you will more likely see the women lifting their arms and clapping their hands in praise. Most of the men (Don being a notable exception) are more reserved, if not standing with arms at sides or crossed over their chest.

I believe God made women to be this way. God loves this praise, and he gave women the job of providing it. This is an important job! However, just as they did in Moses and Miriam' time, and in King David's time, many modern women may feel a little reserved about doing this. I must add, God gave the job of praising Him to men as well. But there has to be a reason he made it come easier to women!

I was raised in a church with a less exuberant style of worship. I personally have gotten over my inhibitions because of my husband's example. But the vast majority of women come to church with a husband who isn't doing this, or with no husband at all. (Either because she has no husband or because her husband chooses not to come to church with her.) These women need the influence of another woman to help them see that exuberant worship is OK, and even highly desired! I strive, and know of times where I have succeeded, to provide that influence to other women. I do not see myself as particularly influential, so if I can do it, there are many other women who can lead a congregation of women - and sometimes men - to lift holy hands in praise.

Let me tell you a little more about Miriam, that original highly influential woman. I took a look at one of Don's books from when he pursued a Masters of Divinity degree, and also some notes I took on a Sandals' Women's Bible study about Miriam. I have learned that Moses, Miriam and their brother Aaron were most likely raised by parents (Amram and Jochbed) who followed the Jewish faith more closely than did their peers, thus raising their children with more exposure to the Jewish faith.

Moses did not live with his parents after the age of 3. When Moses was an infant the Israelites had lived in the captivity of the Egyptian pharohs for about 400 years. Pharoh issued a decree that all male Jewish children should be killed. Trusting God, Jochbed placed Moses in a floating basket, where he was rescued and "adopted" by Pharoh's daughter. She unknowingly sent Moses back to live with his family until he was weaned at age 3. Miriam watched the rescue from a distance, and then boldly asked Pharoh's daughter if she should find an Israeli woman to nurse the baby. When Pharoh's daughter agreed, Miriam naturally asked her own mother. But from the time of the weaning on, Moses lived in Pharoh's mansion as his grandson.

Yet as a grown man, Moses chose to give up the luxury and privileges of his life as Pharoh's grandson. He returned to be with "his people." Many Bible scholars credit this strong exposure to the Jewish faith early in his life as a possible reason why he identified himself as a Jew.

And if his parents had that much influence on Moses, how much more did they have on Miriam and their brother Aaron? These two children lived in their parents household for much longer, perhaps until their parents' death. When it was time for Moses to approach Pharoh and demand the release of the Israelites, (Exodus 3 and 4), he pleaded with God to let Aaron speak for him. After their exodus from Egypt, both Aaron and Miriam continued to assist Moses in the leadership of the great multitude of people who camped in the desert the next 40 years.

No doubt, Amram and Jochbed had instilled in their children an extraordinary confidence. No doubt, God wanted that confidence in Miriam as well. The Bible does not record she ever married or had children. Children might have given her different responsibilities than those God had in mind for her, but I believe she would have been a woman of great influence with or without them.

Another highly influential woman, not mentioned by name in the Bible, is "Pharoh's daughter," the woman who rescued the infant Moses from drowning in the Nile and who then raised him. She somehow was able to persuade her father, the very man who had ordered all Israeli boys killed, that not only should the life of this one be saved, but the boy should be raised as her son. As a pharoh, her father was no doubt a strong man. She inherited his strength.

History suggests the name of this woman was Hathshepsut, daughter of Pharoh Thutmose I. Although one of four children born to Thutmose and his first wife Ahmose, Hathshepsut is believed to be the only one who survived to adulthood. Like most ancient cultures, the Egyptians prohibited women from ascending to the throne, and did allow polygamy. Thus, a son of one of Thutmose's other wives became king, and took the name Thutmose II.

However, it was also legal in Egyptian society for half-siblings to marry, and that is what Thutmose II and Hathshepsut did. Historical evidence indicates, however, that because of Thutmose II's weak personality and physical ability, Hathshepsut and her mother were actually calling the shots during his reign.

Hathshepsut and Thutmose II had only one child, daughter Nefrure. Thutmose II also had other wives, so one of their sons became the next king, assuming the name Thutmose III. But about one year later, Hathshepsut assembled an army to overthrow him. Although Thutmose III remained alive and opposed to this overthrow, Hathshepsut ruled as queen for the remainder of her life.

Like Miriam, this is a strong woman who was blessed by God. Both of these women also had strong parents, who no doubt didn't believe daughters should be weak. I also believe both of these women, and their mothers, are evidence that God never wanted women to be weak or inferior. We're not!