The Diverse History of Women in the Old Testament

Eve -The first woman created by God Almighty- and the adored wife of Adam. Genesis 1:27 Eve was the mother of sons and daughters, Genesis 5:3,4 mother of all living Genesis 3:20, given dominion over creatures but she allowed the serpent to convince her to talk with her spouse about disobeying a command of God, which eventually caused them to be thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Their wonderful life enjoyed in the Garden was ended. The Garden, which was located in the Middle East, near rivers of flowing waters was no longer accessible to Adam and Eve. Eve's childbirth were painful. Her husband now had to work by the sweat of his brow because of their joint decision to trust the deceiver over God. Not was the marriage experiencing strains but discord was evident among her sons. Eve became the mother of the first murderer, Cain, listed in the bible. She is also the first mother, left to grieve her son, Abel after being slain by his brother, Cain. The background scriptures are Genesis 4.

Sarah or Sarai - The beautiful mother of nations - grew impatient with God's timeline and brought sorrow to her household. She convinced her husband, Abraham (born in a Babylonian city and raised in the Ur of Chaldea) to sleep with the maidservant, Hagar. Sarah is thought to have descended from Noah's son Shem. She laughed at the words of the Angel of Lord, then lied about laughing. Sarah agreed with her spouse to deceive King Abimelech by stating she was his sister and not his wife. Sarai miraculously delivered a son in her old age. God established an everlasting covenant with her only son, Isaac. The background scriptures are Genesis 17 and 21.

Hagar - Some believe she was an African Egyptian princess, the daughter of Pharaoh, a descendant of Noah's son Ham. She was gifted to Abraham by the King of Egypt, while others believe she was an expatriate, slave, mistress, and the mother of Abraham's first born son, Ishmael. She was a struggling single parent who had been cast out from her home by the father of her child's wife. Later, through God's blessings she became the Grandmother to 12 princes (Nebaioth the firstborn; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah). The Mother of Ishmael is highly revered in the Islamic faith. The background scriptures are Genesis 16, 21, and 25 and 1 Chronicles 1:27-31.

Keturah - She was the second wife of Abraham and considered to be a woman of virtue. Her name meant fragrance or incense that exhilarated all the senses. She was believed to be a descendant of Noah's son Japheth. Keturah bore Abraham 6 sons (Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah). Abraham sent their sons to live in the far east. The background scriptures are Genesis 25:1-6.

Lot's wife - She is the only woman in history turned into salt by God. She chose to look back at the city of Sodom, her home town, in which she was escaping sudden destruction. The Angel had warned the woman who was raised in a Canaanite culture to not to look back/upon what she was being delivered from. The background scriptures are Genesis 19.

Lot's daughters- The two sisters hurriedly left Sodom without their spouses. They followed their Father, who was born in modern day Iraq and had lived in Zoar, the mountains, and in caves. Fearful of the future and manipulative in nature, the choices they made together was to get their Father drunk with wine, and then have sex with their Father in hopes of conceiving offspring. Their sons' names were Moab and Benammi (Ammon). Their sons became the leaders of the Moabites and Ammonites. The background scriptures are Genesis 19.

The Daughters of Zelophehad are five sisters who were direct descendants of Joseph and Asriel (Joseph's grandson's Armean concubine) and Makir, (Joseph's great grandson's wives from the Huppites and Shuppites nations). In the Bible the women fought for their legal rights to inherit 10 tracts of land, preserve their family line, and achieve social standing after their Father had died in the desert. They won and later married their future husbands from their clan( tribe of Manasseh). Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were the new generation of Israelites entering the Promised Land. 1 Chronicles 7 Joshua 17:1-6 The historical story of the Daughters of Zelophehad is bathed in details about five females, being strong, courageous, and outspoken regarding the legality of Israelite heirship. They chose to speak up, be stedfast, and lay claim through traditional laws regarding what should happens to their land and other possessions after their father died in the wilderness, having no sons. The Background scriptures are Numbers 26:33, 27:1-11, and 36:1-13.

Rahab was an astute Canaanite business woman living in Jericho Joshua 2:1-21. Her profession of prostitution was not considered dignified by society but she helped foreigners and married Salmon from the tribe of Judah. James 2:25 She is listed in Jesus' and King David's lineage as the mother of Boaz. Matthew 1:5 She is among the heroines of faith listed in Hebrew 11:31 because she helped the Israelite spies and ended up saving herself and her household. She lied to the city official when questioned regarding the whereabouts of the spies. She had hid the spies. Before the spies left Jericho she asked them to remember her and her family when they return. The background scriptures are Joshua 6:17,22-23,25.

Deborah - The daughter, wife, warrior, singer, songwriter, judge for 60 years, prophet, leader, and poet; Judges 4 -5.

Tamar: The wife of a wicked man named Er. Er was the firstborn son of Judah and a Canaanite woman named Shua. . After her spouse, Er died Tamar became a childless widow. Her spouse's brother by law were obligated to marry her after their brother death and produce an heir which could carry on the deceased family member's name. Things did not go according to plans and she was forced to resort to ungodly and immoral tactics after the youngest son had become an adult, and her mother-in-law died. Tamar found out that Judah had not been a man of his word. She met her grieving father-in-law on the road to Timnah. Judah did not recognize Tamar because for the last few years she had been living in her father's home and also her face was covered. Judah asked her to sleep with him, because he thought she was a shrine prostitute. Judah offered a goat from his flock as payment, but before engaging in the sexual act she asked also for a pledge of his seal, cord, and staff. He of course, agreed. After 3 months Judah found out that his daughter in law, Tamar was pregnant. Judah requested to meet with Tamar to find out who she was pregnant by and so he sent for her. Tamar sent the things Judah had left behind along with the message, "these belong to the father of my children. Tamar became the mother of twins named Perez and Zerah. Judah acknowledged his unrighteous deeds and never had sexual relations with her again. He thought she was justified and more righteous than himself. Matthew 1:1-6 lists Tamar in the genealogy of King David and of Jesus Christ. The background scriptures are Genesis 38, Ruth 4:12, and 1 Chronicles 2:4.

Ruth The Moabite daughter in law of Naomi and the widow of Mahlon, refused to leave her bitter, grieving mother-in-law to fend for herself. Naomi, was a widow living in a foreign land so she decided it was best to return to her home. Ruth lovingly cleaved to Naomi, listened to her mother-in-law, respected her Jewish customs and traditions. and did not mind working long hard hours in the field of Boaz to provide for the family. Ruth found favor with God and man. Boaz purchased the land of Naomi's deceased husband and sons. The elders and others at the gate spoke a blessing over Ruth and Boaz. Ruth married her 2nd husband, the wealthy, older landowner, Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, and had a son named Obed. Naomi's joy was restored. The background scriptures are found in the book of Ruth.

Bathsheba  The wife of the great, mighty, and faithful warrior Uriah the Hittite. 2 Samuel 23;39 and 1 Chronicles 1: 26-47. She was the mother of 5 including Solomon, the man appointed by God and chosen to be wisest king. 1 Chronicles 28:5-21 and 1 Kings 10:23-24. Her children's father was King David, the man who had arranged to have her husband killed on the frontlines of the battlefield in order to cover up their adulterous sins and her pregnancy. Bathsheba and David's first child died early in life. Bathsheba is listed in the Holy Scriptures under Jesus' genealogy as Uriah's wife not King David's wife. Their other living sons' names were Shammua, Nathan, and Shobab. 1Chronicles 14:3-7 Bathsheba lived with David's other wives, children, and concubines.

• Ahinoam the Yizre-elite and mother of Ammon, David's first born son(who was killed by his half brother Absalom because he had raped his sister Tamar)

• Abigail the wise negotiator and widowed Carmelite was the mother of David's 2nd son, Kileab

• Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur and mother of David's 3rd son, Absalom and his daughter Tamar

• Haggith whose name meant festive was the mother of David's 4th son, Adonijah

• Abital whose name was translated fresh is the mother of David's 5th son, Shephatiah

• Eglah name meant one nearly grown was the mother of David's 6th son, Ithream

• David's first wife, Michal, the daughter of King Saul, later in their marriage was given in marriage to another man, named Paltiel, by her angry father, but King David later had her returned to him through her brother Ishbosheth.

• David married additional wives and had more children. The background scriptures are 1 Samuel 25:41-43, 2 Samuel 2:2, 3:2-5, 13-16 and chapters 11-12 and 14,1 Kings 1-4 and 1 Chronicles 3:3-5.

Ethiopian Queen of Sheba came to test the wisdom of King Solomon. She brought a large caravan and many expensive and useful gifts with her. After listening to King Solomon and viewing his kingdom, she was overwhelmed and began to Praise God. The Queen believed the Lord God's was delighted with Solomon and had shown His eternal love for him. She witnessed to Solomon about how the Lord had made him king in order to maintain justice and righteousness. The background scriptures are 1 Kings 10:1-13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1-12.

Rebekah - A Syrian, not afraid of hard labor Genesis 24, she was the mother of twin boys who convinced her favored son, Jacob (the patriarch of the Israelite nations), to deceive his Father, Isaac, in order to receive Esau's, his brother's inheritance. The 12 sons of Jacob are listed in Genesis 35:

23 The sons of Leah (his 1st wife and daughter of his mother's brother, Laban); Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

24 The sons of Rachel (his 2nd wife who stole her father's idols, and the younger sister of Leah. Both of his wives were from Paddan Aram an area around Haran, where Jacob's grandfather, Abraham had lived); Joseph (Mannaseh and Ephraim), and Benjamin:

25 And the sons of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid); Dan, and Naphtali:

26 And the sons of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid): Gad, and Asher:

Isaac and Rebekah's son, Esau ( progenitor of the Edomite nations) married 4 Canaanite/Hittite women. In his rage and anger toward his parents, Esau purposely went to his uncle Ishmael looking for wives. These scriptures were the first ones in the Holy Bible to mention, mother-in-law issues with daughters who married into the family. The background scriptures are Genesis 26, 27, and 28.1 Chronicles 1:50-54 lists the eleven chiefs or dukes of Edom as Timnah, Alvah, Jetheth, Aholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram.

Dinah The Israelite daughter of Leah and Jacob was violated by a Hivite named Shechem. When Jacob found out that his daughter had been defiled by a foreign man named Shechem. He was upset that this lust-filled man had committed a shameful act against his daughter, but he kept quiet until his sons had returned from the field. Dinah's family members were filled with grief and fury. They gathered and began a plot of revenge.

After listening to the pleas of his son, Hamor, the father of Shechem, came to Jacob asking for Dinah to be intermarried to his son. Hamor offered Jacob whatever he requested in exchange for the intermarriages between the nations. Jacob and his son replied deceitfully to Shechem's father, Hamor. Hamor was informed by Jacob that he would allow Dinah to marry Shechem if one condition was met. They told Hamor, they could only allow the marriages if all the men of their village were circumcised. Hamor spoke with the village men and after listening to the benefits of trade, landownership, and wealth gained through intermarriages, they agreed to be circumcised. 3 days after the circumcision, when the men were in pain, Dinah's 2 brother, Simeon and Levi, came to the village and used their swords to kill all the men. Afterwards, the brother's looted the city and took all the men's properties, animals, women, and children. They rescued Dinah (who was in the home of Shechem) and took her back home with them. After Jacob heard about the killings and the plundering, Jacob was concerned about the neighboring villages and nations retaliating against his family. With no remorse, the brothers replied, "Should he have treated out sister like a prostitute"? The background scriptures are found in Genesis 34.

1 Chronicles chapters 1-9