[Many thanks to Larry Bunch for catching me up on the notes I missed for this lesson. -MRW]

• Last lesson
  • Role of women in 1st century Jewish society
    • Start with status in Old Testament times
    • Finish next week
• Question from last week:
  • Did Josephus mention demon possession?
  • Answer:
    • Yes
    • Antiquities chapters 2, 5, 8, 45-48
    • Wars of the Jews chapter 7.6.3
    • Bizarre references to a root “described” by Solomon
    • “Eyewitness” account
    • No mention with regard to Jesus or disciples
• Status of women in Old Testament times
  • Women’s main purpose
    • Promulgate God’s blessing on Abraham
      • Genesis 22:15-19
      • Psalms 105:24
    • Continuing the family line – Deuteronomy 25:5-10
    • Shame of being barren – I Samuel 1:1-11
  • Limitations of women
    • Scriptural (Old Testament) limitations few
    • Innovative limitations were multitudinous
• Range of women’s activities in Old Testament times
  • Shared in the teaching of their children – Proverbs 1:8
  • Performed chores outside home
    • Genesis 29:9-10
    • Exodus 2:16
  • Prophetess: Exodus 15:20-21; Numbers 12; Judges 4; 2 Kings 22:14-20
  • Judge over Israel: Judges 4
  • Shadow combatant: Judges 4, 9
• Women’s Old Testament activities continued …
  • Commerce, real estate, etc. – Proverbs 31
  • Manual labor – Exodus 35:25; Ruth 2:7; I Samuel 8:13
  • Musicians in the tabernacle/temple – Psalms 68:25
  • Lead women in song of praise – Exodus 15:20-21
• How women were considered in Old Testament times
  • Included in the covenant – Deuteronomy 29:9-12
  • Sources of wisdom – 2 Kings 22:14-20
  • Wisdom personified as feminine – Proverbs 7:4, 8
  • Having great prudence – I Samuel 25:23-42
  • Wife is a very good find – Proverbs 19:14; 18:22
  • Life of a women on par with life of a man – Exodus 21:22-29
• Coming weeks
  • Comparing women in Old Testament times to 1st century
  • Social strata of Jerusalem
  • Religious sects
  • Temple
  • Priesthood