Bible Studies
Women in the Book of Judges (Judges 1:11-15)
Series: Studies in the Book of JudgesIntroduction:
1. In Judges 1 God identifies Judah as the leading tribe of Israel, the tribe that should lead the way in the conquering of the Canaanites. 2. In the account of their battles, there is a paragraph interjected that almost seems out of place. 3. It is an account about Achsah, the daughter of Caleb and the wife of the first judge, Othniel. Why is this woman even mentioned in the accounting of the battles of Judah?Fact of the matter is she is not the only woman mentioned in Judges. And the women mentioned can be taken to reflect something of the status of women in the period of the judges. 4. “Achsah introduces the role of women and serves as a barometer of how the Israelites fare in the land by noting women’s status” (Tammi Schneider, Berit Olam Judges, p. 23) 5. Already we have seen the gradual deterioration of Israel as a result of their increasing involvement with the Canaanites and their idols. What does this mean about Israel and their relationship to women? How does one’s relationship to God affect the status of women? How does one’s relationship with the Canaanites and their religion affect the status of women? How does our relationship to God affect the status of women in our society?Discussion:
I. Achsah and the place of women in the Book of Judges.A. If we consider Achsah as reflective of the status of women in the early period of the judges what does she reflect?
1. First we might observe that she is named in the text. Jephthah’s daughter is unnamed. The Levites concubine is unnamed. But Delilah, the Philistine, is named. Should not make too much of the mention of a name.
2. Achsah is identified as the daughter of Caleb, the war hero and wife of Othniel, another war hero. The great judge, Deborah, is identified as the wife of Lappidoth. This is reflective of the patriarchal nature of the Book of Judges. Othniel is identified as the son of Kenaz, not the husband of _________.
3. The whole Bible assumes that men will normally exercise leadership in the home, in the religious community, and in the military. The Book of Judges is certainly not out of step with these presuppositions. Cf. 4:9.
4. Achsah is presented as a woman with influence, both with her husband and her father (1:14-15).
5. Women are presented in Judges as having great influence. Such influence can be used positively or negatively. As we have noted in a previous study foreign wives were influential in leading Israel to worship idols.
B. Deborah is one of the most famous women of Judges.
1. She is a prophetess (4:4).
2. Instructs Barak of the Lord’s command to go up against Sisera, commander of the Canaanites.
3. When he refuses to go without her she agreed to go but said the honor of victory would not be his, but would go to a woman (4:9).
C. Jael was the woman who drove the tent peg through the head of Sisera.
1. She is identified as the wife of Heber.
2. Mention is made that Heber was at peace with the Canaanites, but Jael in contrast is said to have acted against the enemies of the Lord (5:31).
D. These women stand in contrast to Samson’s Philistine wives.
1. The one from Timnah seems to be at the mercy of her Philistine counterparts who threaten to burn her and her father’s house with fire if she did not betray Samson.
2. The other from Sorek, named Delilah, deceived him and betrayed him.
E. The abuse of women as evidenced in the account of the Levites concubine, is so abhorrent it is grounds for war.
F. Jepthah’s rash vow results in his daughter becoming a sacrifice, but the way the account is presented we are sympathetic to her. It is Jepthath’s behavior that is called into question.
G. Women in the Book of Judges are good and bad, passive and active, wise and foolish just like the men in Judges.
1. No question about the prominence of men in Judges.
2. Judges does not diminish women.
3. But it is not a feminist document either.
4. It recognizes male leadership in the family and the religious community, but respects women and grants them religious function (as prophetess), influence in the family and protection from abuse. It is consistent with what is revealed elsewhere in Scripture.
II. The place of women in the life of Jesus.A. Jesus’ mother, Mary, occupies an interesting place.
1. In Cana of Galilee she exercises her influence on Jesus to address the lack of wine at the wedding feast in Cana (Jn. 2:4).
a. Almost as if in rebuke, He says, “Woman, what does that have to do with us?”
b. But then he performs a miracle to respond to the need.
2. At the cross he seems to give responsibility to John for the care of his mother (Jn. 19:26-27). Consistent with His teaching of honoring one’s mother (Matt. 15:4ff).
B. He taught respect for women in marriage (Matt. 19:5ff) not allowing for easy divorce.
C. He had many women followers as evidenced by those who contributed to the support of the disciples (Lk. 8:1-3); those at the cross (Jn. 19:25) and at the tomb (Jn. 20:1ff).
D. Seems to have had a rather close friendship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Jn. 11:5; Lk. 10:38ff).
E. Jesus’ encounter with the woman of Samaria was considered interesting by the disciples (Jn. 4).
F. Jesus shows respect to women in their special roles as wives and mothers. He engages them in religious discussion. He chose no women to be among the 12.
G. What we know of His teaching is consistent with what we read in Judges and with what is taught in the rest of the N.T.
III. The place of women in the teaching of the N.T.A. Timothy is to treat older women as mothers and the younger women as sisters (1 Tim. 5:1).
B. Widows are to be honored (1 Tim. 5:3ff).
C. Women have special responsibility in assisting their own widows (1 Tim. 5:16) and in teaching (2 Tim. 1:5; Titus 2:3-5).
D. Some restriction (1 Tim. 2:9-15).
E. Submission in marriage relationship (Eph. 5:22ff; 1 Cor. 11:3).
F. All one in Christ—male and female (Gal. 3:28).
Conclusion:
1. When people are disciplined by the teaching of God women’s status is characterized by respect and honor. 2. The Bible, like the Book of Judges, is patriarchal in nature as opposed to matriarchal. It gives precedence to male leadership in the family and in the church. 3. Perhaps some women are too shy in their service in light of leading women like Achsah and Deborah. Yet in these women you see a special respect toward God’s ordering of society.
