Were Women Disregarded in The Mosaic Law?

When we read through the Old Testament, it is not difficult to see that women in general occupy less text than men do. Also, given the society that we find ourselves in, it would seem easy to assume that women of the Old Testament were those who had to fight to receive what was due to them or receive the justice they desired in times where they had been wronged. It would seem on a passing glance that God was more concerned with men and women took on a more subservient role in Israel. But is it appropriate to make such a judgment based on our own societal backgrounds or our assumptions concerning the way God viewed women? It would appear, however, that the Mosaic Law and the actions of God toward women of the Old Testament reveal the tremendous love and justice of God toward women, rather than a denigration of them.

When the Mosaic Laws are examined, a few issues can be determined concerning the way in which God has instructed women to conduct themselves and their treatment as it relates to legal matters. First, men and women alike are shown no mercy concerning issues of consensual adulterous matters (Lev. 20:10-12, Duet. 22:22-23). Second, in incidents where the man was determined to have raped a women betrothed to another man and she did not consent, the man was to be put to death and the women was to have nothing done to her because she had committed no sin (Deut. 22:25-27). However, if the woman was a virgin without being betrothed and she was raped, the man in question was to be fined fifty shekels of silver and the man was to take her as his wife and could never divorce her. His right to divorce, a right of which women could not receive, was taken from him due to his defilement of her. In taking her as a wife, he was honor bound to care and provide for her the rest of his days. Third, in situations where a husband brought about the accusation upon his wife that she was not a virgin when they married, the father and mother of the girl would have to provide proof of their daughter’s virginity. In the event that the husband brought a false accusation against the girl, the man would be whipped, fined one hundred shekels, which was paid to the father, and the man would relinquish his right to divorce the women. It was only in the event that the woman was determined to have been unfaithful that she would be put to death (Deut 22:13-21). The final example is in that women, though they could not serve in all the same capacities as men, were allowed to serve under the some of the same vows as men, particularly that of the Nazirite vow (Num. 6:1-21).

From Scripture, we see that God has always been concerned with the treatment of women. God instituted some gender-specific laws so that women would not be taken advantage of sexual but would be provided for and that those who would seek to use them would face a severe punishment for their sin against God. Also women are not held up without accountability as they have been shown to face the just consequences of their actions, as men are, when they determine to live outside of the manner in which God ordered the world to function and they are not excluded from service to God. God has always loved his creation, as seen in specific examples in Genesis, and He has not viewed women in a deficient light compared to men. God’s desire has not been the denigration of women, as some have falsely assumed, or the elevation of women above their proper place (as many in this present culture seek out). God has desired that his glory be preserved in the treatment and understanding of women under both the old and new covenants.