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1	The Nazirite Vow and Fertility Moulton, Vincent M. January 2011 (has links) Nazirites are a well-documented phenomenon within the context of the Hebrew Bible. The bulk of research has focused mainly on the role of Samson as a life long Nazirite, but little has been done concerning the role of women within the context of the Nazirite Vow. The goal of this paper will be to examine the role of women within the Nazirite Vow, as well as examining the constraints that might arise when one takes into account the purity laws. The Nazirite Vow is the only vow within the Bible that explicitly mentions the inclusion of women. The question I am interested in addressing is, are there circumstances that might exclude the woman? The idea behind the Nazirite vow is that one is consecrating oneself to YHWH, or setting oneself apart. If one were setting oneself apart then these rules that they would have to follow would not supersede the purity laws. I would suggest that beyond the regular constraints, avoiding dead bodies, grape products, and cutting ones hair, one would still be responsible to keep the purity laws. Therefore, when one takes an issue like menstruation into account, this severely limits the amount of time a woman has to complete the Nazirite Vow. As I will detail in this paper, this leads to the conclusion that if the vow lasted for more than thirty days the only women who would be able to complete the Nazirite Vow successfully would be pregnant women or a woman who is postmenopausal. This could suggest a certain amount of restriction regarding the woman's ability to perform this vow and may suggest why the inclusion of women is made explicit within the context of Numbers 6. Furthermore, this could suggest that fertility might be an aspect of the Nazirite Vow. / Religion Biblical Studies Fertility Nazirite Vow Numbers Wine
2	The role and status of women during the pre-monarchic period (1200-105 BC) Sha, Halima 11 1900 (has links) The lives of women are largely hidden in the Old Testament. New archaeological investigationsinto the households of Iron Age I have brought forward new evidence that sheds light on theauthority status and roles of women in the pre-monarchic tribal community. Conventional theory perceives that women were always oppressed and marginalised under a malevolentsystem of male rule in the Bible. The evidence indicates differently. Investigations in thedomestic sphere, where the household processes were under women’s control and management, imply that women held authority that was equal to male power in the public domain. It has been revealed that women held significant positions in the public sphere as well.This study, therefore, is an investigation into women’s status and the wide-ranging socioeconomicand religious roles they held within a system of male rule that allowed women theirauthority and autonomy in a unique period of Israelite history. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. Th. (Biblical Archaeology) Women’s authority Patriarchy Pre-monarchic period Syncretic religion Household religion Bêt ēm; Bêt āb Religious duties Farming duties Weaving Food preparation Deborah Achsah Covenant High places Sanctuary Tabernacle Cult corners Motherhood Nazirite vow Jael The mother of Samson Egalitarianism Four-room house Niddah YHWH Baal Baal-berith Shechem Asherah Fertility Figurines Magic healing Archaeology Tabun Looms Kitchen Tell Halif Tell Beit Mirsim Judge Prophetess Wise women Votive Offerings Childbirth Purification Priestess Barren Sacrifices Sacred magic The mother of Micah The book of Judges 220.93 Bible -- Antiquities

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The Nazirite Vow and Fertility

The role and status of women during the pre-monarchic period (1200-105 BC)