Women of the Bible Pt. 2

Throughout the Bible, women play a vital role due to their influence on men. In those times for the Jewish nation, society was incredibly patriarchal, women playing a secondary role. The number of male prophets to female prophets are overwhelming, the men always having a bigger part in the course of history. But the men of the Bible usually have a woman by their side, their wife or wives. In the Bible, men who take more than one wife always face trouble in their own household and the tension between sharing a husband becomes more than just a problem. In a society where producing sons was key to security, women have fought over their husbands and children. Here are women of the Bible who have made their mark, especially over sharing husbands.

1. Hagar and Sarah (link to King James Version of the story told)

Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. Alongside Abraham was his beautiful but barren wife Sarah (name meaning queen). God had promised Abraham that his descendents would outnumber the stars but Sarah could not have children. On a trip to Egypt Abraham lied to the pharaoh, presenting Sarah as his sister. This was for protection because men would have killed Abraham to marry Sarah for her great beauty. Eventually the truth was revealed and the pharaoh sent Abraham away. He did not let them go empty handed. The pharaoh had liked Abraham and sent food and luxuries to him. Among these 'items' was Hagar (name meaning stranger) who became Sarah's handmaid.

Because Abraham and Sarah did not trust God to give them children naturally, plans to have children another way were made. Hagar was to become a secondary wife and give birth on Sarah's knees, effectively giving up her child to Sarah. Abraham's first born Ishmael was the result.

(Hagar and Ishmael)

Ishmael was treated like a prince and Hagar's mentality from Egypt (believing whoever produced a son was better than the other wife) rose and affected her relationship with Sarah despite the fact that she was still her handmaid. Sarah was still first wife and Ishmael was her 'son'. But then, one day three men came to Abraham and told him that Sarah would have a child. Overhearing the three strangers say this, Sarah laughs. "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" one of the men asks, cuasing Sarah to deny her laughter.

Sarah gave birth to Issac (meaning laughter in Hebrew) a year later. Now that she had her own son, Sarah believed Issac to be the rightful heir of Abraham and demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham consented and sent Hagar and his firstborn from their camp. Hagar and Ishmael survived and tradition holds it that Ishmael is the ancestor of the Arabs. Issac grows to be a faithful patriarch, fathering Jacob and becoming the grandfather to the twelve sons of Jacob. Out of these sons are the twelve tribes of Israel and the entire Jewish nation.

2. Bathsheba (link to King James Version of the story told)

Bathsheba, the subject of Rembrandt's Bethsheba at Her Bath (warning: nude painting), is known throughout history as the woman of captured King David's heart by bathing on a rooftop.

(David watching Bethsheba)

Bathsheba was the daughter Eliam/Ammiel, one of King David's elite thirty soldiers, and wife of Uriah the Hittite, also a soldier. As most women in these situations Bethsheba was very beautiful and many men desired her, including King David. King David had her brought to the palace where he and Bathsheba spent the night. Her husband Uriah was away on military duties, fighting a war. As a result, Bathsheba concieves and in an attempt to protect her honor King David sends Uriah back home to sleep with Bathsheba so the child will be thought of as Uriah's.

But Uriah was true to his role as a soldier and it was common practice to abstain from sexual intercourse during duty. Uriah did not go home to his wife, insisting to be sent back into battle. King David then sends Uriah back-with a letter. This letter was to be given to Joab, a general in the army. It ordered for Joab to place Uriah at the front of the battle so that Uriah would die. The plan worked and Bathsheba became a widow. When the time of mourning passed King David sent for her and married her.

Bathsheba gave birth to a son but King David was not right with the Lord. Committing adultery and killing a man to marry his wife caused the prophet Nathan to appear to King David. Nathan told David a story about a rich man killing a poor man's sheep to feed his (rich man) own guest. Exciting a response from David, commanding the man die. "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man." 2 Samuel 12:7

(Nathan admonishing King David)

Nathan declares that King David and Bathsheba's lives would be spared, but not the life of the child. David fasts and lays on the ground for days pleading with God but on the seventh day the child died.

After recovering and mourning, King David and Bathsheba have another son: Solomon, who later becomes king, the wisest king.

(King Solomon)

3. Leah and Rachel (link to King James Version of the story told)

The story of the two sisters who married the same man was a precursor to the story of Joseph and the conflict with his halfbrothers (who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel). But the conflict started with their mothers, Leah and Rachel.

Leah was the older of the two and is described as "tender eyed" (Genesis 29:17). Rachel on the other hand is "beautiful and well favoured" (Genesis 29:17). Jacob, the son of Issac, goes to visit his Uncle Laban (Leah and Rachel's father) and falls in love with Rachel. He asks for her hand in marriage and in exchange he must work for Laban for seven years. During those seven years, Laban's flocks and fortunes increased because Jacob was a faithful servant to God and God blessed him with such wealth. In an effort to make Jacob stay, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah due to the 'oldest marries first' custom in their land. Jacob demands for Rachel's hand and Laban agrees to marry her to Jacob for another seven years.

(Jacob and Rachel)

Leah and Rachel do not have equal footing with Jacob. Jacob loves Rachel but even wth her great beauty, Rachel cannot concieve. "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (Genesis 29:31). Leah gives birth to four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah). Rachel becomes jealous and gives Jacob her maid Bilhah (much like Sarah and Hagar's situation) who has two sons Rachel raises, Dan and Naphtali. Leah follows suit, giving Jacob her maid Zilpah who gives birth to Gad and Asher.

At this point Rachel has not given birth to a child of her own. Leah, however, has more sons of her own: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. God opens Rachel's womb and it is then that Rachel has Joseph. Joseph becomes a favorite of Jacob and is treated as the first born (even over Reuben) because he is Rachel's child. 

The women, the wives of the Bible faced pressure to have children. That was their success in life. And in a patriarch world and a male dominated sacred text, it is refreshing to see how the women earn their place in the Bible.  These women are strong, they are fighters and whether or not they were right in their actions is irrelevant because they have made an impact. It is their beauty, their importance to the men of the Bible that can make or break a situation. They deserve such recognition.