Global Hermeneutics? - International Voices in Biblical Studies ...

OBIORAH 39
It is a society where the oversight of women’s dignity is often explained with
reference to their so-called weakness. On the other hand, an apparent lack of
bravery in a man makes onlookers deride him with phrases such as “You are
behaving like a woman!” Thus a common connotation of the term “woman” is
weakness.
Ironically, a society with such a strong patriarchal orientation counts so much
on the strength of women in the families and in the society. The fast growing
number of educated women in the society raises many of them to the status of
permanent breadwinners of their families. This is because a large number of men
opt for trading and its fluctuations in the country are often a source of an uncertain
economic future. Educated women partners of these traders are less affected by
fluctuating economic circumstances. Therefore, today most men look for women
with a good academic background. These women sustain them in times of
difficulties. In brief, the significant and indispensable roles of women in the society
are overshadowed by the prevailing patriarchal attitudes. Such features are not
absent in the Old Testament.
THE READERS’ SOCIAL BACKGROUND IN RESPECT
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
With these traits of their background, Nigerian women readers of the Old
Testament encounter in the Sacred Texts a cultural background that is not far
removed from their own.
Why is Israel’s originating history generally called the history of the
patriarchs? Why is there such a strong overt patriarchal point of view among the
narrators in the Bible? The narratives are usually told from the standpoint of men.
Besides Athaliah, who forced herself to the throne in the Kingdom of Judah,
Israel had only men on its throne. In spite of the obviously significant roles of
women in the Book of Judges, only Deborah is ranked among the “judges”; the rest
of the charismatic deliverers in this book are all men.
The part that Eve played in the fall of human beings’ primordial parents (Gen
3) is evoked in some Old Testament narratives. Great men in the history of Israel
lost favour with God and humans because of the presence of women in their lives.
In the story of Joseph the young slave in the house of Potiphar narrowly escaped
the snares of his master’s wife (Gen 39). Samson is introduced as a hero; the
elaborate narrative on his birth that ushered his coming bears witness to this (Judg
13). That taint of weakness and depravity first exhibited by Eve accompanies her
kind and in the life of Samson it is Delilah who became another man-betrayer (Judg
16). Bathsheba’s relationship with David reduced the monarch to an adulterer (2
Sam 11), murderer and usurper. His family was eventually destabilised. Women
lured the great and wise King Solomon from the true faith to pantheism (1 Kgs 11).