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The Arguments of Women Liberation in the Deuteronomic Reforms

Han, Dong-Gu 1

1평택대학교

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ABSTRACT

The 8th century BCE was a time when Israel‘s national and economic power reached at its peak. In contrast, however, it had brought forth social upheaval as well. The rich were able to accumulate their wealth, taking advantage of their social positions and economic power. Meanwhile, the socially underprivileged were suffering harder persistently. When Assyria had invaded the Syria-Palestine regions at the late 8th century BCE, the social and economic polarization was escalating. The overall crisis was evidently appearing. The political breakdown of northern Israel led its people to migrate into southern Judah, in which, in the mean time, people in the rural area were moving to the urban. In this historical context, the deuteronomic revolution carried out to protect the nation from the military invasion and, at the same time, to make the nation a coherent society. Various parts of society underwent reforms, and women under oppression also somehow enjoyed liberation. In the context of the nation's crisis(under Assyrian threats in this case) the socially weak suffered more hardship. Women were of course placed in socially weaker position than men, and there existed threats of sexual harassment toward women. The Israelite history has shown both oppression to women and protection for women. Particularly there were concerns of women's social safety in the deuteronomic movement as part of caring the socially disadvantaged. The present article examines the history of women's oppression and also their liberation, along with exegetical analysis of the relevant passages in Deuteronomy that imply liberation of or protection for women. The social background of the passages is also dealt with in terms of social history. Special attention is paid to a prohibited command for the king, “He must not take many wives” in Deuteronomy 17:17aα in order to explore its meaning in a social history. The attempts of social reforms in the deuteronomic movement were more than humanitarian purpose caring the weak in society; it had historical significance. Under the military threats from Assyria, the deuteronomic reform tried to create coherence in society while eliminating anti-community traits in Israel. In one sense, liberation of women was meant to control the king's authority.

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