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Homicideandaggressioninthehistoryofmankind
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buthavingtransgressed,“hadnochilduntothedayofherdeath”(IISm6,23).
Givingbirthtoachild,especiallyason,wasasignofGod’sfavourandennobled
awomanintheeyesofaman.
Potentialandactualconictsinthemalefemalerelationshipwereregu-
latedbylaw.Legalregulationsreferredtosuchprohibitedactsassexualmoles-
tationandrape(Deut.22,23-29)ormarriagetoawomanfromanothernation
(e.g.Ex.34,16,withtheexceptionofawarslave,Deut.21,10-14).Adultery
wasoneofthegreatesttransgressions;intheBible,muchspaceisdevotedtoit,
anditstreatmentisespeciallyharsh.Yettheinterpretationofthisprohibition
wasclearlyone-sidedinfavourofthemale:itwasmainlythewife’sfaultthat
wasdebated,andalsoincommittingadultery,amandidnottransgressagainst
hisownwife,butagainstthehusbandofthewomanwithwhomhehaddoneit.
Ifahusbandaccusedhisbrideofndingher„notamaid”(Deut.22,14),her
parentswereobligedto“takeandbringforththetokensofthedamsel’svirgin-
ityuntotheeldersofthecity”(Deut.22,15).Intheabsenceofsuchtokens,the
bridewasstonedtodeath.Iftheadultererswerecaughtintheact,theywere
bothstoned,thedecisivefactorbeingtheaccusationofeyewitnesses(Lev.
20,10;Deut.22,22).
Sexuallifeofamarriedwomanwasunderverytightcontrol.Anysuspicion
ordoubtregardingherfidelityrequiredhertosubmittothe“offeringofjeal-
ousy”.Theaccusedwifehadtodrink“thebitterwaterthatcausedthecurse”
(Num.5,24).Thejudiciaryinterpretationwasasfollows:ifshewasindeedde-
filed,“thewaterthatcausedthecurseshallenterintoher,andbecomebitter,and
herbellyshallswell,andherthighshallrot:andthewomanshallbeacurse
amongherpeople”(Num.5,27).Rejectionbythepeoplewasaveryharshpun-
ishment,equaltodeath.Afaithfulwifedidnotbearanyconsequencesapartfrom
thepublichumiliation.Itis,however,evidentthatwithregardtomaritalmatters,
allbiblicaltextslaidtheblameonthewoman.Herlifewasinherhusband’s
hands.Thisunequalmaritalrelationshipjustifiesalsothehusband’sexactinghis
rightsthroughaggression.
IntheworlddescribedbytheBible,childlessnesswastheworstpunish-
mentforawoman.Eventheprohibitionagainstforeignwomenmeant,inef-
fect,deprivingthemofoffspring.ThepowertoconceivebeingamarkofGod’s
grace,barrennesswassynonymouswithgodlessness,indelityandadultery.
Womenwerethusdivided,bytheactofbearingachild,intothe“good”and
“wicked”ones:thosewhobelongedtotheChosenPeople,especiallythewid-
owsandorphans,wereworthyofprotection,thosewhowere“daughtersof
strangegods”werenot;theyweretobeexcludedfromthesocietyandtreated
asadanger.