Men's Roles In Ancient Palestine

What were the roles of men and women in Palestine at the time of Jesus? The roles of men and women in ancient Palestine were vastly different. Women were restricted to positions of little to no authority, while men had the potential to possess great power. Women had a scarcely better status than slaves in ancient Palestinian society and many laws restricted their freedom further. They were seen as inferior to men. Men attended school and received an education whereas women did not. Men were generally expected to work and provide for the family, while women were confined to domesticities. Men worked as fishermen, shepherds, and farmers. Men were able to become priests and study Scripture. Men also controlled the government. Men were viewed as the head of the household in ancient Palestine, and they held most of the power within the family. Fathers arranged marriages for their daughters at a young age. Generally, men were not allowed to talk to women in
Women were expected to grind corn, cook, and bake. Women cared for the children, and did the washing and weaving for the household. They tended to guests visiting the home. If a family was poor, the wife often helped her husband sell goods. Marriages were arranged by the patriarch of the family, and women were usually married around age twelve. Through marriage, a woman became the property of her husband. The main job of a married woman was to provide her husband a son.
The Law in ancient Palestine viewed women to be of lesser value than men. Women sat apart from men during worship in the synagogue. Women were only allowed in two parts of the Temple of Jerusalem, The Court of Gentiles and the Court of Women. However, both men and women were expected to observe the Sabbath. Although the Ten Commandments state, “Honor thy father and mother,” children were expected to honor their father before their mother. Women were not allowed to testify in