Households and holiness

This brief study provides a clear an succinct overview of the role women played in ancient Israelite religion. Meyers points out that too many scholars have left women out of the picture of Israelite religion all together, and that others have treated them simply as part of "non-orthodox" official religion. The author stresses the diversity of religious practices in ancient Israel and that we should not be misled by the ancient editors of the biblical material who were urban elite males. This means taking in to account "magic" as an important avenue of inquiry, as well as "practices" (not just beliefs). Archaeology provides other clues, such as figurines of female deities; pillar-figurines; amulets; and "cultic assemblages" of numerous lamps, beads, shells, rattles, and inscriptions. Ethnohistory provides insights into the biblical text, especially into questions of fertility and birth rites, naming, circumcision, protective jewelry, and exorcisms.