A Biblical Investigation of Matriarchal Structures in Ancient Semitic Life
[Article]
Margaret English de Alminana
Leiden
Brill
This article demonstrates that a gender-stratified template for the leadership of family and government believed to be modeled after ancient Semitic patriarchal structures according to a pattern found in Old Testament biblical texts is erroneous. It shall demonstrate that strong elements of matriarchalism existed alongside of patriarchalism and that Old Testament texts offer no accurate template for gender-based governance. This article demonstrates that a gender-stratified template for the leadership of family and government believed to be modeled after ancient Semitic patriarchal structures according to a pattern found in Old Testament biblical texts is erroneous. It shall demonstrate that strong elements of matriarchalism existed alongside of patriarchalism and that Old Testament texts offer no accurate template for gender-based governance.