The Strange Woman: Power and Sex in the Bible

Adultery. Harlotry. Indepedence. Power. Few today would say that all these are equal. But to the male-dominated male-documented world of ancient Israel and early Christianity a woman who asserted herself was the equivalent of a prostitute. In a world where religious law severely limited womens opportunities those who did use prostitution and adultery to find a form of freedom not readily available to women where castigated for their actions. In this book Gail Streete examines the treatment these women received and illustrates how biblical texts often apply the term adultery to any independent female behavior--sexual or not.