The Irony of the Jewish Women
Jewish women have made a lot of history that needs to be documented. Ironically, Jewish women have only carried the historical burden to shape the religious scriptures that highly favor men. The author writes, "Women have lived Jewish history and carried its burdens, but women's perceptions and questions have not given form to scripture, shaped the direction of Jewish law, or found expression in the liturgy."
The Irony of the story of Sarah and Rebekah
The Torah and religious scriptures depict men as superior beings closer to God, but, ironically, they are far from understanding him. Plaskow writes, "Indeed, it appears from the stories of Sarah and Rebekah that they understand God better than their husbands." The author wants to know why men think that they are next to God while they do not understand Him as women do.
The Irony of biblical laws concerning women
The Biblical laws purported to favor women in society are ironically tailored to work for the advantage of men. The author writes, "the laws about women place them firmly under the control of first fathers, then husbands, so that men have male heirs they know are theirs."
The Irony of a virgin
Rape is a criminal act in both ancient and contemporary society. Ironically, the Jewish religious culture argues that a raped virgin must be married by the assailant. The reader finds this insane and satirical at the same time. The author writes, “A virgin who is raped must marry her assailant. The subject of these laws is women, but the interest behind them is the purity of the male line.”
The Irony of Exodus 20:17 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
The author quotes Exodus chapter twenty, verse seventeen, which warns men against coveting their neighbor's wives. The verse might seem ambiguous to average readers, but does it mean that women can covet? Ironically, women are not expected to covet either, but they are not directly warned. The author argues that omission is intentional because they are supposed to be controlled by men. Similarly, the author says, “women are not directly commanded because the verse assumes that their obedience is owed to fathers and husbands, who are the primary group addressed.”
