The Sunday News
Witness Dingani
“Women in Israel oppressed their counterparts.”
Examine this view. How applicable is this to your society? (25)
Comment overview
THE above question might be new to some of you, but that is a question which is confusing a number of students. It will be my pleasure if this article helps a lot of people. Women of Israel cannot be separated from the history of the Israelites, and their names cannot be easily separated from history, this includes Deborah, Hannah, Miriam, Peninnah, Jezebel, Bathsheba and the women of Samaria during the days of Amos. The above-named characters oppressed their counterparts, this will be fully shown below .
Answers on Israel part
Jezebel played a crucial role in getting Naboth’s vineyards, this include writing the letters on behalf of the king. This is recorded in 1st Kings 21: 8. The family managed to get rid of Naboth and they succeeded in getting the vineyard, this is evidenced by the death of Naboth. Naboth was married, this cannot be denied even though the Bible is silent about it. The bottom line is that Naboth’s wife was left landless and as a widow because of the actions of Jezebel, hence, it can be argued that the actions of Jezebel oppressed others.
Miriam is well-known of gossiping in the Old Testament. The relationship of Miriam and Zipporah the wife of Moses was far from being cordial. Miriam didn’t like the Cushite woman, this is the reason why he went on to complain. The whole story is recorded in Numbers 12: 4-8. This indicates that there was clash between the two women, the trouble causer being Miriam, therefore, it is enough evidence to prove that women in Israel oppressed their counterparts.
The story of Amos who condemned the women of Samaria is well known. Amos in chapter 4:1 gave us a picture that the women of Israel persuaded their husbands to get rid of the vulnerable groups “poor husbands”, as a result their wives were left suffering, the root cause being the women of Samaria who were evil. As such, this justifies the view that women of Samaria oppressed their counterparts.
NB: More examples can be added. This includes the following:
(a) Hannah oppressed by Peninnah 1st Samuel 1:1
(b) Bathsheba oppressed the wives of David
The however part
In as much as it can be said that the women of Israel oppressed their counterparts, one should consider the view that they are some who are not recorded to have oppressed their counterparts, for instance Gomer the wife of Hosea.
The wife of the son of the prophet (2 kings 4: 1, the widow of Zerapath, the Shunamite woman, the prophetess the wife of Isaiah. As such this indicates that women in Israel did not totally oppress their counterparts.
Zimbabwean context
In Zimbabwean context, women oppress their counterparts for instance a local newspaper recorded that in Victoria Falls town women “small houses” fight against the legal wives. The element of oppressing each other can be noticed, therefore, this indicates that women oppressed their counterparts is applicable in Zimbabwe.
Star FM during weekdays early in the morning usually broadcasts Auntie Rhoda and Sekuru Nyati, a caller phoned and explained that she is suffering and the cause was that the small house had bewitched her.
There is an element of oppressing each other.
Sis Noe once published a letter from a certain lady in Zimbabwe who said that she was looking for a serious husband after the aunts of her former husband had chased her away because she was infertile. Aunts oppressed the daughter-in-law (verbal war). Therefore, this proves to us that women in Zimbabwe oppress their counterparts.
-Witness Dingani is the author, columnist, youth coach, radio host, cricketer. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation”. In 2016 he was nominated as the most influential youthful figuresin Zimbabwe and being voted on the 8th position out of 15 people by the Pan-Zimbabwe society.
In 2017, Witness Dingani co-authored the new book of Lower 6, entitled “Understanding Family and Religious Studies”. Questions by schools can be submitted through his mobile number +2363777896159 or Email address: [email protected]. Readers can follow the Questions and Answers on Sunday News every week.
