What role does gender play in the book????In both Exodus and the Code of Hammurabi, authority is grounded in masculine Gods and male leaders, which structures their society in a way which automatically places men at a higher advantage? status? how male figures influence society in life? society? When comparing and contrasting Exodus and Hammurabi, it is important to note how the ideas regarding gender roles manifest in both texts. In Exodus, while God’s gender is never explicitly said, he is referred to with male pronouns. These pronouns portray him as a masculine being. In addition to being masculinized, God also chooses all male prophets to serve as his voice within the world. The Bible consistently prioritizes men over women in it’s narrative.
…show more content…
God is never officially defined as a certain gender, male or female. The social reality of this historical period was inordinately male dominated social and political spheres. (more evidence here). Therefore, the choice for the redactor to use male pronouns for God makes sense; after all, God is the ultimate power in the world, and in the redactors mind, a being with power meant a man. However, no matter how the gender of God emerges within Jewish tradition, once it is established it becomes an unquestionable supporter of man’s paramount power in the world. In Exodus, God is the supreme power within the world, with no limits to what he can do. Male pronouns made a marked transition into a more androcentric theology, one that supported the patriarchal and misogynistic society in which it had influence. Next to God, the people with the most influence are those who he chose to act as his voice within the world. This establishes a hierarchy with God at the top, his prophets as the second tier of power, other follower of God as the third tier of power, and everyone else at the bottom. However, this transitions The hierarchy this establishes is as follows; God, men, women, …show more content…
In the stele, Hammurabi is depicted receiving his royal insignia from the god Shamash, with one hand over his mouth as a sign of respect. However, Shamash is seated while Hammurabi remains standing, towering over the God that he is receiving his authority from. This depiction allows Hammurabi to maintain his reputation as a devout man, while subtly showing a slight dominance over Shamash.The relationship Hammurabi has with his god far differs from the one the prophets have with God. Hammurabi is not seen so much as a servant, but as an equal to the God’s, someone they made king because only he can rule according to their wishes. Yes he is a god-fearing and pious man, but the power granted to him by the gods become his own power as an individual. With the prophets, any power they have relies solely on
God is never officially defined as a certain gender, male or female. The social reality of this historical period was inordinately male dominated social and political spheres. (more evidence here). Therefore, the choice for the redactor to use male pronouns for God makes sense; after all, God is the ultimate power in the world, and in the redactors mind, a being with power meant a man. However, no matter how the gender of God emerges within Jewish tradition, once it is established it becomes an unquestionable supporter of man’s paramount power in the world. In Exodus, God is the supreme power within the world, with no limits to what he can do. Male pronouns made a marked transition into a more androcentric theology, one that supported the patriarchal and misogynistic society in which it had influence. Next to God, the people with the most influence are those who he chose to act as his voice within the world. This establishes a hierarchy with God at the top, his prophets as the second tier of power, other follower of God as the third tier of power, and everyone else at the bottom. However, this transitions The hierarchy this establishes is as follows; God, men, women, …show more content…
In the stele, Hammurabi is depicted receiving his royal insignia from the god Shamash, with one hand over his mouth as a sign of respect. However, Shamash is seated while Hammurabi remains standing, towering over the God that he is receiving his authority from. This depiction allows Hammurabi to maintain his reputation as a devout man, while subtly showing a slight dominance over Shamash.The relationship Hammurabi has with his god far differs from the one the prophets have with God. Hammurabi is not seen so much as a servant, but as an equal to the God’s, someone they made king because only he can rule according to their wishes. Yes he is a god-fearing and pious man, but the power granted to him by the gods become his own power as an individual. With the prophets, any power they have relies solely on