What rights did the Hebrew woman have?

Answer 1

Israelite women learned their traditions and the appropriate portions of Torah-laws during their childhood. They took care of their household as married adults. In times of festivity it is mentioned in the Tanakh that they had a prominent role in leading celebrations, such as occurred during the Exodus (15:20) and after David's victories (1 Samuel 18:7). Also:

• Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses.
• The Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10); and any husband who anguished his wife could expect Divine punishment (Talmud, Bava Metzia 59).
• Several women achieved prophecy (Talmud, Megillah 14a).
• One of the Judges, Deborah, was a woman. Together with another woman named Jael, she brought about a great victory against Canaanite oppressors (Judges ch.4).
• A circumspect husband would seek out the advice of his wife (Genesis 31:3-16), because she could be trusted to supervise the goings-on in the home (Proverbs 31:27), just like a Chief Executive Officer.
• The righteous among the Israelites would treasure their wives (Proverbs 31:11); as Rabbi Akiva (2nd century CE) said, "All that I accomplished (in Torah) is hers (is thanks to her)" (Talmud, Ketubot 63a).