What was life like for most Ancient Hebrew women?

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. Marriage and raising a family was considered an ideal. Most women were not wealthy but penury wasn't common either, because of the commands concerning mutual help. Many women practiced a trade such as working with textiles.

In times of festivity it is mentioned in the Tanakh that women had a prominent role in leading celebrations, such as occurred during the Exodus (15:20) and after David's victories (1 Samuel 18:7).

The Torah ensured the rights of women:

• 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).

Answer 2

• 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).

Compare the above to other ancient societies, in which only land-owning mature males had any rights at all.

Answer 3

The Israelites pioneered in treating women differently than they were being treated elsewhere.

• Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses. Compare the above to other ancient societies, in which only land-owning mature males had any rights at all.
  

Link: Life as a servant in ancient Israel

• 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).
  

It may be noted that traditional Judaism looks askance upon modern feminism, which is seen as destructive and divisive.

See also the Related Link.
Link: Criticisms against Judaism