The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’
As studies have shown, marital sexual infidelity is attested in every society of the world. In African societies, adultery is not only strictly prohibited on social, moral and religious grounds but is also regarded, in some African cultures, as an abomination. This is rooted, among others, in the sa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Old Testament Society of South Africa
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Old Testament Essays |
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| Online Access: | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/450 |
| _version_ | 1819281961264349184 |
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| author | Alexander I. Abasili |
| author_facet | Alexander I. Abasili |
| author_sort | Alexander I. Abasili |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As studies have shown, marital sexual infidelity is attested in every society of the world. In African societies, adultery is not only strictly prohibited on social, moral and religious grounds but is also regarded, in some African cultures, as an abomination. This is rooted, among others, in the sacredness of marriage in Africa and the inseparable link between the use of human sexuality in marriage and the generation of new life for the perpetuation of the family-lineage and the community. In theory, the ban on adultery applies equally to all married men and women but in praxis, there are some hints of gender injustice against women in observing the ban on adultery. The patriarchal context in some African cultures provides the background for such gender inequality and sexual injustice against women. By using bosadi biblical hermeneutics to interpret the Sotah ritual (Num 5:11–31) – a ritual that is gender-specific, meant only for women accused of adultery – this article condemns the sexual injustice endured by married women in some (African) patriarchal societies and advocates the reading of Num 5:11–31 and other biblical texts containing ‘oppressive elements’ in a way that is liberating and empowering to the oppressed and marginalised.
https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2021/v34n2a5 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T01:08:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6019841e5bde4602a8e3f07600339ef4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-9919 2312-3621 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T01:08:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Old Testament Society of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Old Testament Essays |
| spelling | doaj.art-6019841e5bde4602a8e3f07600339ef42022-12-21T17:23:07ZafrOld Testament Society of South AfricaOld Testament Essays1010-99192312-36212021-10-01342The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’Alexander I. Abasili0KU LeuvenAs studies have shown, marital sexual infidelity is attested in every society of the world. In African societies, adultery is not only strictly prohibited on social, moral and religious grounds but is also regarded, in some African cultures, as an abomination. This is rooted, among others, in the sacredness of marriage in Africa and the inseparable link between the use of human sexuality in marriage and the generation of new life for the perpetuation of the family-lineage and the community. In theory, the ban on adultery applies equally to all married men and women but in praxis, there are some hints of gender injustice against women in observing the ban on adultery. The patriarchal context in some African cultures provides the background for such gender inequality and sexual injustice against women. By using bosadi biblical hermeneutics to interpret the Sotah ritual (Num 5:11–31) – a ritual that is gender-specific, meant only for women accused of adultery – this article condemns the sexual injustice endured by married women in some (African) patriarchal societies and advocates the reading of Num 5:11–31 and other biblical texts containing ‘oppressive elements’ in a way that is liberating and empowering to the oppressed and marginalised. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2021/v34n2a5https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/450suspected adulteressNumbers 5:11-31Sexual injusticegender inequalitypatriarchyadultery |
| spellingShingle | Alexander I. Abasili The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ Old Testament Essays suspected adulteress Numbers 5:11-31 Sexual injustice gender inequality patriarchy adultery |
| title | The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ |
| title_full | The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ |
| title_fullStr | The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ |
| title_short | The Case of ‘Suspected Adulteress’ |
| title_sort | case of suspected adulteress |
| topic | suspected adulteress Numbers 5:11-31 Sexual injustice gender inequality patriarchy adultery |
| url | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/450 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexanderiabasili thecaseofsuspectedadulteress AT alexanderiabasili caseofsuspectedadulteress |