Women in veils...from Bible times?

[Luezette]

In doing my yearly Bible reading, something hit me when reading the account about Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar in Genesis 38. The account states in brief that because she wasn't given to Shelah as promised, she came up with a plan to have her child. You all know what happened.

But here's the part that made me go "oh my goodness! Is this why...?

Tamar proceeeded to veil herself. Now that in itself isn't what made me gasp. What made me gasp was verse 15 "When Judah caught sight of her, he at once took her for a prostitute, because she had covered her face."

So I began thinking is this why in some lands, and or religions, women are required to cover their faces (in some cases their entire bodies)? Because of misapplying that scripture? In that case then, I'm trying to reason, what they're saying is that all women are harlots or should at least be viewed as such. And if that's the case, then it's another classic example of misapplying the scriptures.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Luezette

[Ahuvah]

Remember Leah was veiled too when presented to Jacob as wife instead of Rachel

[Luezette]

True true Mandi and when I read that about Leah, I just assumed that must be how a bride presented herself to her husband according to their culture.

Yet, oh i don't know, maybe something ticked me when the account said that Judah took Tamar as a prostitute because she was veiled, then it's known that women in lands like Pakistan for instance, aren't treated right as in respected and they are veiled.

Am I making sense? Probably not.

[Elijahsmama]

I work with a Muslim woman and we have had wonderful and open conversations about our faiths. I want to do research regarding Tamar. However, in the Muslim culture the covering is about modesty. Some stricter Muslims cover even the hands. My coworker only covers her head. If she is going to be in the presence of males not related to her she is required to be covered. I guess some type of temptation. When at home she is uncovered in front of her husband, father and a select few other males. If a male enters her home unannounced she has a scarf near to quickly cover herself. I was able to explain circumstances why woman cover heads in the Christian congregation. Interesting his different we are .

[Luezette]

Thanks Heather for explaining that. It was just that after reading about Judah thinking Tamar was a prostitute because she veiled herself, then seeing what's going on today kinda brought the unfairness out of me. Ok I'll say it...anger.

And yes, I'll do some research on Tamar too. Should've done that first.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Luezette

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Hi Sister Luezette,

 

Here are 2 articles that might help with your question about the "veil"

The 1st article indicates what prostitutes used to wear in ancient times,

which may help to explain Tamar's veil.

 

The 2nd is an article from the BBC News which discussed the question

of why Islamic women wear veils?

It is not a misinterpretation of the Bible, it is a command in their holy book, the Koran.

I hope this is helpful.

 

____________________________________________________________________________

*** yy chap. 7 p. 54 par. 11 Your Clothes and Appearance Talk—About You ***
Manner of dress distinguishes not only policemen, firemen or nurses; it also distinguishes people whose occupation is dishonorable. Today prostitutes seldom wear shawls or veils as they did in Canaan some three thousand five hundred years ago.

However, their very revealing, suggestive clothing now points even more plainly to the profession they practice
 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________

Why Muslim women wear the veil

By Martin Asser
BBC News

 

Koran, 24:31 (English translation)

"Tell the faithful women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and

not display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their scarf to cover their bosom"

 

"...there has been much debate among Islamic scholars as to whether this goes far enough.

This has led to a distinction between the hijab (literally "covering up" in Arabic) and the niqab (meaning "full veil").

Hijab is a common sight among Muslim women, a scarf that covers their hair and neck.

Niqab consists of covering up completely, including gloves and a veil for the face - leaving just a slit for the eyes, or covering them too with transparent material.

 

Scholarly dispute

The holy text addresses "the faithful women" who are told to shield their private parts and not to display their adornment "except what is apparent of it".

Scholarly disputes revolve around what this last phrase means.

 

Does it refer to the outer surface of a woman's garments, necessitating that she cover every part of her body - ie don the full niqab?

Or does it give an exemption referring to the face and the hands, as well as conventional female ornaments such as kohl, rings, bracelets and make-up?

The latter interpretation has been adopted by some of the most prominent scholars from Islamic history, such as Abu Jafar al-Tabari, who favour the hijab option.

There are additional Koranic instructions - seen as ambiguous and therefore much debated - for women to draw the "khimar" (or scarf) to cover the "jayb" (or bosom/upper chest), and for "the wives and daughters of the Prophet and the women of the believers to draw their "jalabib" (or cloaks) close round them".

Religious and cultural traditions vary across the Muslim world, stretching from Indonesia to Morocco.

But it may also be left to the Muslim woman to decide for herself, whether she wants to cover up fully with the niqab, as an expression of her faith and Islamic identity, or not.

[Luezette]

Well thank you Neil! SO MUCH!

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Your welcome.

You are a nice sister, I can see how you love Jehovah. 

I am glad you are here with us