Comparative Studies of Gender Discrimination in Ancient Israel (Numbers Chapters 1-11) and Contemporary Nigeria

Abstract

A study of the book of Numbers (chapters one to eleven) revealed that only males who are twenty years and above are reckoned with in Ancient Israel. The demographic population of Israel in 2020 reveals that the male to female ratio in Israel was 99.1 males per 100 females. Not making the voice of majority of any economy count is a colossal waste that needs immediate intervention. The study thus is a comparative study of gender discrimination of women in ancient Israel and contemporary Nigeria respectively. The research design was descriptive. 120 questionnaires were administered to the leaders, workers and worshippers of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Ebute-Meta and Christ Redeemer Fellowship University of Lagos, Nigeria. 84 copies were retrieved back and subjected to analysis, representing a return rate of 70%. The research engages production/property relations theories. The study revealed that Ancient Israel and Nigeria have similar cultural attitudes to women. Both are patriarchal societies where women are denied access to decision-making and agenda-setting processes and, beyond that, opportunities for leading these processes. This results in the invisibility of women as public actors and violates their rights to equal participation. The church must be dedicated to unapologetic interpretation of the several ambiguities surrounding previous interpretations made on gender issues and be bold to declare the correct and culturally unbiased Biblical ethical stance on gender issues. Likewise, governments must properly and productively engage their constitutionally endowed legislative power to remedy any form of gender discrimination enshrined in laws. Government must put in place policy and laws that will stop child marriage and forbid sexual harassment. All genders should be given a level playing field for equal protection under the law.