The
concept of a “strange woman” is an unofficial
doctrine**
held by some Independent Fundamental Baptists concerning sexually
abused girls: They become human garbage and things to be used, to be
dispensed with in whatever way is convenient to those who have charge
over them. Note that many doctrines in a high demand group are not
formally documented but become part of the oral tradition or the
hidden
curriculum**
of their culture and are often more powerful rules than the formally
stated ones.
Ron
Williams of Hephzibah House offers a very lengthy sermon about this
insidiously taught doctrine causing pastors confront occurrences of
sexual abuse in their congregations and in educational settings.
(Full sermon transcript available HERE.
Audio available HERE.)
Rachel,
Jacob's Beloved, is a Strange Woman
™
QUOTE:
Part I, Leah's
Good and Quiet Character Results in Many Children
As
you look at the book of Proverbs we discover that the strange woman
is not quiet. ‘Where’s the strange woman? Oh, just be quiet and
listen.’ That’s all you have to do. If you wonder where the
strange woman is in any crowd just be quiet and listen for a moment.
Because she’ll usually sound louder than the other women. She’s
loud. The strange woman is loud, and stubborn, by the way. Loud and
stubborn.
™
QUOTE:
Part II, Jacob's
Spiritual Low Point at Shechem
Genesis 30: “And Ruben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, ‘Give me I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.’ And she said unto her,” and you can just hear the pent up anger and bitterness in this response “’is it a small matter that though has taken my husband and wouldst though take away my son’s mandrakes also.’ And Rachel said, ‘therefor he shall lie with thee tonight for thy son’s mandrakes.’ And Jacob came out of the field in the evening and Leah went out to meet him and said ‘thou must come in unto me for surely I’ve hired thee with my son’s mandrakes’ and he lay with her and he erected there an altar and called it ‘El Elohe Israel’.'
Genesis 30: “And Ruben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, ‘Give me I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.’ And she said unto her,” and you can just hear the pent up anger and bitterness in this response “’is it a small matter that though has taken my husband and wouldst though take away my son’s mandrakes also.’ And Rachel said, ‘therefor he shall lie with thee tonight for thy son’s mandrakes.’ And Jacob came out of the field in the evening and Leah went out to meet him and said ‘thou must come in unto me for surely I’ve hired thee with my son’s mandrakes’ and he lay with her and he erected there an altar and called it ‘El Elohe Israel’.'
Rachel
is cast as resorting to superstition and this is suggestive of
witchcraft. Williams actually draws from a
patriarchal Jewish commentary that draw upon obscure writings in
the apocrypha to develop this thesis. Why does Williams recognize
extra-Biblical texts that Protestants do not recognize as
God-breathed or even King James Version truths?
