With this warrior-princess view, it can change how you view some of the lessons from scripture. Looking back, often we think the systems, policies, reactions to circumstances that created new practices are infallible...especially if we believe those systems, policies and practices are working for us. This is superbly true if they're beneficial for our 'in-group'. Today, we concentrate our view of women's role on Genesis 3 ("he will rule over you") Greek scripture passages like Ephesians 5.21 and 1 Peter 3.7 that suggest women submit to husbands and are weaker (without strength). What if God views women differently as warrior-princesses--not literally in the military sense but figuratively as a protector and guide?
In Genesis 3, the serpent talks to Eve initially. Adam is there, mutely standing by. It's as if the couple were walking through paradise and met the serpent who was 'more crafty than of the wild animals.' The conversation continues between the two and we all know how it ends. Adam follows her example and eats the forbidden fruit. Later, Adam finds his voice and answers God's query of "Where are you?" As their transgression is revealed, Adam shamelessly shifts the blame to Eve...and to God ("...the woman You gave me..."). Despite his complaint, he escapes cursing; the serpent, the woman and the ground are cursed...and his immortality is removed. Men will rule over women, perhaps similar to US government structure of civilian Commander-in-Chief (the president) ruling over the military. Eve failed to protect Adam and their blessed status of unhindered communion with God. There are consequences to the abdication.
And when people get power, it's really hard for them to relinquish or share any authority. We see this in business and politics all the time. Rules are established to maintain our status.
When the 'sons of God' in Genesis 6 conceived children with the beautiful daughters/warrior-princesses, the offspring 'became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times' (Gen. 6.4). [Aside: notice that the ground's curse seems to be removed after Noah's ark experience--Gen. 8.21.] This is also one of the first references to male warriors following one of Cain's sons boasting.
I wonder also if things continued to go awry when Abram/Abraham tried to protect the 'protector,' Sarai/Sarah, when he lied about being brother-sister instead of husband-wife (Gen. 12 to the Pharaoh of Egypt and Gen. 20 to the King of Gerar). Later in the Exodus account, Moses' sister, not initially identified as Miriam who is also Aaron's sister (Numbers 26.59 and elsewhere), watches protectively over baby Moses as he's rescued from the river by the Pharoah's daughter and suggests their mother as a nurse-maid. Still later, Zipporah, Moses' wife, protects him from killed by God by taking action to circumcise her son. Miriam is a prophet: the first of many female prophets (Exod. 15.20). But when Aaron is coerced into making the golden calf as an idol, Miriam is silent. After sometime in the wilderness, Aaron and Miriam let their jealousy of Moses' position cause complaining (Num. 12): Moses is not following the commandments--he has married a non-Jewish woman. They assert that God has also spoken through them, not just through Moses. And since they haven't broken that particular marriage rule, they should have equal status. God convenes a meeting with Moses, Aaron and Miriam and expresses His anger over their complaints about their status. When He leaves, Miriam is struck with leprosy; Aaron is not. She is only saved from imminent death because Aaron repents and pleads on her behalf and Moses prays. Seven days later, she is healed. Why was Miriam punished and not Aaron? Did God hold her, the ezer-protector, to a higher standard? As with Eve, perhaps there are harsh consequences for those who abdicate their responsibilities.
There may be more examples, and do let me know of countervailing examples, as you read the scriptures.
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