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Christian Women Deserve Honor and RespectThe Watchtower—1995 | July 15
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Later, when his disciples returned from buying foodstuffs, they were taken aback, wondering why Jesus was “speaking with a woman.”—John 4:4-9, 27.
2 What prompted this woman’s question and the disciples’ concern? She was a Samaritan, and Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. (John 8:48) But evidently there was also another reason for concern. At that time, rabbinic tradition discouraged men from talking to women in public.a
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Christian Women Deserve Honor and RespectThe Watchtower—1995 | July 15
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a The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains: “Women did not eat with male guests, and men were discouraged from talking with women. . . . Conversation with a woman in a public place was particularly scandalous.” The Jewish Mishnah, a collection of rabbinic teachings, advised: “Talk not much with womankind. . . . He that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at the last will inherit Gehenna.”—Aboth 1:5.
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