Life was precarious and often frightening for widows. The lucky ones had families to care for them as they grew old and infirm. But those without families were forced to find ways to take care of themselves. The situation was often dire, and obliged them to depend upon the mercy and generosity of others. By foraging in fields, orchards, and vineyards, they could sometimes find food; for example, fruit left on the vine or trees. The ancient Hebrews harvested their olives, but were admonished to leave what had fallen to the ground for the widows. In the Book of Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law picks up the leftover grain in the field of Boaz, since both women have lost their husbands and must somehow survive.

Widowhood

In the patrilineal society of the ancient Hebrews, property wasn't usually left to the wife, but to the male heirs, leaving a widow at the mercy of her sons. Generally, women were not educated, so without a family to provide protection and sustenance, it would have been difficult for a widow to start her own business or find other suitable ways to support herself.

It is recorded in the Old Testament that widows are under God's care. Psalms 146:9 states, “ The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and the widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.” The protection of widows is also mentioned in Deuteronomy.

In the New Testament, the Greeks spoke out against the Hebrews because the Greek widows were being neglected when the allotments of daily food was given: “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1). The Apostles solved the problem by selecting “seven men of honest report” to oversee the whole business (Acts 6:3–6). The Apostle Paul stated in his first letter to Timothy that the widows needed to be shown respect. “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows that are widows indeed” (1 Timothy 5:1–3).