Life for a female in ancient times could be quite precarious. Like their modern counterparts, they longed for good marriages, healthy children, plentiful food, and a stable life. They put faith in God to provide their families food and shelter, knowing that malady and misfortune shadowed them wherever they went. Famine, war, plagues, and difficult childbirth could decimate their numbers; praising the Lord would not have been easy in such circumstances. While some women exhibited unshakable faith, others had great difficulty bearing their many and varied tribulations.