"... The letter is untypical of early Jewish literature in its inclusion of two references to the involvement in worship of women, both Jewish (verse 28) and gentile (verses 42–43). The first reinforces the Levitical prescriptions around ritual impurity at the times of menstruation and childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8; 15:19–31). The second critiques the sexual activity and fertility rites practiced as part of some ancient religions, but explicitly forbidden by Israel’s law (e.g., Deuteronomy 23:17–18). The implication that the women working as temple prostitutes are blameworthy, rather than victims of sexual slavery, reflects ancient rather than modern worldviews. In a further reference to women, the wives of the priests are specifically included within the wider critique of the deception and corruption of the gentile cults: they are thus condemned for keeping for themselves the food offered in sacrifice to the gods, and failing to share any of it with the poor (verse 27). Women in general are also assumed to love ornaments and money (verses 8–10), a stereotype found elsewhere in early Jewish (e.g., 1 Enoch 8:1) and early Christian (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:9–15) sources ..."