As a very new Hebrew Bible professor working on my dissertation on Deuteronomic family law, I once attended a reception for the great New Testament scholar Krister Stendahl. Someone briefed him well; when he was introduced to me, he murmured, “Women in Deuteronomic law. Not much joy!” Bishop Stendahl’s assessment was on target. An analysis of gender norms and biblical law sheds light on the gender ideals and aspirations of certain elite circles of ancient Judahite men, but it does not render an ethical model for folk today. It is, nonetheless, worth undertaking – if only to avoid uncritically passing on abhorrent values. After discussing the nature of biblical legal texts and a brief look at gender and the Decalogue, this essay focuses on how the Covenant Code (C; Exod 20:22–23:33) and Deuteronomic law (D; Deut 12–26) construct gender roles. Analysis of the construction of gender norms in the priestly laws remains for another time.