Were women treated like property or lower than men in the Old Testament?

< STRONG No. Women were able to own property, just as men were able to.

While property would be divided among the sons, if there were no sons, then the property would be split unto the daughters, and further on. So clearly, Israelite women were not treated as property.

[you should read verses prior to this to get a better context]
Num 27:7 "[God speaking] What the daughters of Zelophehad request is right; give them property among their father's relatives. Let his inheritance pass on to them.
Num 27:8 Tell the people of Israel that whenever a man dies without leaving a son, his daughter is to inherit his property.
Num 27:9 If he has no daughter, his brothers are to inherit it.
Num 27:10 If he has no brothers, his father's brothers are to inherit it.
Num 27:11 If he has no brothers or uncles, then his nearest relative is to inherit it and hold it as his own property. The people of Israel are to observe this as a legal requirement, just as I, the LORD, have commanded you."

< STRONG No. The Proverbs ideal wife bought and sold property and did other business. (Biblical)

If she were treated as property, she wouldn't be able to do the following things:

Pro 31:16 She looks at land and buys it, and with money she has earned she plants a vineyard.

Pro 31:24 She makes clothes and belts, and sells them to merchants.

Pro 31:25 She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future.

Pro 31:27 She is always busy and looks after her family's needs. (GNB)

< OK No. If women were property, then they wouldn't be praised for rightfully killing someone (sending a peg through a man's head).

Consider this incident. Sisera was running away from trouble (for doing something wrong), and came across Jael.....

Jdg 4:19 And he [Sisera] said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.
Jdg 4:20 And he said to her, "Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say, 'No.'"
Jdg 4:21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.
Jdg 4:22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. (ESV)

And then later, she got praised:

Jdg 5:24 The most fortunate of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite--- the most fortunate of women who live in tents.
Jdg 5:25 Sisera asked for water, but she gave him milk; she brought him cream in a beautiful bowl.
Jdg 5:26 She took a tent peg in one hand, a worker's hammer in the other; she struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she pierced him through the head.
Jdg 5:27 He sank to his knees, fell down and lay still at her feet. At her feet he sank to his knees and fell; he fell to the ground, dead. (GNB)

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