Chook,
Ancient Jews were not the enlightened community Jehovah's Witnesses (and even some other Fundamentalist Christian groups) claim we were. The Torah as spelled out in Scripture is more of an attempt at creating a just society but greatly hampered by ancient prejudices and limitations more than it being a law dictated directly from Heaven as the Witnesses teach.
The asinine idea that ancient religious laws are perfect representations of the mindset of God is quite well demonstrated in the award-winning novel, "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. The story plays out over a dystopian paradigm created when a Fundamentalist Christian Government overtakes the United States and imposes a "theocratic rule" which mimics the type of religious world experienced by Mormons, the Amish, and often reflects the type of governing body rule experienced by Jehovah's Witnesses (though militarized).
Like these groups, the dystopia of the novel alleges Christianity but imposes a literal Old Testament application of law that ends up oppressing society, especially women. Among those suppressed by such a government, ironically, are the Jews who are forced to submit to proselytizing or live in Israel (where they are promised they can practice Judaism out of sight of the world, but all actually killed by the dystopian government if they choose such a way out).
For those interested and have access to Hulu, "The Handmaid's Tale" has been adapted into a new television series to great critical acclaim. Masterfully produced and so welcomed by viewers that it was instantly granted a second season even though the first has just begun. The novel has been discussed here several times on this forum, and it is a must read for an ex or current JW or LDS or Fundie (and the new show on Hulu is definitely worth watching).