Post by Watchman on Jun 28, 2007 9:36:35 GMT -5
This article and my comments are from a thread at the 'Too Long In The Sun' Forum- Watchman
shengy
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: Women Teachers - Is this Scriptural?
Women Teachers - Is this Scriptural?
By Richard Bailey
INTRODUCTION
Tradition, prejudice, and ignorance over the past 2000+ years has minimized, and at times excluded, the woman’s role in serving Yeshua (Jesus) in the body of Messiah. This was not the example Yeshua demonstrated when a woman desired to sit at His feet and become a “taught one” (Hebrew: talmidim, English: disciple). He did not tell her to go away and attend to the womanly duties because discipleship is “for men only.” Instead, Yeshua said: “Miriam (Mary) has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (NASB)
One of the goals of the modern Messianic movement has been to return to the teachings and examples of Messiah Yeshua, the Apostles, the forefathers, and the patriarchs. Why fall short when it comes to dealing with the anti-woman prejudice that exists today? With today’s resources, we can more easily filter through generations of misinterpretations and misuse of Scripture
Historical information and language tools are readily available to allow us to correctly interpret the Hebrew and Greek languages. These resources have never been available to “lay people” before this generation. And, if properly used, we should take these tools and tear down age old prejudices that did not exist in our Messiah Yeshua or the Holy One of Israel.
I believe as we look at Scripture, history, and language, we will find that our Creator intended for men and women to rule and reign together; not one dominating over the other. It is clear in 1st Corinthians 12 that no one but the Ruach haChodesh (the Holy Spirit) can determine who, man or woman, will receive which spiritual gifts.
As anti-Semitism (prejudice against the Jewish people) was, and still is, being perpetuated by lies and myths, prejudice against women follows a similar pattern. In her article, First Century Woman-Hellenic and Latin Influences on Western Views of Women, Jimmilea Berryhill states,
“…Greek Hellenism had made great inroads into the nations, and the mixture of its philosophies did not escape the Roman subjects. In Veiled and Silenced, Alvin John Schmidt describes the setting: ‘Associating women with evil has been an age-old practice, deeply embedded in many cultures.’”
She goes on to quote men who impacted the thinking of their generation and succeeding societies through their writings concerning women:
“The Greek poets were fond of equating woman with evil. Euripides (480-406 B.C.) has Hippolytus say: ‘Why hast thou given a home beneath the sun, Zeus, unto woman, specious curse to man?’ (Hippolytus 616-17 B.C.). Andromache, a woman who had internalized the values of men, comes to this conclusion: ‘Strange that God hath given to men slaves for the venom of all creeping pests, but none hath ever yet devised a balm for venomous woman, worse than fire or viper’ (Andromache 269-73; Lysistrata 10-11).
Among the Romans, we find Tacitus (first century A.D.) picturing women as dominating and cruel (Annuals 3.33). Seneca, a philosopher and statesman, saw human anger as a womanish and childish weakness (Delra 1.19.3). These Greek and Roman perspectives can be seen when we hear the words of Juvenal, in one of his satires: ‘Teach her decent ways, when there’s no decency in her? Not a chance in the world. Like mother, like daughter’ (Satire 6.240-41). The ancient agrarian males were convinced that woman was responsible for introducing evil into man’s world.
Aristotle defined women as biologically inferior in this way: ‘The female is, as it were, a deformed male’ (Generation of Animals 2.737a:27), and his mentor Plato (427?-347 B.C.), resorting to his reincarnation beliefs presented his case as follows: ‘Men who proved themselves cowardly and spent their lives in wrong doing were transformed, at their second incarnation, into women’ (Timaeus 91a). In a similar manner, Hippocrates, almost 100 years before Aristotle, contended the male fetus began movement in his mother’s womb at three months after conception, whereas the female fetus moved later, at four months. Even five hundred years later, Galen, who had a great influence on Western biological and medical thought said: ‘The female is less perfect than the male’ (On the Usefulness of the Parts of the Body 14.6-7).
Tertullian (another of the founding ‘fathers’ of Roman Catholicism) called women ‘the devil’s gateway’; Epiphanius (another founding ‘father’ of Roman Catholicism) called women ‘a feeble race, untrustworthy, and of mediocre intelligence’” (Danielou, p. 25)
Rabbi Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians (2:Cool:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.”
IN THE BEGINNING
In Beresheet (Genesis) 1:27-28, it is written:
“And thus Elohim created man in His form. In the form of Elohim, He created him, male and female, He created them. Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and dominate the fish of the sea, the birds of the heaven, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.’” (Chumash)
From these verses, it is clear that men and women are given equal roles in ruling over creation. No boss/secretary relationship or a woman being placed beneath man exists in these verses.
In Genesis 2:18, we see woman being created from man’s side as “a helper.” What does this mean?
“And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him.”
Literal Translation w/Strongs reads:
|0559| And said |3068| Yahweh |0430| God, |3808| not |2896| it is good |1961| being of |0120| the man |0905| alone. |6013| I will make |0000| for him |5828| a helper |5048| corresponding to him.
“The Hebrew word translated ‘helper’ is used twenty-one times in the Old Testament: twenty of these cases refer to help from a superior. In fact, sixteen of the twenty-one refer to God (such as Exodus 18:4, 1 Sam 7:12; Ps 121:1-2, Psalm 27:9, Psalm 94:17, and Psalm 146:5). Thus, there is nothing at creation that would subjugate women to men. The use of ‘suitable helper’ to describe Eve actually implies a spiritual partnership between the husband and wife. Adam needed help, and help was provided.” (The Role of Woman in the Church, by Frank Daniels)
The Hebrew word translated as “corresponding to him” (Strong’s #5048) is “neged.” It is:
from HSN5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before.
Nowhere in these definitions do you see the word “under!” Together, man and woman are to form a whole, serving the Creator as “one.” This has not changed.
Another traditional misunderstanding held “over a woman’s head” is that all women are cursed because of what Eve did in the Garden of Eden. This is not true. Genesis 3:16 states:
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
This verse only applies to Eve. It is not our Heavenly Father’s nature to punish others for someone else’s individual sin! How many men do you know who were led by their wives to literally eat from the physical Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Scripture says that this only happened to “one” man, Adam. Ezekiel 18:18-20 states:
“As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
2 Kings 14:5-6:
“And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Scripture teaches that both Adam and Eve were co-participants in the Fall: (Gen 3:6; Rom 5:12-21; 1Cor 15:21-22). Genesis 3:6 states
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Romans 5:14:
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.’
THE TORAH (LAW) – GIVEN TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
Deuteronomy 31:11-12
"Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this Law."
Joshua 8:35
“There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”
Nehemiah 8:1-3
“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the Law..."
Ezra 10:1
“Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.”
Jeremiah 44:24
“Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:”
Luke 8:1-4
“And it came to pass afterward, that He (Yeshua) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:”
Acts 8:12
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Yeshua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 16:13-15
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household…”
Acts 17:10-12
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
DWELLING PLACE OF GOD - WOMEN HELPED BUILD THE TABERNACLE
The Holy One of Israel did not exclude women in the building of His house:
“And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass…And they came… brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women… The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work...” (Exodus 35: 4-29)
WOMEN SERVED AT THE TABERNACLE
Women were also part of the priesthood and served at the Mishkon:
“And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Exodus 38:Cool
“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (1 Samuel 2:22)
The place where the women assembled was the altar of burnt offerings and the laver. This is where the sacrifices were slaughtered and eaten; where the priest were consecrated and lived for seven days after consecration; and where the Nazarites shaved their heads. These women were not just hanging out!
The women were serving: “And to the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting” (Num 18:21-22). Others were not allowed to come near: "And the children of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, lest they bear sin and die."
“The context shows this passage to be speaking of women...women engaged in ‘service’ at the tent (or tabernacle). The word ‘served’ used to describe the women who ministered at the door is only applied to military service or tabernacle or temple service. The Hebrew word is used to designate the service of only one class of Tabernacle servants: the Levites, the family of the priesthood.” (The Role of Woman in the Church, by Frank Daniels)
WOMEN LEADERS IN THE TENACH (OLDER COVENANT)
§ Miriam, Sister of Moses and Aaron
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:20-21)
“And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.” (Numbers 12:15)
“For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Micah 6:4)
§ Deborah, Judge of Israel, Prophetess, Song Writer
“And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak…said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? (Judges 4:3-7)
“Then sang Deborah and Barak…saying, Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel…the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel….Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam…the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.” (Judges 5:1-13)
§ Huldah, Prophetess
“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest…Shaphan the scribe…saying, Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest…went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me…Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, Thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel…I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.” (2 Kings 22:11-20)
§ Noadiah, Prophetess
“Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.” (Nehemiah 6:13-14)
§ Isaiah’s Wife and Prophetess
“Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 8:1-4)
Continued...
shengy
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: Women Teachers - Is this Scriptural?
Women Teachers - Is this Scriptural?
By Richard Bailey
INTRODUCTION
Tradition, prejudice, and ignorance over the past 2000+ years has minimized, and at times excluded, the woman’s role in serving Yeshua (Jesus) in the body of Messiah. This was not the example Yeshua demonstrated when a woman desired to sit at His feet and become a “taught one” (Hebrew: talmidim, English: disciple). He did not tell her to go away and attend to the womanly duties because discipleship is “for men only.” Instead, Yeshua said: “Miriam (Mary) has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (NASB)
One of the goals of the modern Messianic movement has been to return to the teachings and examples of Messiah Yeshua, the Apostles, the forefathers, and the patriarchs. Why fall short when it comes to dealing with the anti-woman prejudice that exists today? With today’s resources, we can more easily filter through generations of misinterpretations and misuse of Scripture
Historical information and language tools are readily available to allow us to correctly interpret the Hebrew and Greek languages. These resources have never been available to “lay people” before this generation. And, if properly used, we should take these tools and tear down age old prejudices that did not exist in our Messiah Yeshua or the Holy One of Israel.
I believe as we look at Scripture, history, and language, we will find that our Creator intended for men and women to rule and reign together; not one dominating over the other. It is clear in 1st Corinthians 12 that no one but the Ruach haChodesh (the Holy Spirit) can determine who, man or woman, will receive which spiritual gifts.
As anti-Semitism (prejudice against the Jewish people) was, and still is, being perpetuated by lies and myths, prejudice against women follows a similar pattern. In her article, First Century Woman-Hellenic and Latin Influences on Western Views of Women, Jimmilea Berryhill states,
“…Greek Hellenism had made great inroads into the nations, and the mixture of its philosophies did not escape the Roman subjects. In Veiled and Silenced, Alvin John Schmidt describes the setting: ‘Associating women with evil has been an age-old practice, deeply embedded in many cultures.’”
She goes on to quote men who impacted the thinking of their generation and succeeding societies through their writings concerning women:
“The Greek poets were fond of equating woman with evil. Euripides (480-406 B.C.) has Hippolytus say: ‘Why hast thou given a home beneath the sun, Zeus, unto woman, specious curse to man?’ (Hippolytus 616-17 B.C.). Andromache, a woman who had internalized the values of men, comes to this conclusion: ‘Strange that God hath given to men slaves for the venom of all creeping pests, but none hath ever yet devised a balm for venomous woman, worse than fire or viper’ (Andromache 269-73; Lysistrata 10-11).
Among the Romans, we find Tacitus (first century A.D.) picturing women as dominating and cruel (Annuals 3.33). Seneca, a philosopher and statesman, saw human anger as a womanish and childish weakness (Delra 1.19.3). These Greek and Roman perspectives can be seen when we hear the words of Juvenal, in one of his satires: ‘Teach her decent ways, when there’s no decency in her? Not a chance in the world. Like mother, like daughter’ (Satire 6.240-41). The ancient agrarian males were convinced that woman was responsible for introducing evil into man’s world.
Aristotle defined women as biologically inferior in this way: ‘The female is, as it were, a deformed male’ (Generation of Animals 2.737a:27), and his mentor Plato (427?-347 B.C.), resorting to his reincarnation beliefs presented his case as follows: ‘Men who proved themselves cowardly and spent their lives in wrong doing were transformed, at their second incarnation, into women’ (Timaeus 91a). In a similar manner, Hippocrates, almost 100 years before Aristotle, contended the male fetus began movement in his mother’s womb at three months after conception, whereas the female fetus moved later, at four months. Even five hundred years later, Galen, who had a great influence on Western biological and medical thought said: ‘The female is less perfect than the male’ (On the Usefulness of the Parts of the Body 14.6-7).
Tertullian (another of the founding ‘fathers’ of Roman Catholicism) called women ‘the devil’s gateway’; Epiphanius (another founding ‘father’ of Roman Catholicism) called women ‘a feeble race, untrustworthy, and of mediocre intelligence’” (Danielou, p. 25)
Rabbi Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians (2:Cool:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.”
IN THE BEGINNING
In Beresheet (Genesis) 1:27-28, it is written:
“And thus Elohim created man in His form. In the form of Elohim, He created him, male and female, He created them. Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and dominate the fish of the sea, the birds of the heaven, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.’” (Chumash)
From these verses, it is clear that men and women are given equal roles in ruling over creation. No boss/secretary relationship or a woman being placed beneath man exists in these verses.
In Genesis 2:18, we see woman being created from man’s side as “a helper.” What does this mean?
“And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him.”
Literal Translation w/Strongs reads:
|0559| And said |3068| Yahweh |0430| God, |3808| not |2896| it is good |1961| being of |0120| the man |0905| alone. |6013| I will make |0000| for him |5828| a helper |5048| corresponding to him.
“The Hebrew word translated ‘helper’ is used twenty-one times in the Old Testament: twenty of these cases refer to help from a superior. In fact, sixteen of the twenty-one refer to God (such as Exodus 18:4, 1 Sam 7:12; Ps 121:1-2, Psalm 27:9, Psalm 94:17, and Psalm 146:5). Thus, there is nothing at creation that would subjugate women to men. The use of ‘suitable helper’ to describe Eve actually implies a spiritual partnership between the husband and wife. Adam needed help, and help was provided.” (The Role of Woman in the Church, by Frank Daniels)
The Hebrew word translated as “corresponding to him” (Strong’s #5048) is “neged.” It is:
from HSN5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before.
Nowhere in these definitions do you see the word “under!” Together, man and woman are to form a whole, serving the Creator as “one.” This has not changed.
Another traditional misunderstanding held “over a woman’s head” is that all women are cursed because of what Eve did in the Garden of Eden. This is not true. Genesis 3:16 states:
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
This verse only applies to Eve. It is not our Heavenly Father’s nature to punish others for someone else’s individual sin! How many men do you know who were led by their wives to literally eat from the physical Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Scripture says that this only happened to “one” man, Adam. Ezekiel 18:18-20 states:
“As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
2 Kings 14:5-6:
“And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Scripture teaches that both Adam and Eve were co-participants in the Fall: (Gen 3:6; Rom 5:12-21; 1Cor 15:21-22). Genesis 3:6 states
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Romans 5:14:
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.’
THE TORAH (LAW) – GIVEN TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
Deuteronomy 31:11-12
"Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this Law."
Joshua 8:35
“There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”
Nehemiah 8:1-3
“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the Law..."
Ezra 10:1
“Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.”
Jeremiah 44:24
“Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:”
Luke 8:1-4
“And it came to pass afterward, that He (Yeshua) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:”
Acts 8:12
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Yeshua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 16:13-15
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household…”
Acts 17:10-12
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
DWELLING PLACE OF GOD - WOMEN HELPED BUILD THE TABERNACLE
The Holy One of Israel did not exclude women in the building of His house:
“And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass…And they came… brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women… The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work...” (Exodus 35: 4-29)
WOMEN SERVED AT THE TABERNACLE
Women were also part of the priesthood and served at the Mishkon:
“And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Exodus 38:Cool
“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (1 Samuel 2:22)
The place where the women assembled was the altar of burnt offerings and the laver. This is where the sacrifices were slaughtered and eaten; where the priest were consecrated and lived for seven days after consecration; and where the Nazarites shaved their heads. These women were not just hanging out!
The women were serving: “And to the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting” (Num 18:21-22). Others were not allowed to come near: "And the children of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, lest they bear sin and die."
“The context shows this passage to be speaking of women...women engaged in ‘service’ at the tent (or tabernacle). The word ‘served’ used to describe the women who ministered at the door is only applied to military service or tabernacle or temple service. The Hebrew word is used to designate the service of only one class of Tabernacle servants: the Levites, the family of the priesthood.” (The Role of Woman in the Church, by Frank Daniels)
WOMEN LEADERS IN THE TENACH (OLDER COVENANT)
§ Miriam, Sister of Moses and Aaron
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:20-21)
“And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.” (Numbers 12:15)
“For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Micah 6:4)
§ Deborah, Judge of Israel, Prophetess, Song Writer
“And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak…said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? (Judges 4:3-7)
“Then sang Deborah and Barak…saying, Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel…the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel….Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam…the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.” (Judges 5:1-13)
§ Huldah, Prophetess
“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest…Shaphan the scribe…saying, Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest…went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me…Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, Thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel…I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.” (2 Kings 22:11-20)
§ Noadiah, Prophetess
“Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.” (Nehemiah 6:13-14)
§ Isaiah’s Wife and Prophetess
“Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 8:1-4)
Continued...