John 20:14-18
14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" 18Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
John 4:1-45
John 4
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.4And he had to pass through Samaria.5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)9The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."11The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?12Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock."13Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."
16Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."17The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."19The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."25The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."26Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?"28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,29"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"30They went out of the town and were coming to him.
31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."33So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"34Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.35Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.41And many more believed because of his word.42They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
43After the two days he departed for Galilee.44(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.4And he had to pass through Samaria.5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)9The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."11The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?12Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock."13Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."
16Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."17The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."19The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."25The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."26Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?"28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,29"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"30They went out of the town and were coming to him.
31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."33So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"34Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.35Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.41And many more believed because of his word.42They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
43After the two days he departed for Galilee.44(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
Luke 24:1-11
Luke 24:1-11
[1]On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " [8] Then they remembered his words.
[9] When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [11] But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
[1]On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " [8] Then they remembered his words.
[9] When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [11] But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Luke 23:49,55,56
Luke 23:49, 55,56
49And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things. . . . 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
49And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things. . . . 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Luke 10:38-42
Luke 10:38-42
38Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.40But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
38Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.40But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 8:2,3
Luke 8:2,3
2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
Luke 2:36-38
Luke 2:36-38
36And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
36And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 1:46-55
Luke 1:46-55
46And Mary said:
"My soul exalts the Lord,
47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54"He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever."
46And Mary said:
"My soul exalts the Lord,
47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54"He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever."
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:26-38
26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mark 16:1-9
Mark 16:1-9
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" 8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" 8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
Mark 15:40-41
Mark 15:40,41
40There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
40There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Matthew 28:1-9
Matthew 28:1-9
1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
Matthew 27:55,56
Matthew 27:55,56
55Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
55Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 26:6-13
Matthew 26:6-13
6Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? 9"For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11"For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12"For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
6Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? 9"For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11"For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12"For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
Numbers 30:3-16
Numbers 30:3-16
3"Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father's house in her youth, 4and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5"But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her because her father had forbidden her. 6"However, if she should marry while under her vows or the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself, 7and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand and her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8"But if on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself; and the LORD will forgive her. 9"But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, everything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. 10"However, if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an obligation with an oath, 11and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not forbid her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she bound herself shall stand. 12"But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and the LORD will forgive her. 13"Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it. 14"But if her husband indeed says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them. 15"But if he indeed annuls them after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt." 16These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, as between a man and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter, while she is in her youth in her father's house.
3"Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father's house in her youth, 4and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5"But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her because her father had forbidden her. 6"However, if she should marry while under her vows or the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself, 7and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand and her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8"But if on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself; and the LORD will forgive her. 9"But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, everything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. 10"However, if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an obligation with an oath, 11and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not forbid her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she bound herself shall stand. 12"But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and the LORD will forgive her. 13"Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it. 14"But if her husband indeed says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them. 15"But if he indeed annuls them after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt." 16These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, as between a man and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter, while she is in her youth in her father's house.
Numbers 27:1-11
Numbers 27
1Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah. 2They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying, 3"Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons. 4"Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's brothers." 5So Moses brought their case before the LORD. 6Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 7"The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall surely give them a hereditary possession among their father's brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8"Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9'If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10'If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11'If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses.'"
1Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah. 2They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying, 3"Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons. 4"Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's brothers." 5So Moses brought their case before the LORD. 6Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 7"The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall surely give them a hereditary possession among their father's brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8"Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9'If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10'If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11'If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses.'"
Colossians 3:18-21
Colossians 3
18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Ephesians 5:22-33
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His body. 31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His body. 31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
2 Timothy 1:5
2 Timothy 1:5
5For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
5For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
1 Timothy 5:1-16
1 Timothy 5:1-16
1Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
1Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
1 Timothy 3:11
1 Timothy 3:11
11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
Philippians 4:3
Philippians 4:3
3Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
3Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Romans 16:7, Junia
Romans 16:7
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my contrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
This passage has many possible interpretations. It is very unlikely that it means that there was a woman apostle. Paul would not command in all the churches that women are not to have authority and then at the same time affirm a woman who was an apostle. This was not in the character of Paul, to speak one thing and do another. When he said "yes" or "amen" he meant "yes" or "amen".
Possible Interpretations:
1. Junias was used as a name for both men and women (similar to Chris, Shannon, etc.). Early church writings differ. Of the earliest three Origen (died in 254), Ambrosiaster (died after 384) and Epiphanius (died 403), Origen and Epiphanius refer to Junia(s) as a man and Ambrosiaster refers to Junia(s) as a woman. Epiphanius the only one to include more than what the text reveals adds that Junias "became a bishop of Apameia of Syria". After this Junias was often refered to as a woman. The evidence of whether or not Junia(s) was a man or women is inconclusive, however the only thing written apart from what can be found in Roman 16:7 by Epiphanius, claims that Junia(s) was a man.
2. Until I heard commentaries on this verse by those defending women as leaders, I never thought that these verses were referring to Andronicus and Junias as apostles, but instead as people that were admired among the apostles. This reading is also verified by research into the Greek usage of the words in this text and how they have been used in extrabiblical texts. (224)Based on this, the verse may be translated and is translated in the ESV as "Greet Andronicus and Junia [or Junias], my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles [or messengers], and were in Christ before me." This is an appropriate translation based on the evidence. The word note means:
1) having a mark on it, marked, stamped, coined
2) marked a) in a good sense
1) of note, illustrious b) in a bad sense
1) notorious, infamous
The word "of note" has been research using a Greek data base to see how it has been used throughout literature. It was found that this word is used to mean "well known" in the since that the apostles knew these people. This lates evidence was used for the English Standard Version which translates the word as "well known".
3. Andronicus and Junias might be married, and it is often interpreted as such
4. The word translated apostle is elsewhere used in reference to people who are not apostles but messengers of the church. 2 Corinthians 8:23 says, "they are messengers of the churches" referring to those accompanying Paul in bringing money to Jerusalem. Paul refers Epaphroditus similarly when in Phillipians 2:25 he says, "your messenger and minister to my need". He could be saying the same about Andronicus and Junia(s).
5. I would like to research the meaning of "fellow prisoners with me". If this means that they were fellow prisoners along with Paul at the same time and same place, then would it not be the case that only men would be imprisoned with men. I do not think this is necessarily the case, Paul could just mean those who were prisoners at the same time, but it is a question that should be looked into.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my contrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
This passage has many possible interpretations. It is very unlikely that it means that there was a woman apostle. Paul would not command in all the churches that women are not to have authority and then at the same time affirm a woman who was an apostle. This was not in the character of Paul, to speak one thing and do another. When he said "yes" or "amen" he meant "yes" or "amen".
Possible Interpretations:
1. Junias was used as a name for both men and women (similar to Chris, Shannon, etc.). Early church writings differ. Of the earliest three Origen (died in 254), Ambrosiaster (died after 384) and Epiphanius (died 403), Origen and Epiphanius refer to Junia(s) as a man and Ambrosiaster refers to Junia(s) as a woman. Epiphanius the only one to include more than what the text reveals adds that Junias "became a bishop of Apameia of Syria". After this Junias was often refered to as a woman. The evidence of whether or not Junia(s) was a man or women is inconclusive, however the only thing written apart from what can be found in Roman 16:7 by Epiphanius, claims that Junia(s) was a man.
2. Until I heard commentaries on this verse by those defending women as leaders, I never thought that these verses were referring to Andronicus and Junias as apostles, but instead as people that were admired among the apostles. This reading is also verified by research into the Greek usage of the words in this text and how they have been used in extrabiblical texts. (224)Based on this, the verse may be translated and is translated in the ESV as "Greet Andronicus and Junia [or Junias], my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles [or messengers], and were in Christ before me." This is an appropriate translation based on the evidence. The word note means:
1) having a mark on it, marked, stamped, coined
2) marked a) in a good sense
1) of note, illustrious b) in a bad sense
1) notorious, infamous
The word "of note" has been research using a Greek data base to see how it has been used throughout literature. It was found that this word is used to mean "well known" in the since that the apostles knew these people. This lates evidence was used for the English Standard Version which translates the word as "well known".
3. Andronicus and Junias might be married, and it is often interpreted as such
4. The word translated apostle is elsewhere used in reference to people who are not apostles but messengers of the church. 2 Corinthians 8:23 says, "they are messengers of the churches" referring to those accompanying Paul in bringing money to Jerusalem. Paul refers Epaphroditus similarly when in Phillipians 2:25 he says, "your messenger and minister to my need". He could be saying the same about Andronicus and Junia(s).
5. I would like to research the meaning of "fellow prisoners with me". If this means that they were fellow prisoners along with Paul at the same time and same place, then would it not be the case that only men would be imprisoned with men. I do not think this is necessarily the case, Paul could just mean those who were prisoners at the same time, but it is a question that should be looked into.
Romans 16:7
Romans 16:7
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my contrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of not among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my contrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of not among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Romans 16:1, Phoebe
Romans 16:1
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
The word servant just means servant. It could possibly be referring to her as a deaconess and there were deaconesses from what I understand in the early church, but they never taught or had authority over a man. Also the role of deacon was primarily to provide for the poor, a role that we know the women were involved in.
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
The word servant just means servant. It could possibly be referring to her as a deaconess and there were deaconesses from what I understand in the early church, but they never taught or had authority over a man. Also the role of deacon was primarily to provide for the poor, a role that we know the women were involved in.
Romans 16:1
Romans 16:1
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
Acts 18:26
Acts 18:26
26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
This teaching was not done in the assembly. Apollos was "taken aside". This was within the context of a home or a personal setting. A woman in her personal dealings with men should speak truth into their lives. The gospel and sound doctrine should permeate their lives and affect others. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." This is very different to what is talked about in 1 Timothy 2.
26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
This teaching was not done in the assembly. Apollos was "taken aside". This was within the context of a home or a personal setting. A woman in her personal dealings with men should speak truth into their lives. The gospel and sound doctrine should permeate their lives and affect others. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." This is very different to what is talked about in 1 Timothy 2.
Acts 18:26
Acts 18:26
26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Acts 17:12
Acts 17:12
12Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men
12Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men
Acts 17:4
Acts 17:4
4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
Acts 16:13-15
13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. 14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and (A)her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. 14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and (A)her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 9:36
Acts 9:36
36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
Acts 1:14
Acts 1:14
14These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
14These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Nehemiah 7:67
Nehemiah 7:67
67besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers.
67besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers.
2 Kings 4:8-38, Shunammite Woman
2 Kings 4:8-38
8Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. 9She said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. 10"Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there."
2 Kings 4:17 And the woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her… 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him, and went out. she said, "It will be well" … 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her [masc.] servant, "Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you."
8Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. 9She said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. 10"Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there."
2 Kings 4:17 And the woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her… 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him, and went out. she said, "It will be well" … 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her [masc.] servant, "Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you."
2 Samuel 20:16-22
2 Samuel 20:16-22
16Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.'" 17So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." 18Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute. 19"I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" 20Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21"Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." 22Then the woman wisely came to all the people And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.
16Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.'" 17So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." 18Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute. 19"I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" 20Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21"Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." 22Then the woman wisely came to all the people And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.
1 Samuel 25
1 Samuel 25
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.
Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon. 2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
4 While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
7 " 'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.' "
9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited.
10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?"
12 David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put on their swords, and David put on his. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14 One of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail: "David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him."
18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs [b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless—all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.
26 "Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. 28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the LORD has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, 31 my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant." 32 David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request." 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head."
Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife." 41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master's servants." 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David's messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.
Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon. 2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
4 While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
7 " 'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.' "
9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited.
10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?"
12 David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put on their swords, and David put on his. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14 One of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail: "David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him."
18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs [b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless—all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.
26 "Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. 28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the LORD has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, 31 my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant." 32 David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request." 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head."
Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife." 41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master's servants." 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David's messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
Judges 4,5
Judges 4
1Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. 2And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3The sons of Israel cried to the LORD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years. 4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, "Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. 7'I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'" 8Then Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9She said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. 12Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. 17Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid." And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. 20He said to her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there anyone here?' that you shall say, 'No.'" 21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. 22And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." And he entered with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple. 23So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.
Judges 5
1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
2"That the leaders led in Israel, That the people volunteered, Bless the LORD! 3"Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I--to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. 4"LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped water. 5"The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel. 6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways. 7"The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8"New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel. 9"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the LORD! 10"You who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who travel on the road--sing! 11"At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD, The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates. 12"Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam. 13"Then survivors came down to the nobles; The people of the LORD came down to me as warriors. 14"From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down, Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples; From Machir commanders came down, And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office. 15"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. 16"Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. 17"Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings. 18"Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death, And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19"The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. 20"The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. 21"The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength. 22"Then the horses' hoofs beat From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds. 23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.' 24"Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent. 25"He asked for water and she gave him milk; In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds. 26"She reached out her hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen's hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple. 27"Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell dead. 28"Out of the window she looked and lamented, The mother of Sisera through the lattice, 'Why does his chariot delay in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?' 29"Her wise princesses would answer her, Indeed she repeats her words to herself, 30'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? A maiden, two maidens for every warrior; To Sisera a spoil of dyed work, A spoil of dyed work embroidered, Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?' 31"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might."
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.
-Deborah did not summon Israel to battle, but instead affirmed male leadership by relaying a message from God to Barak to lead the nation to war.
-Deborah never went out to people, they came to her.
-When Barak insisted that Deborah go with him, Deborah rebukes Barak.
-When this time is referred to from other passages, only Barak is acknowledged, Deborah is not mentioned. (1 Samuel 12:11 and Hebrews 11:32).
-Deborah rejoices in male leadership, Judges 5:2 and 9. She rejoices when men take the lead. Throughout this passage she rejoices in male leadership and rebukes them when they don’t step up.
-Paul says that the position of judge can be given to the lowliest of people (although I am not quick to use this argument).
-Perhaps where men do not stand up and there is not one to lead God can raise a woman, but here we see that that raising of a woman was to raise men to lead, not to establish a woman as a leader. Deborah called Barak to lead and rejoiced over the leadership of men. For example, if a woman is overseas and wins others to Christ, where there was no church, her place is to seek to raise men to lead.
-I think Deborah and the Jael are an example to the men and a reminder that men are not to be the leaders because they are more capable at it then women. Deborah and Jael keep the men from being prideful and degrading the abilities of the women around them. God did not make men leaders because they were better then women, but because it was His design and a testimony to His wisdom and glory. And as for Israel, so it is with the church, it is far better when men do lead.
-What does it mean to be a mother in Israel?
Part of a letter I wrote: I agree with you on Deborah. I think that Barak is the one that God called to lead, from what Deborah had said it sounds like Barak had already been told to lead (although I am not certain on this), but would not step up. Also when this time is referred to later in the Bible, Barak not Deborah is referred to. I think Deborah was a faithful woman, in a time when men refused to lead, and others saw that and her wisdom, and came to her for judgment as one would seek council from a wise woman, she was indeed a mother in Israel. And I don't want to belittle this. I think this is also a warning to the men. That, yes, they are supposed to lead, but it is not because they are better or necessarily more capable, and they should never use the fact that God has called them to lead for pride or to demean a woman, as some men have. I think what is different about Deborah than other women is that she called the man out to lead. If you read her song, she rejoiced over the fact that men led in the war that men were standing up and taking their places as men. She backed male leadership. I like what you said, "She was in a sense a "mother", trying to get her spiritual son out there to lead." I think something else, as you said, this is only recorded to have happened once in the Bible which was written over a period of thousands (at least hundreds) of years. I think some women use Deborah to be too eager to step out where God has not placed them. It should be a rarity and not an excuse to step out where God is not. Even with Deborah, the people came to her, and I think she responded to the people as a mother, not the other way around.
What is often done today by women who step out in the church when men don’t lead is inpatients, lack of faith, and pride. Often the motivation is not to support male leadership, but to take up the lead where it is lacking. It is not a reflection of Deborah, who affirmed male leadership. Even if they wait for men to lead out, it is at the most often only a few minutes. And often it is not even seconds. They speak before men even get a chance to lead out. I hear women asking for men to lead out, but then refusing to be patient and wait in silence. Are there women willing to wait for months in silence and prayer, not speaking, and praying and waiting for men to lead and believing in men and in their ability to lead, and trusting that the Lord will raise them up? And when they don’t are they willing to be obedient to God and not step out. I would like to see such women in the church, women who are strong, women who believe in the men and are willing support the men of the church and be a help-meet as the Bible calls them to be, and wait for God to do this. If men still do not lead does that mean that women can lead, of course not? Nowhere is this command based on the behavior of men. Women should continue to affirm male leadership. Should one fail to obey God because others do not? A woman is to obey the word of God and wait and pray and trust the Lord however long it takes. In the meantime, does God not hear their hearts and their prayers? And cannot they in submission have other women to pray with them and grow in the Lord with the women in the church? Does not God use their godliness as they serve? Women are not just supposed to be idle when men don’t lead; they are still supposed to be strong and full of good works. The depths of God’s word should be expressed in all that they do or say. I believe if women stepped out in strength it would encourage men to lead and given time men would step up. What is the example of 1 Peter 3, when the man is ungodly and unwilling to lead in the Lord? This is how God would have woman respond to the lack of male leadership. I think women would be amazed by how much power and influence they have over men as they obey God’s word patiently in full trust of their Father. I believe that if women would wait and be patient and obedient that God will move and raise up men to be men in the church and the church would be stronger then if they do not wait. The scripture says that women can either build a home or tear it down.
I think often that many have such a fear that God cannot speak to His church and so they step out ahead of God and hinder God’s work. Good things may still happen, but they miss out on God’s best. God is a patient God and He is capable. And He will do things according to His word, not in spite of it.
A Quote from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: "(1) Deborah is a special case because she seems to be the only judge in Judges who has no military function. The other judges also lead Israel into victory in battle, but Deborah receives a word from the Lord that Barak is to do this (Judges 4:6-7). Deborah is not asserting leadership for herself; she gives priority to a man. (2) There is an implied rebuke of Barak because he is not willing to go to battle without Deborah (Judges 4:8). Because of his reluctance, the glory that day will go to a woman (Judges 4:9), but note that the woman is not Deborah but Jael (Judges 4:17ff.). In other words, Deborah did speak the word of God, but her attitude and demeanor were such that she was not asserting her leadership. Instead, she handed over the leadership, contrary to the pattern of all the other judges, to a man. (3) Both Deborah and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20) exercised their gift of prophecy differently from the men who possessed the gift. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other male prophets exercised a public ministry where they proclaimed the word of the Lord. But note that Deborah did not prophecy in public. Instead, her prophetic role seems to be limited to private and individual instruction. Judges 4:5 says, "And she used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment" (nasb). Note that Deborah did not go out and publicly proclaim the word of the Lord. Instead, individuals came to her in private for a word from the Lord. The difference between Deborah’s prophetic ministry and that of male Old Testament prophets is clear. She did not exercise her ministry in a public forum as they did. Note that even when she speaks to Barak she calls him and speaks to him individually (Judges 4:6,14). And the song of praise in Judges 5:1 was sung by both Deborah and Barak together. A confirming argument for this view is found in the case of Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20). She did not publicly proclaim God’s word. Rather, she explained in private the word of the Lord when Josiah sent messengers to her. She exercised her prophetic ministry in a way that did not obstruct male headship. The prophetic ministry of Miriam is no exception to this, because she ministered only to women. "Then Miriam, the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them . . ." (Exodus 15:20, my italics)."
1Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. 2And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3The sons of Israel cried to the LORD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years. 4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, "Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. 7'I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'" 8Then Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9She said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. 12Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. 17Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid." And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. 20He said to her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there anyone here?' that you shall say, 'No.'" 21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. 22And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." And he entered with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple. 23So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.
Judges 5
1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
2"That the leaders led in Israel, That the people volunteered, Bless the LORD! 3"Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I--to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. 4"LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped water. 5"The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel. 6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways. 7"The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8"New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel. 9"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the LORD! 10"You who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who travel on the road--sing! 11"At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD, The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates. 12"Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam. 13"Then survivors came down to the nobles; The people of the LORD came down to me as warriors. 14"From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down, Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples; From Machir commanders came down, And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office. 15"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. 16"Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. 17"Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings. 18"Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death, And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19"The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. 20"The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. 21"The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength. 22"Then the horses' hoofs beat From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds. 23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.' 24"Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent. 25"He asked for water and she gave him milk; In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds. 26"She reached out her hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen's hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple. 27"Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell dead. 28"Out of the window she looked and lamented, The mother of Sisera through the lattice, 'Why does his chariot delay in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?' 29"Her wise princesses would answer her, Indeed she repeats her words to herself, 30'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? A maiden, two maidens for every warrior; To Sisera a spoil of dyed work, A spoil of dyed work embroidered, Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?' 31"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might."
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.
-Deborah did not summon Israel to battle, but instead affirmed male leadership by relaying a message from God to Barak to lead the nation to war.
-Deborah never went out to people, they came to her.
-When Barak insisted that Deborah go with him, Deborah rebukes Barak.
-When this time is referred to from other passages, only Barak is acknowledged, Deborah is not mentioned. (1 Samuel 12:11 and Hebrews 11:32).
-Deborah rejoices in male leadership, Judges 5:2 and 9. She rejoices when men take the lead. Throughout this passage she rejoices in male leadership and rebukes them when they don’t step up.
-Paul says that the position of judge can be given to the lowliest of people (although I am not quick to use this argument).
-Perhaps where men do not stand up and there is not one to lead God can raise a woman, but here we see that that raising of a woman was to raise men to lead, not to establish a woman as a leader. Deborah called Barak to lead and rejoiced over the leadership of men. For example, if a woman is overseas and wins others to Christ, where there was no church, her place is to seek to raise men to lead.
-I think Deborah and the Jael are an example to the men and a reminder that men are not to be the leaders because they are more capable at it then women. Deborah and Jael keep the men from being prideful and degrading the abilities of the women around them. God did not make men leaders because they were better then women, but because it was His design and a testimony to His wisdom and glory. And as for Israel, so it is with the church, it is far better when men do lead.
-What does it mean to be a mother in Israel?
Part of a letter I wrote: I agree with you on Deborah. I think that Barak is the one that God called to lead, from what Deborah had said it sounds like Barak had already been told to lead (although I am not certain on this), but would not step up. Also when this time is referred to later in the Bible, Barak not Deborah is referred to. I think Deborah was a faithful woman, in a time when men refused to lead, and others saw that and her wisdom, and came to her for judgment as one would seek council from a wise woman, she was indeed a mother in Israel. And I don't want to belittle this. I think this is also a warning to the men. That, yes, they are supposed to lead, but it is not because they are better or necessarily more capable, and they should never use the fact that God has called them to lead for pride or to demean a woman, as some men have. I think what is different about Deborah than other women is that she called the man out to lead. If you read her song, she rejoiced over the fact that men led in the war that men were standing up and taking their places as men. She backed male leadership. I like what you said, "She was in a sense a "mother", trying to get her spiritual son out there to lead." I think something else, as you said, this is only recorded to have happened once in the Bible which was written over a period of thousands (at least hundreds) of years. I think some women use Deborah to be too eager to step out where God has not placed them. It should be a rarity and not an excuse to step out where God is not. Even with Deborah, the people came to her, and I think she responded to the people as a mother, not the other way around.
What is often done today by women who step out in the church when men don’t lead is inpatients, lack of faith, and pride. Often the motivation is not to support male leadership, but to take up the lead where it is lacking. It is not a reflection of Deborah, who affirmed male leadership. Even if they wait for men to lead out, it is at the most often only a few minutes. And often it is not even seconds. They speak before men even get a chance to lead out. I hear women asking for men to lead out, but then refusing to be patient and wait in silence. Are there women willing to wait for months in silence and prayer, not speaking, and praying and waiting for men to lead and believing in men and in their ability to lead, and trusting that the Lord will raise them up? And when they don’t are they willing to be obedient to God and not step out. I would like to see such women in the church, women who are strong, women who believe in the men and are willing support the men of the church and be a help-meet as the Bible calls them to be, and wait for God to do this. If men still do not lead does that mean that women can lead, of course not? Nowhere is this command based on the behavior of men. Women should continue to affirm male leadership. Should one fail to obey God because others do not? A woman is to obey the word of God and wait and pray and trust the Lord however long it takes. In the meantime, does God not hear their hearts and their prayers? And cannot they in submission have other women to pray with them and grow in the Lord with the women in the church? Does not God use their godliness as they serve? Women are not just supposed to be idle when men don’t lead; they are still supposed to be strong and full of good works. The depths of God’s word should be expressed in all that they do or say. I believe if women stepped out in strength it would encourage men to lead and given time men would step up. What is the example of 1 Peter 3, when the man is ungodly and unwilling to lead in the Lord? This is how God would have woman respond to the lack of male leadership. I think women would be amazed by how much power and influence they have over men as they obey God’s word patiently in full trust of their Father. I believe that if women would wait and be patient and obedient that God will move and raise up men to be men in the church and the church would be stronger then if they do not wait. The scripture says that women can either build a home or tear it down.
I think often that many have such a fear that God cannot speak to His church and so they step out ahead of God and hinder God’s work. Good things may still happen, but they miss out on God’s best. God is a patient God and He is capable. And He will do things according to His word, not in spite of it.
A Quote from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: "(1) Deborah is a special case because she seems to be the only judge in Judges who has no military function. The other judges also lead Israel into victory in battle, but Deborah receives a word from the Lord that Barak is to do this (Judges 4:6-7). Deborah is not asserting leadership for herself; she gives priority to a man. (2) There is an implied rebuke of Barak because he is not willing to go to battle without Deborah (Judges 4:8). Because of his reluctance, the glory that day will go to a woman (Judges 4:9), but note that the woman is not Deborah but Jael (Judges 4:17ff.). In other words, Deborah did speak the word of God, but her attitude and demeanor were such that she was not asserting her leadership. Instead, she handed over the leadership, contrary to the pattern of all the other judges, to a man. (3) Both Deborah and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20) exercised their gift of prophecy differently from the men who possessed the gift. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other male prophets exercised a public ministry where they proclaimed the word of the Lord. But note that Deborah did not prophecy in public. Instead, her prophetic role seems to be limited to private and individual instruction. Judges 4:5 says, "And she used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment" (nasb). Note that Deborah did not go out and publicly proclaim the word of the Lord. Instead, individuals came to her in private for a word from the Lord. The difference between Deborah’s prophetic ministry and that of male Old Testament prophets is clear. She did not exercise her ministry in a public forum as they did. Note that even when she speaks to Barak she calls him and speaks to him individually (Judges 4:6,14). And the song of praise in Judges 5:1 was sung by both Deborah and Barak together. A confirming argument for this view is found in the case of Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20). She did not publicly proclaim God’s word. Rather, she explained in private the word of the Lord when Josiah sent messengers to her. She exercised her prophetic ministry in a way that did not obstruct male headship. The prophetic ministry of Miriam is no exception to this, because she ministered only to women. "Then Miriam, the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them . . ." (Exodus 15:20, my italics)."
Judges 4,5
Judges 4
1Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. 2And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3The sons of Israel cried to the LORD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years. 4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, "Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. 7'I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'" 8Then Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9She said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. 12Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. 17Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid." And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. 20He said to her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there anyone here?' that you shall say, 'No.'" 21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. 22And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." And he entered with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple. 23So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.
Judges 5
1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
2"That the leaders led in Israel,
That the people volunteered,
Bless the LORD!
3"Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!
I--to the LORD, I will sing,
I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4"LORD, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,
Even the clouds dripped water.
5"The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD,
This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.
6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted,
And travelers went by roundabout ways.
7"The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8"New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.
9"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
The volunteers among the people;
Bless the LORD!
10"You who ride on white donkeys,
You who sit on rich carpets,
And you who travel on the road--sing!
11"At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD,
The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel
Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.
12"Awake, awake, Deborah;
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
13"Then survivors came down to the nobles;
The people of the LORD came down to me as warriors.
14"From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,
Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;
From Machir commanders came down,
And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.
15"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As was Issachar, so was Barak;
Into the valley they rushed at his heels;
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great resolves of heart.
16"Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
To hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great searchings of heart.
17"Gilead remained across the Jordan;
And why did Dan stay in ships?
Asher sat at the seashore,
And remained by its landings.
18"Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death,
And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
19"The kings came and fought;
Then fought the kings of Canaan
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.
20"The stars fought from heaven,
From their courses they fought against Sisera.
21"The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
O my soul, march on with strength.
22"Then the horses' hoofs beat
From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.
23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD,
'Utterly curse its inhabitants;
Because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
To the help of the LORD against the warriors.'
24"Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
25"He asked for water and she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26"She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen's hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
27"Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead.
28"Out of the window she looked and lamented,
The mother of Sisera through the lattice,
'Why does his chariot delay in coming?
Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?'
29"Her wise princesses would answer her,
Indeed she repeats her words to herself,
30'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil?
A maiden, two maidens for every warrior;
To Sisera a spoil of dyed work,
A spoil of dyed work embroidered,
Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?'
31"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD;
But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might."
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.
1Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. 2And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3The sons of Israel cried to the LORD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years. 4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, "Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. 7'I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.'" 8Then Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9She said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. 12Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left. 17Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid." And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. 20He said to her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there anyone here?' that you shall say, 'No.'" 21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. 22And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." And he entered with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple. 23So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.
Judges 5
1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
2"That the leaders led in Israel,
That the people volunteered,
Bless the LORD!
3"Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!
I--to the LORD, I will sing,
I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4"LORD, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,
Even the clouds dripped water.
5"The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD,
This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.
6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted,
And travelers went by roundabout ways.
7"The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8"New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.
9"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
The volunteers among the people;
Bless the LORD!
10"You who ride on white donkeys,
You who sit on rich carpets,
And you who travel on the road--sing!
11"At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD,
The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel
Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.
12"Awake, awake, Deborah;
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
13"Then survivors came down to the nobles;
The people of the LORD came down to me as warriors.
14"From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,
Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;
From Machir commanders came down,
And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.
15"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As was Issachar, so was Barak;
Into the valley they rushed at his heels;
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great resolves of heart.
16"Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
To hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great searchings of heart.
17"Gilead remained across the Jordan;
And why did Dan stay in ships?
Asher sat at the seashore,
And remained by its landings.
18"Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death,
And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
19"The kings came and fought;
Then fought the kings of Canaan
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.
20"The stars fought from heaven,
From their courses they fought against Sisera.
21"The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
O my soul, march on with strength.
22"Then the horses' hoofs beat
From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.
23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD,
'Utterly curse its inhabitants;
Because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
To the help of the LORD against the warriors.'
24"Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
25"He asked for water and she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26"She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen's hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
27"Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead.
28"Out of the window she looked and lamented,
The mother of Sisera through the lattice,
'Why does his chariot delay in coming?
Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?'
29"Her wise princesses would answer her,
Indeed she repeats her words to herself,
30'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil?
A maiden, two maidens for every warrior;
To Sisera a spoil of dyed work,
A spoil of dyed work embroidered,
Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?'
31"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD;
But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might."
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.
Joshua 8:35
Joshua 8:35
35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.
35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.
Deuteronomy 31:12
Deuteronomy 31:12
12"Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
12"Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 12:12
Deuteronomy 12:12
And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
2 Chronicles 34:22-28
2 Chronicles 34:22-28
22So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23She said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched."' 26"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you will say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27"Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 28"Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants."'" And they brought back word to the king.
22So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23She said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched."' 26"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you will say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27"Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 28"Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants."'" And they brought back word to the king.
2 Kings 22:14-20
1 Kings 22:14-20
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 16thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched."' 18"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Regarding the words which you have heard, 19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 20"Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.
No woman in all history was given a public, authoritative role as a prophet, for example as with Isaiah and Jeremiah. There were women prophets, but they did not cross the line of womanhood. Huldah is a good example of this.
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 16thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched."' 18"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Regarding the words which you have heard, 19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 20"Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.
No woman in all history was given a public, authoritative role as a prophet, for example as with Isaiah and Jeremiah. There were women prophets, but they did not cross the line of womanhood. Huldah is a good example of this.
2 Kings 22:14-20
2 Kings 22:14-20
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 16thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched."' 18"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Regarding the words which you have heard, 19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 20"Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 15She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 16thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched."' 18"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Regarding the words which you have heard, 19because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. 20"Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.
Numbers 12:1-16
Numbers 12:1-16
1Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); 2and they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?" And the LORD heard it. 3(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) 4Suddenly the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, "You three come out to the tent of meeting." So the three of them came out. 5Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward,
6He said,
"Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision
I shall speak with him in a dream.
7"Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?"
9So the anger of the LORD burned against them and He departed. 10But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 11Then Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12"Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb!" 13Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "O God, heal her, I pray!" 14But the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again." 15So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again. 16Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
1Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); 2and they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?" And the LORD heard it. 3(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) 4Suddenly the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, "You three come out to the tent of meeting." So the three of them came out. 5Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward,
6He said,
"Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision
I shall speak with him in a dream.
7"Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?"
9So the anger of the LORD burned against them and He departed. 10But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 11Then Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12"Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb!" 13Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "O God, heal her, I pray!" 14But the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again." 15So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again. 16Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Micah 6:4
Micah 6:4
4"Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt
And ransomed you from the house of slavery,
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.
4"Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt
And ransomed you from the house of slavery,
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.
Exodus 15:21
Exodus 15:21
20Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. 21Miriam answered them,
"(A)Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea."
20Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. 21Miriam answered them,
"(A)Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Part of the reason Israel fell into a curse was that the hearts of the fathers were not for the children not the hearts of the children for their fathers. There was a lack of leadership in the men in obeying Deuteronomy 6. The truths of God were not being passed down. The church needs this to be strong.
4"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Part of the reason Israel fell into a curse was that the hearts of the fathers were not for the children not the hearts of the children for their fathers. There was a lack of leadership in the men in obeying Deuteronomy 6. The truths of God were not being passed down. The church needs this to be strong.
Malachi 4:1-6
Malachi 4:1-6
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you who [a]fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts. 4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Part of the reason Israel fell into a curse was that the hearts of the fathers were not for the children not the hearts of the children for their fathers. There was a lack of leadership in the men in obeying Deuteronomy 6. The truths of God were not being passed down. The church needs this to be strong.
I believe that if we see men being men and women being women in the church, we will see revival.
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you who [a]fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts. 4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Part of the reason Israel fell into a curse was that the hearts of the fathers were not for the children not the hearts of the children for their fathers. There was a lack of leadership in the men in obeying Deuteronomy 6. The truths of God were not being passed down. The church needs this to be strong.
I believe that if we see men being men and women being women in the church, we will see revival.
Malachi 4:1-6
Malachi 4:1-6
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you who [a]fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts. 4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you who [a]fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts. 4"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Titus 2:1-5
Titus 2:1-5
1But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Women are commanded to stand up for God’s word and teach other women. Women should not shrink back from this command or allow the culture to rob them from standing up for these issues. The Bible commands them to teach other women to be women and if they do not they are in sin. This should be common, women teaching other women about what it means to be a women and how to honor men in the church and to be wives and mothers. Likewise, men are to disciple other men and teach them what it means to be a man. There needs to be mothers and fathers in the church.
1But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Women are commanded to stand up for God’s word and teach other women. Women should not shrink back from this command or allow the culture to rob them from standing up for these issues. The Bible commands them to teach other women to be women and if they do not they are in sin. This should be common, women teaching other women about what it means to be a women and how to honor men in the church and to be wives and mothers. Likewise, men are to disciple other men and teach them what it means to be a man. There needs to be mothers and fathers in the church.
Titus 2:1-5
Titus 2:1-5
1But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
1But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Proverbs 6:20
Proverbs 6:20
My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
Proverbs 19:14
Proverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD
Proverbs 18:22
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.
He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.
Jeremiah 44:15-25
Jeremiah 44:15-25
15Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16"As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17"But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. 18"But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 19"And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"
20Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women--even to all the people who were giving him such an answer--saying, 21"As for the smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them and did not all this come into His mind? 22"So the LORD was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23"Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day." 24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, 25thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her " Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'
Women have a large influence on men for evil or for good. Even though Solomon was the wisest man, he fell because of the influence of women.
15Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16"As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17"But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. 18"But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 19"And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"
20Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women--even to all the people who were giving him such an answer--saying, 21"As for the smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them and did not all this come into His mind? 22"So the LORD was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23"Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day." 24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, 25thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her " Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'
Women have a large influence on men for evil or for good. Even though Solomon was the wisest man, he fell because of the influence of women.
Jeremiah 44:15-25
Jeremiah 44:15-25
15Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16"As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17"But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. 18"But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 19"And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"
Calamity for the Jews
20Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women--even to all the people who were giving him such an answer--saying, 21"As for the smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them and did not all this come into His mind? 22"So the LORD was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23"Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day." 24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, 25thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her " Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'
15Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16"As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17"But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. 18"But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 19"And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"
Calamity for the Jews
20Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women--even to all the people who were giving him such an answer--saying, 21"As for the smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them and did not all this come into His mind? 22"So the LORD was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23"Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day." 24Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, 25thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her " Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!'
Proverbs 14:1
Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
A woman is to actively seek to serve God. This is a command for a woman to actively build her home. A woman may not have the authority, but she does have the power and the influence to build her home or tear it down.
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
A woman is to actively seek to serve God. This is a command for a woman to actively build her home. A woman may not have the authority, but she does have the power and the influence to build her home or tear it down.
Proverbs 12:4
Proverbs 12:4
A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
A wife has a huge influence over her husband. The woman is the glory of a man and she can be a crown or she can be a disgraceful wife that causes disgrace and decay to the man.
A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
A wife has a huge influence over her husband. The woman is the glory of a man and she can be a crown or she can be a disgraceful wife that causes disgrace and decay to the man.
Proverbs 12:4
Proverbs 12:4
A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Proverbs 11:16
Proverbs 11:16
A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Just because a woman cannot teach or have authority over a man, it does not mean that she is not to be highly respected, and even respected over certain men. A woman who embraces God’s calling for her is more respected than ruthless men who have neglected their role and responsibility before God.
A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Just because a woman cannot teach or have authority over a man, it does not mean that she is not to be highly respected, and even respected over certain men. A woman who embraces God’s calling for her is more respected than ruthless men who have neglected their role and responsibility before God.
Proverbs 31:31
Proverbs 31:31
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Even though this woman does not sit at the gates or discuss issues with the men, her reputation precedes her and brings her honor at the place of influence of the city. She is respected and has influence on the affairs of the city and I believe this respect and influence is greater than some of the men in the city. This verse also shows that it is not necessary for a woman to speak to influence the church or society for that matter. If she walks in womanhood and godliness she will influence many, more than if she tried to teach or take authority. And her influence will not only be a gain to her, but as we see in this chapter it is a gain to the husband, children, and the city; all these become greater not less because of her.
From a letter I wrote: I want to leave you with this thought. The Proverbs 31 women did not sit at the gates and yet she was praised at the gates. It is my belief that even though she was not in a place of authority, nor did she venture to speak at the gates, she had more influence than many of the men in the town. I would even venture to say that she had more influence than some of the men who sat at the city gates (I put this lightly, I think she had great influence). On top of this it says her husband is known in the city gates, when he sits among the elders. This is not a quality about the husband, it is a statement about the women (Proverbs 31 is about the wife not the husband). Also 1 Peter 3 shows how this character would influence an ungodly man. Imagine what it would do with a godly man. Also I know as a man there stronger way a woman could influence me; there is something about this kind of woman that challenges a man to be more than he is. I think power and influence in God's kingdom does not look like the world. And that is why I am not afraid to say, lets obey this. The scripture says that he makes the strong things foolish by what the world calls weakness. God's strength is often made powerfully evident in the things the world calls weak. And the greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who serves.
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Even though this woman does not sit at the gates or discuss issues with the men, her reputation precedes her and brings her honor at the place of influence of the city. She is respected and has influence on the affairs of the city and I believe this respect and influence is greater than some of the men in the city. This verse also shows that it is not necessary for a woman to speak to influence the church or society for that matter. If she walks in womanhood and godliness she will influence many, more than if she tried to teach or take authority. And her influence will not only be a gain to her, but as we see in this chapter it is a gain to the husband, children, and the city; all these become greater not less because of her.
From a letter I wrote: I want to leave you with this thought. The Proverbs 31 women did not sit at the gates and yet she was praised at the gates. It is my belief that even though she was not in a place of authority, nor did she venture to speak at the gates, she had more influence than many of the men in the town. I would even venture to say that she had more influence than some of the men who sat at the city gates (I put this lightly, I think she had great influence). On top of this it says her husband is known in the city gates, when he sits among the elders. This is not a quality about the husband, it is a statement about the women (Proverbs 31 is about the wife not the husband). Also 1 Peter 3 shows how this character would influence an ungodly man. Imagine what it would do with a godly man. Also I know as a man there stronger way a woman could influence me; there is something about this kind of woman that challenges a man to be more than he is. I think power and influence in God's kingdom does not look like the world. And that is why I am not afraid to say, lets obey this. The scripture says that he makes the strong things foolish by what the world calls weakness. God's strength is often made powerfully evident in the things the world calls weak. And the greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who serves.
Proverbs 31:30
Proverbs 31:30
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Part of a letter I wrote: How does God define beauty? – simply; womanhood. Proverbs talks about womanhood and says, "her worth is far above jewels . . . . Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." We have been lied to. This is the standard of beauty. This is captivating. It is captivating beauty that is far above any other standard of beauty. It is a standard of what should attract us as men as we pursue to find a wife, physical attributes should no longer be the standard. And it is a standard by how we treat other women other then our wife. It is not only our duty to have this as our standard of beauty but it is also our delight and exceeding joy, as God transforms our definition of beauty to His and His passions become our own. Women need this from us, the passion of God through us, declaring to them that they as women are beautiful, more precious then jewels. Oh, how "good and acceptable and perfect" is the will of God and how wonderful is His gifts to us!
If God defines beauty as womanhood, I want to defend this as a man. The world has attacked the integrity and strength of womanhood. A man does not sit back idle while a woman is beaten, but instead steps in front of her and defends her. Women are oppressed in the church by those who will either ignore scripture or discredit the Word and the Word’s power and wisdom. On one side, oppression comes from restricting the role of a woman, till it loses its strength, treating them as worthless and not allowing them to have influence. On the other side, the role of a woman and its strength is all together denied. This picture is contrary to the picture in the scriptures, where the man is the head, but serves her as Christ would serve the church. This struggle has played out throughout history and has even entered the church. One of the most controversial scriptures regarding this is "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve." What freedom is in this verse for women! It underscores a strength and influence that God has given women. And yet some have used this to oppress women further than what this scripture allows and choked the life out of the Word of God and others have ignored it, and denied the power and strength of womanhood and power of the Word of God.
I will try to explain. Paul writes this because, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." This was God’s heart before sin entered the world. God created Adam first, because he was to be a man. We as men are to embody manhood. He was created first because he had a role to fill that was specific to a man, to lead out, to be a king, warrior, father, priest, to display the glory of God. The woman was also given strength, power, and influence, but as woman and not as a man. I said the verse in 1 Timothy 2 was freedom for a women. What does it give to a woman? It says, "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission." Our culture, paints a different picture of these words then the scripture. It is a command that provides a woman as much influence in the affairs of the church as a man. Her role is vital to the strength of the church. In 1 Peter 3:3 "Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." How strong is this gentle and quiet spirit! It is strong enough to change the hard heart of an ungodly man. "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." If it has this affect on the ungodly man, how much more so on the godly men. A woman like this will influence the direction of the church and build the church in the Lord and challenge the church to be more. Far from being weak, it is an amazing strength. "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" 1 Corinthians 1:27. This is an incorruptible beauty that is very precious in the sight of God. Oh, how indescribable is the wisdom of God! It is in God’s heart for a woman to display His character, glory, majesty, and strength through a "gentle and quiet spirit" and to powerfully influence the church "in silence." When 2 Timothy commands a woman to be in silence, it is not a restriction, but a command to live fully and to influence the church fully. This is a woman’s strength. This is a woman’s power. When the scripture says "in silence" it does not mean inaction, but action. If anything, this truth is more demanding on a woman than any concept of the world. As an example, Proverbs 31 talks about a woman, who had the heart of her husband and children. She was respected and trusted, not only by her husband and children, but also by the city. She was a woman who had strength and influence and helped to shape the course of her family and city, but she did this "in silence" and with a "gentle and quiet spirit". It is obvious from this chapter that this is a call to action. The scripture speaks much more on the role of women and their call to action. This letter would be long if I wrote on all that God has commanded a woman to do. I could go further into theology (I am barely touching the surface with the word of God) and history, and further into all that God has for women. I believe that women have a huge influence in the church. I have seen women turn the tide in situations in a way that no man could. God has given them a strength that we as men cannot imitate well. We need them, desperately. But I am writing this not to defend this so much, but more so to say that want to learn to be a man who encourages women to live fully. As a man I want to defend this beauty and strength that God has given women. I want to stand up when the world tries to come in and oppress her from every direction. I want to defend her honor, her integrity, her strength, her beauty, and her womanhood. And I want to honor God, in honoring my sisters, His daughters, His princesses.
God has called us men to a place of stepping up, this is our role. I want to do that and be an example of a godly man, for our women. Women need us to be men of God. I want to be this. I am writing this because I am weak and I need the support of my brother’s to live this out and I want to express this desire, so they can walk with me in this. I do not believe a man lives alone, but instead goes to battle with his brothers. I am asking you and my brothers to hold me accountable and to demand this from me."
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Part of a letter I wrote: How does God define beauty? – simply; womanhood. Proverbs talks about womanhood and says, "her worth is far above jewels . . . . Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." We have been lied to. This is the standard of beauty. This is captivating. It is captivating beauty that is far above any other standard of beauty. It is a standard of what should attract us as men as we pursue to find a wife, physical attributes should no longer be the standard. And it is a standard by how we treat other women other then our wife. It is not only our duty to have this as our standard of beauty but it is also our delight and exceeding joy, as God transforms our definition of beauty to His and His passions become our own. Women need this from us, the passion of God through us, declaring to them that they as women are beautiful, more precious then jewels. Oh, how "good and acceptable and perfect" is the will of God and how wonderful is His gifts to us!
If God defines beauty as womanhood, I want to defend this as a man. The world has attacked the integrity and strength of womanhood. A man does not sit back idle while a woman is beaten, but instead steps in front of her and defends her. Women are oppressed in the church by those who will either ignore scripture or discredit the Word and the Word’s power and wisdom. On one side, oppression comes from restricting the role of a woman, till it loses its strength, treating them as worthless and not allowing them to have influence. On the other side, the role of a woman and its strength is all together denied. This picture is contrary to the picture in the scriptures, where the man is the head, but serves her as Christ would serve the church. This struggle has played out throughout history and has even entered the church. One of the most controversial scriptures regarding this is "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve." What freedom is in this verse for women! It underscores a strength and influence that God has given women. And yet some have used this to oppress women further than what this scripture allows and choked the life out of the Word of God and others have ignored it, and denied the power and strength of womanhood and power of the Word of God.
I will try to explain. Paul writes this because, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." This was God’s heart before sin entered the world. God created Adam first, because he was to be a man. We as men are to embody manhood. He was created first because he had a role to fill that was specific to a man, to lead out, to be a king, warrior, father, priest, to display the glory of God. The woman was also given strength, power, and influence, but as woman and not as a man. I said the verse in 1 Timothy 2 was freedom for a women. What does it give to a woman? It says, "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission." Our culture, paints a different picture of these words then the scripture. It is a command that provides a woman as much influence in the affairs of the church as a man. Her role is vital to the strength of the church. In 1 Peter 3:3 "Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." How strong is this gentle and quiet spirit! It is strong enough to change the hard heart of an ungodly man. "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." If it has this affect on the ungodly man, how much more so on the godly men. A woman like this will influence the direction of the church and build the church in the Lord and challenge the church to be more. Far from being weak, it is an amazing strength. "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" 1 Corinthians 1:27. This is an incorruptible beauty that is very precious in the sight of God. Oh, how indescribable is the wisdom of God! It is in God’s heart for a woman to display His character, glory, majesty, and strength through a "gentle and quiet spirit" and to powerfully influence the church "in silence." When 2 Timothy commands a woman to be in silence, it is not a restriction, but a command to live fully and to influence the church fully. This is a woman’s strength. This is a woman’s power. When the scripture says "in silence" it does not mean inaction, but action. If anything, this truth is more demanding on a woman than any concept of the world. As an example, Proverbs 31 talks about a woman, who had the heart of her husband and children. She was respected and trusted, not only by her husband and children, but also by the city. She was a woman who had strength and influence and helped to shape the course of her family and city, but she did this "in silence" and with a "gentle and quiet spirit". It is obvious from this chapter that this is a call to action. The scripture speaks much more on the role of women and their call to action. This letter would be long if I wrote on all that God has commanded a woman to do. I could go further into theology (I am barely touching the surface with the word of God) and history, and further into all that God has for women. I believe that women have a huge influence in the church. I have seen women turn the tide in situations in a way that no man could. God has given them a strength that we as men cannot imitate well. We need them, desperately. But I am writing this not to defend this so much, but more so to say that want to learn to be a man who encourages women to live fully. As a man I want to defend this beauty and strength that God has given women. I want to stand up when the world tries to come in and oppress her from every direction. I want to defend her honor, her integrity, her strength, her beauty, and her womanhood. And I want to honor God, in honoring my sisters, His daughters, His princesses.
God has called us men to a place of stepping up, this is our role. I want to do that and be an example of a godly man, for our women. Women need us to be men of God. I want to be this. I am writing this because I am weak and I need the support of my brother’s to live this out and I want to express this desire, so they can walk with me in this. I do not believe a man lives alone, but instead goes to battle with his brothers. I am asking you and my brothers to hold me accountable and to demand this from me."
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