Today we will continue reviewing Chapter 4: "Womanly Dominion In The Old Testament". I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this :)
This week's women of dominion are five sisters; Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They were daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 27:1-4). He had no sons and died in the wilderness. In the culture of their time land was kept in the family by passing it on to sons for generations. This would leave Zelophehad's daughters without any land or assets. Did they just sit back and complain about their situation? No, they took action. "They fashioned a compelling legal argument, marched unitedly through the tent city and "stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders of all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting" (Numbers 27:2) Reading between the lines, a flabbergasted hush came over the crowd. They then spoke with the utmost dignity, respect, and eloquence" (Chanski, page 67). Moses was impressed with their assertiveness and brought their case before the Lord (Numbers 27:5). We read in Numbers 27:6-8 that the ladies won their case and inherited the land!
Chanski sums it up by writing, "Surely "a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:4b) does not mean that a woman is obligated to act like a passive doormat who is willing to trampled upon by unjust circumstances. The Lord loves to see women of dominion courageously step forward in the name of truth and justice."
Next week we will take a look at Deborah.
I so enjoyed reading through those scriptures this year and I got the same thing out of those scriptures. I am going to get this book, mainly because I feel as Christian woman we look at other Christians women who show their strength as being a feminist...Deborah...would we have labeled her a feminist or Jael? Just asking.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you are reading through this book. I have it, and haven't read it yet. Maybe I can catch up and follow along with you? xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a great illustration of that point!
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