Biblical Feminism

1. Biblical Feminism The book of Exodus offers us several important female characters whose actions allowed the events to take place the way they are presented.

2. The future leader of the Hebrew people, Moses, owed his life to 5 women: • Shiprahand Puah, the midwives who were dedicated to life rather than death, and disobeyed Pharaoh's edict to kill all male babies. Their disobedience was the first step in the Exodus, and in its own small way was the first act of rebellion against Pharaoh • Jochebedhis mother, who wove the basket in a desperate attempt to save her baby; she was the mother of three outstanding leaders • 3 outstanding leaders (Miriam, Aaron, Moses) • Miriam his sister, a competent and self-possessed girl who followed and watched over him, shaping his future • the daughter of Pharaoh, who pitied the baby and defied her father's edict. She probably guessed that Jochebed was the baby's mother. (from http://www.womeninthebible.net/1.7.Miriam.htm)

3. Defying the Law Disobedience = civil disobedience = social activism…ex?

4. Miriam • Miriam means 'prophetess' or 'lady'; the name recognizes Miriam's position as the sister of the tribal leader   • Miriam's role as a leader of the Hebrew women was obviously more extensive than is shown in the biblical text. The story of Miriam contains four different episodes:   • 1 Miriam saved her brother Moses, Ex 2:1-10. • This well-known story shows that the survival of the leader of the Exodus, Moses, depended on the courage and ingenuity of one young woman, his sister Miriam.   • 2 The song of Miriam, Ex 15:20-21. • This fragment of the Song of Miriam is one of the oldest poetic couplets in the Old Testament. It is an example of a literary genre devoted to celebrating military victories with triumphal poems. • 3 Miriam's ordeal, Num12. • This story is about the authority of established law. Moses was the great lawgiver of the Hebrew people Moses' legislation formed the basis of Hebrew life. The story acknowledged that Miriam and Aaron were both popular leaders, but they were bound by the Law, represented by Moses. • 4 Miriam's death, Num20:1-2. • Miriam died in a waterless place in the wilderness, but God subsequently caused water to appear there.

5. Miriam, continued…. • As leader of the women and sister of Moses, Miriam had an unusually influential position in the community. This made her words and ideas important, because they were listened to, and they affected many people. This seems to be why her questioning of Moses was followed immediately by what the text calls leprosy, shocking to all who witnessed it. • 'When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow.' Her skin was likened to that of a stillborn fetus when it comes out of its mother’s womb.  • One of the Ten Plagues of Egypt was boils and skin sores - it may have been what Miriam had. • In fact, the term 'leprosy' was used for a wide variety of skin diseases at that time; some of them were curable, some were not. Leviticus 13 and 14 give precise details of symptoms and treatments, both spiritual and medical.  • In whatever guise it appeared, leprosy was seen as a punishment from God for some wrong-doing.  • That being so, it was necessary to repent and reform - which Miriam had to do. She suffered the punishment of God, and atoned for her challenge to Moses' authority.   • Miriam's leprosy was interpreted by the people as a dramatic sign that Moses was God's chosen leader, and that Miriam's and Aaron's authority, while still important, was less than Moses'.

6. Zipporah/Sephora • Wife of Moses, daughter of Jethro • Only woman in the Bible to perform a circumcision (Ex 4:25) • She performs it on her son, so Moses is in compliance with the covenant with Abraham