Who was the most courageous woman listed in the Old Testament and why?
- Thread starter dialm
- Start date
huh, i never thought of that - starting a thread like a trivia game, posing questions that i have opinions on (correct answers), and seeing what people say -
My obvious choice is Esther. She saved her people from Haman's evil machinations. She could have simply cared about herself once she became the Kings consort. But she went out on a limb and devised a scheme to show the King what kind of a man Haman really was.
Well she did force Lot to become civilized instead of living like a heathen. That took courage.
Maybe j shouldn't talk to you. Last time it didn't work out so well, (maybe statistics aren't helpful). But never the less- It would be hard to argue against your choice. Any woman forced to live in a harem might find it a difficult proposition.
If you will remember, the last time we talked you brought up another harem girl. One of David's. For sure King Saul's daughter was much more courageous. (Now don't go complaining. I just think your first choice was better.) Here see what you think
King Saul's daughter was legally divorced. Then she was kidnapped. Then she was imprisoned and forcibly raped. And yet she still publicly spoke out against her estranged X husband.
Each of the heroic women in the Torah have admirable lives.
I don't think I referenced Michal as a "Harem" girl. She was David's first wife and the daughter of a King. It appears to have been a politically correct marriage for David?
Esther was in fact a "Harem" girl but the king came to love and value her very much.
I am also considering Judith as a stunningly heroic woman.
This is a great topic! I love history!
There are many to choose from:
Rahab: hiding the "spies" in her home
Deborah: holding a traditionally male position in Israel
Moses mother (her name escapes me): acting like she was nothing more to a nursemaid to her own son
Ruth: sticking with her mother-in-law after her husband died, giving up the life she had before she married
It's hard for me to pick one that I feel was the bravest woman in the OT.
Rahab: hiding the "spies" in her home
Deborah: holding a traditionally male position in Israel
Moses mother (her name escapes me): acting like she was nothing more to a nursemaid to her own son
Ruth: sticking with her mother-in-law after her husband died, giving up the life she had before she married
It's hard for me to pick one that I feel was the bravest woman in the OT.
oatmeal
Well-known member
Who does scripture declare as the most courageous woman?
does scripture declare any woman as the most courageous?
No one?
No?
Then why offer guesses and opinions?
Let God rule your life, not your opinions or the opinions of men or the traditions of men.
Let God's word be your instruction of right living. II Timothy 3:16
This is a forum. It is a good place for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Through courteous dialogue we may have our eyes, our minds and our hearts opened to that which is good for us?
My understanding of Scripture grows and grows and the thoughts others have cared enough to share with me have helped me.
Many brave women! Each responded to the call of duty!
Some good choices listed.
Add Jael.
Add Jael.
Judges 4 KJV
(21) Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 5 KJV
(24) Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
(21) Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 5 KJV
(24) Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
Agreed.
Now let's look a little closer at your comments on Michal. She was a daughter of a great and noble King. She had inheritance rights. This made her part of the upper class. Michel was not a nobody. Here is what this great woman wanted-
An exclusive relationship with her husband.
That is more than just a want. That is the right of every wife. To have a pure husband.
Question: Did Michel have grounds for divorce?
Answer: Yes
Question: What constitutes legal grounds for divorce?
Answer: Adultery and/or desertion
David married Michel. Then he deserted her. Then he took up relationships with many other women while separated from his lawful wedded wife.
Michel very much so had the grounds for divorce.
Being part of the Nobility she also had the financial and the political means to attain a divorce.
Michel, unlike the captive slave girl living in a foreign land, did not need nor desire to be part of a harem.
Yes, but I wonder, she really loved David. The Bible says he was very comely. No doubt she didn't expect to be treated the way he treated her. The Bible doesn't hide the unsavory sides of its' heroes!
Have you noticed the Old Testament penalty for Adultery?
It is capital punishment.
This is what motivated David when he took Michal away from her legal husband. Furthermore, how would it look to have a king/warrior who was also a deserter?
No doubt about it. King David was forced to take his first wife back at any cost.
As to Michal: She must be a Biblical Type. Anyone whose character has been so brutalized by history is just too important to be ignored.
Now I say that Michal is the second most courageous woman listed in the Old Testament because she stood up to someone as great as King David even in the face of ridicule.
Ridicule is a greater 'Hero' to overcome then all the other Heros combined.
It is capital punishment.
This is what motivated David when he took Michal away from her legal husband. Furthermore, how would it look to have a king/warrior who was also a deserter?
No doubt about it. King David was forced to take his first wife back at any cost.
As to Michal: She must be a Biblical Type. Anyone whose character has been so brutalized by history is just too important to be ignored.
Now I say that Michal is the second most courageous woman listed in the Old Testament because she stood up to someone as great as King David even in the face of ridicule.
Ridicule is a greater 'Hero' to overcome then all the other Heros combined.
My choice of the most courageous woman listed in the Old Testament is Isreal.
Israel wanted an exclusive relationship with Jehovah. She never got that. This lack of fidelity on the part of Jehovah is what has cause the problem and not the other way around.
Even today Judaism desires an exclusive relationship but is denied that right due her. Instead she has been beaten, locked in prison for life and repeatedly raped.
Israel wanted an exclusive relationship with Jehovah. She never got that. This lack of fidelity on the part of Jehovah is what has cause the problem and not the other way around.
Even today Judaism desires an exclusive relationship but is denied that right due her. Instead she has been beaten, locked in prison for life and repeatedly raped.