Women in Scripture The Hebrew Bible, The New Testament, and The Qu’ran

1. Women in ScriptureThe Hebrew Bible, The New Testament, and The Qu’ran Georgina Belmonte Taylor Chaput Katrina Gould Lindsay Smith

2. Women in the Hebrew Bible Genesis 12:10-19, 16:1-16 Judith 8:1-16,25 Proverbs 31:10-31 Sirach 25:12-25, 26:1-18

3. Roles in the Hebrew Bible • In the Hebrew Bible women were portrayed in various ways, including: victims, sinners, and leaders • The most prevalent roles of women in the Hebrew bible are wives and mothers, they are considered the center of the household • Women in the Tanakh are not the social or economic equals of men • They could engage in business and trade (Book of Proverbs chapter 31) • In general, the women of highest status within the Tanakh were religious married mothers, especially mothers of sons , example the prophetess Deborah was both married and a mother • Women could own property, and could collect inheritance if there were no sons

4. Influential Women in the HB • Eve, wife of Adam: original female sinner • Sarah, wife of Abraham: the patriarch passed her off as his sister, allowing local potentates to lie with her. At age 90, she laughed when God told her she would become pregnant. She later bore Isaac • Rebekah, wife of Isaac and mother of the twins Esau and Jacob: she conspired with her younger son Jacob to steal his older brother's blessing. Jacob later became Israel. • Tamar, sister-in-law to Judah: After the death of her first two husbands, she seduced Judah in the guise of a prostitute and bore his child. According to the new testament, this began the line that leads through King David to Jesus. • Miriam, sister of Moses: she defied the Egyptian law requiring the death of all male Hebrew children and instead floated the infant Moses down the Nile for pharaoh's daughter to find. • Delilah: The Philistine wife of Samson. She tricked him into revealing the secret of his power and then betrayed him to her countrymen. • Deborah: judge and prophetess. • Ruth: of The Book of Ruth. She was a Moabite woman who married Elimelech and converted to Judaism; she became the great grandmother of King David. • Bathsheba: married King David, mother of Solomon • Judith: She seduced the tyrant Holofernes and then killed him in his tent as he slept.

5. Prophetesses • 7 of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women : • Sarah (Gen 11:29 - 23:20) • Miriam (Ex. 15:20-21; Num. 12:1-12:15, 20:1) • Deborah (Judges 4:1 - 5:31) • Hannah (I Sam 1:1 - 2:21) • Abigail (I Sam 25:1 - 25:42) • Huldah (II Kings 22:14-20) • Esther (The book of Esther)

6. Sirach • 25:12-25 Summarizes the wickedness of women their doings • 26:1-18 Summarizes the virtues of women, and how they should support their families

7. Women in the New Testament Matthew 9:18-22 Mark 7:24-30 John 4:4-42, 8:1-11 Luke 1:26-38, 7:36-50, 21:1-4, 23:26-31 Ephesians 5:22 1 Timothy 2:11-15 Titus 2:3-5 1 Peter 3:1-7, 5:1-3

8. Roles in the New Testament • Women are mentioned in all the gospels, but especially in Luke • Women are presented as wives, mothers, and disciples • The earliest and most devout followers of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3) • Often excluded from religious discussion until the arrival of Jesus (John 4:27) • Husbands and wives worked as missionary teams (Romans 16:1-15) • Teachings were directed towards “Brothers and Sisters”

9. Influential Women in the NT • Elizabeth: Zechariah’s wife, mother of John the Baptist • Herodias: wife of Herod, persuaded her daughter to ask for John the Bapsist’s head • Mary: wife of Jospeh, virgin mother of Jesus • Mary Magdalene: disciple of Jesus, first to hear of Jesus’ resurrection • Martha: sister of Mary and Lazarus, disciple of Jesus • Numerous unnamed women, important in parables and conversion stories. (John 4:4-42, Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44)

10. Luke • 1:26-38 The announcement of the conception of Jesus. • 7:36-50 Forgiveness of the adulterous woman. • 21:1-4 Contribution of the poor widow. • 23:26-31 Jesus talks to women on His way to His crucifixion.

11. Women in the Qu’ran 3:35-47 4:19-25, 34, 127 19:1-29 21:89-91 24:30-31

12. Roles of Women in the Qu’ran • Islam states the men and women are equal • In many ayahs the revelations are directed to both “men and women” (Surah 33:35) • What truly matters in Islamic morality, is not whether someone is male or female, but whether or not he or she is a believer who fears and respects Allah (Surah 9:71, 4:124) • Valued as mothers and wives • The Qu’ran makes provisions for the physical and financial well-being of women (Surah 2:236, 2:240)

13. Influential Women in the Qu’ran • Maryam (Mary mother of Jesus) is the only women named in the entire Qu’ran. • However, there are numerous unnamed women mentioned such as the pharaoh’s wife, faithful women and the wives of the prophet

14. Surah 4 • 19-25:The treatment of wives, and proper courtship • 32: Fair treatment of women • 34: Roles of husbands in regard to wives and their loyalty

15. Major Women Characters in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Qur’an

16. HB: Miriam • Older sister of Moses and Aaron • Prophetess- she foresaw Moses’ birth as bringing about redemption for the Israelites • Responsible for well-being throughout the Exodus • Died before reaching the Promise Land • Miriam is considered one of the liberators of the Children of Israel, along with her brothers Moses and Aaron. • Ex 2:1, 15:20-21, Numbers 12:1-15, 20:1

17. NT: Mary, mother of Jesus • Known commonly as Mary of Nazareth • “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus, who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16) • Chosen by God to bear His son because of her great faith and virtue. • Was a virgin and gave birth to the Christ, the Messiah. • Present at Jesus’ first miracle, crucifixion, and resurrection. • Important saint often prayed for intercession. • Believed to have been assumed into Heaven, body and soul. • Has made many apparitions on Earth, important to many Christians.

18. NT: Mary Magdalene • “Mary” derived from Miriam, sister of Moses • Jesus cured her of seven demons and she followed him from one town to another as he preached. • Present at the crucifixion of Christ • In all of the four gospels, Mary is present in the cave at the resurrection of Jesus • Believed to be a prostitute before her conversion to Jesus’ teachings.

19. Qur’an: Maryam (Mary mother of Jesus) • Mary, mother of Christ (3:35-37, 42-47, 19: 16-29) • Mary is the only woman named in the Qur’an • Virgin conception and role as mother of the “Messiah” recognized in the Qur’an • Chosen by and obedient to Allah • There are some references to Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, wife of Zachariah, though she is never named (3:37-41, 19:1-15) • Numerous ayahs mention the “wives of the prophet” and how they should behave (33:28-34)

20. Compare and contrast • Rosh Codesh, the first day of each month, is a minor festival. There is a custom that women do not work on Rosh Chodesh. Because of the sin of the Golden Calf, the holiday was taken away from the men and given to women, as a reward for the women's refusal to participate in the construction of the Golden Calf. (Exodus 32) • Women are wives and mothers in all three books, but they are more independent in the New Testament and not even named in the Qur’an. • The name “Mary” in the New Testament is derived from “Miriam” in the Hebrew Bible and “Maryam” is the Arabic translation of “Mary.” • The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the New Testament and also to the Muslim prophet Muhammad. • The Jewish holiday, Purim, celebrates when Ester saved the Jewish people from genocide. • In Christianity there are days dedicated to female saints and the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Ex: December 12 commemorates the apparition of Mary in Mexico (virgen de Guadalupe)