* Women are an important part of the Biblical story. Perhaps not specifically named, they are on almost every page. As you study the Holy Land, remember:
• So many woman! Many unnamed and unnoticed! Women are seen everywhere, “people, children of Israel, the congregation, the crowd, the multitude, town, cities,” etc…all include women and children. Where the men went, there were women. Where there were armies or navies, there were women. Women were witness and participants to all the events in the Holy Land.
• People traveled and settled where there were three key ingredients: water, food and protection (security). Women bore the children, managed the household and took care of the men. Women supported men and were their ‘helpers.’ Women complemented the men.
• Water means life, and where there was water, there was civilization, and women, children and families (pools, wells, oasis, lakes, wells, etc.)
• Wherever children are mentioned, there are women. Jesus blessed the children and healed the adults. The significant male characters of Scripture had mothers, sisters and other female friends and relatives who looked on in amazement and were often caught up in the nomadic lifestyle, the times of famine or plenty, miracles, and results of warfare through the centuries The ‘crowds’ and ‘multitudes’ included women.
• For almost every well known man there are women in his life as mother, wife, sisters and friends. Kings had hundreds of unnamed concubines. The enemies of Jesus, and Israel, had wives and daughters. Several of the apostles had wives that followed Jesus.
• What affected the men, affected their wives and families: wars, peace, punishments, plagues, and promises. As wars were waged, cities destroyed, peoples taken captive, women and children were displaced, killed, taken captive.
• Warfare meant the making of widows.
• God used women in unique and magnificent ways. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Miriam rescuing Moses from the water, Michael rescuing David from those who would take his life, Lydia the first convert in Europe, Esther rescuing the nation from genocide, Jael killing the enemy of Israel, and many more.
“From the ancient world until now, society stands or falls according to its infrastructure, that is, the family, over which the wife and mother is to preside.” (Holeman Bible Dictionary)
(*) From Jeanne's book - Women of the Holy Land: Walk Where They Walked.2008.
