Unsung heroines of the Hebrew bible : a contextual theological reading from the perspective of woman wisdom

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study is based primarily on the presupposition that the conventional definition ordescription of a biblical heroine does not take into account certain 'hidden' women in theOld Testament who could be distinguished due to their wisdom. By using the Yorubawoman as a contextual interpretive lens, the study investigates two female characters inthe Old Testament each of whom is named in only one verse of Scriptures – 'the FirstDeborah in Genesis 35:8 and Sheerah in 1 Chronicles 7:24. The investigation takes itspoint of departure from the figure of Woman Wisdom of the book of Proverbs, whichcommentators have characterized as a metaphor for the Israelite heroine – aconsummate image of the true Israelite female icon.It is indeed remarkable that Woman Wisdom has been associated with various femalefigures in the Old Testament such as Ruth, Abigail, the Wise Woman of Tekoa and theWise Woman of Abel, etc. However, this study calls for a broader definition of wisdombased on the investigation of certain women in Old Testament narratives (e.g. Deborahand Sheerah) who have received only fleeting mention and recognition but whose livesreflect a possible connection to wisdom on a deeper level.It is shown that classical (arguably masculine) ways of reading the text tend to sidelineor altogether overlook certain female characters, which are regarded as marginal suchas Deborah and Sheerah. However, there are narrative gaps in the units where suchwomen are found that could be filled by a reading of the text that is sensitive to details.It is argued that a more careful examination of the minute details in the texts couldbreak down the metanarratives in a way that shows that they have hermeneuticalsignificance. Therefore, attention to the narrative details unveils new dimensions ofmeaning and implications between the two texts (women) under investigation that havenot been related in previous studies.Of significance is the fact that classical readings of the two verses that mention 'theFirst Deborah and Sheerah (Gen 35:8 and 1 Chron 7:24) regard them as intrusive in their respective contexts. However, a multiplex reading of each of the two verses in thisstudy has shown that, rather than being intrusive, both have been strategicallyconstructed to underscore the importance of the two women, and that the versesactually fit into their present pericope. The references to both Deborah and Sheerah arerooted in strong Old Testament traditions namely Bethel and Ephraimite, respectively,both of which play visible roles within the pericopes. What's more, both verses arefound within significant contexts – one in the middle of a section that closes the JacobCycle and introduces the Joseph Cycle, the other in the midst of a theologically drivengenealogy that begins with Adam.Again, based on the multifaceted character of Woman Wisdom, in particular, as ateacher, a nourisher and a builder, it is argued that this metaphor of an Israelite heroineis embodied in both 'the First Deborah and Sheerah. Whereas Deborah was a wetnurse who must have nourished and nurtured the offspring of Rebekah, her mistress,Sheerah has been identified as the only female builder throughout Scriptures. Theidentification of the role of a wet nurse as a nurturer and nourisher as well as the role ofa daughter as a builder with Woman Wisdom points to two silent heroines, one in theprivate domain and the other in the public sphere, who have remained unrecognizedand uncelebrated in Old Testament scholarship.Furthermore, the roles of Deborah and Sheerah, respectively as wet nurse and builder,indicate that women participated in various spectrums of societal life especially in theSecond Temple period when it is assumed that the texts reached their final forms. Notonly did they perform roles that were associated with women, they equally participatedin roles that were regarded as traditionally masculine. In this regard, a study of thewomen in the book of Chronicles offers a fresh glimpse into the roles and positions ofwomen in the Second Temple period as well as into the Chronicler's purpose andemphasis, in particular, regarding his concept of laerf.yI-lk'.On a theological level, the achievements of the two women demonstrate God'spenchant for supporting the weak and the marginalized and for affirming those who are regarded as less likely to succeed. The mention of the First Deborah in the OldTestament proves that in God's script, there are no little people. In the case of Sheerah,the point that there is a lare f y. -I lk ' that includes outstanding female achievers indicatesthat, theologically speaking, there is no barrier against what women can do.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University