BS575.G34

Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-206) and indexes

Preface Introduction Chapter 1. Biblical Prophets and Related Roles Definitions Technical Vocabulary Chapter 2. Women's Prophecy Around Biblical Israel Scope and Limits of Our Data Women Prophets in Mari Assyrian (Ninevite) Oracles Women Prophets in Emar General Observations on Women Prophets in the Ancient Near East and Israel Chapter 3. Women Prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures Miryam Deborah Huldah HaNebiy'ah (The Anonymous Woman-Prophet) Daughters Who Prophesy in Ezekiel Daughters Who Will Prophesy in Joel Noadiah Daughters of Heman Summary Chapter 4. Female Prophetic Guilds in Context Musical/Funerary Guilds Scribal Guilds Summary Chapter 5. Rabbinic and Christian Trajectories Navi'/Nevi'ah in Rabbinic Texts Navi'/Nevi'ah in the Mishnah Navi'/Nevi'ah in the Midrash Navi'/Nevi'ah in the Talmuds Prophetis in Early Christian Texts Summary Chapter 6. Prophetic Constructions General Observations Prophetic Constructions Rebekah: The Inquiring Prophet Prophet-Warriors and Sanctuary-Guardians Queen Mother and Oracle Shaper Mourners' Guild: Partner-Prophets in Mourning Hidden Prophets: Obscured in Neviy'im Summary Conclusions Implications of Gender Binary in Biblical Hebrew / Unanswered Questions / Prophets Unknown to Us

There are untold numbers of female prophets hiding in the masculine grammar and androcentric focus of the Hebrew scriptures. There are women-prophets in the communities around biblical Israel, existing for hundreds of years and even a thousand years before the Israelite and Judean prophets recorded their messages. The rabbinic and Christian fathers analyzed and found more women in the scriptures who function as prophets than the biblical authors identify. All of these female prophets have an intimate connection with the God of Israel; they express that connection by singing, dancing, drumming, speaking with and for God, waging war, performing miracles, exercising statecraft, and giving birth. Each of them is a daughter of Miriam, the mother of all women-prophets.Women prophets gave powerful voice to Yahwist faith at the formative moments in ancient Israel's development, and were expected in biblical visions of the future. Now they come to the foreground as Wilda C. Gafney explores prophetic practices in ancient Israel, different models for women's sacred roles in the Near Eastern environment, and changing understandings of women's leadership in early and rabbinic Judaism as well.