How Women Could and Couldn’t Lead in the Old Testament

Three

Several female prophets in the bible

This female prophets are examples not teachings:

Difficult to take them and turn them into rules because it could be the intersection of culture.

Example of Miriam:

Women leaders in Old Testament times:

Belleville (egalitarian) writes, “It is clear that historically women have been gifted for ministry. Gifting however, does not necessarily make a leader. While women appear in a variety of ministry roles in the bible, the key questions are whether these roles warrant the label of leadership especially leadership over men and whether the community of faith affirms women in these roles. The answer on both accounts is a decided yes.”

“As early as Mosaic times, women were affirmed as leaders of God’s people. Miriam, for instance, was sent by the Lord (along with her two brothers) to “lead” Israel during the wilderness years (Micah 6:4). She was held in such high regard as a leader that Israel would not travel until she was back at the helm (Numbers 12:1-16). Micah 6:4 is particularly important because it shows that Miriam’s role was traditionally and historically understood as a leadership one by the community of faith centuries later.”

Micah 6:4 - In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I delivered you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.”

Payne (egalitarian) says, “The prophetess Miriam is sent by God “to lead” Israel.”

Micah 6:4 doesn’t necessarily put Miriam as the top leader over Isreal.

Numbers 12:1–16

1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married (for he had married an Ethiopian woman).

2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard it.

3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.)

4 The Lord spoke immediately to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: “The three of you come to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them went.

5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent; he then called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6 The Lord said, “Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I will speak face to face, openly and not in riddles, and he will see the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he departed.

10 After the cloud had departed from above the tent, there was Miriam, leprous like snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and realized that she was leprous.

11 So Aaron said to Moses, “O my lord, please do not hold this sin against us, in which we have acted foolishly and have sinned!

12 Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb!”

13 Then Moses cried to the Lord, “Heal her now, O God.”

14 The Lord said to Moses, “If her father had only spit in her face, would she not have been disgraced for seven days? Shut her out from the camp seven days, and afterward she can be brought back in again.”

15 So Miriam was shut outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought back in.

16 After that the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.”

Conclusions from the passage:

Moses is a different kind of leader than Aaron and Miriam.

Moses gets more direct communication from God.

Miriam is rebuked for trying to usurp Moses authority.

Moscow (egalitarian) says, “God punished Miriam for speaking against Moses. But the Israelites refused to move on until she was restored to health.”

There is nothing in the passage about a refusal of the people: Num. 12:15-16

When Isreal traveled it wasn’t a democracy.

God’s people traveled by the guidance of God, not a democratic vote. - Numbers 9:15-23