24/08/2026
The Role Of Women In The Old Testament
Introduction
In ancient Israel, women were considered to be members of the "family offaith."
As such, they could enter into most of the areas of worship.
The Law directed all men to appear before the Lord three times a year.
Apparently the women went with them on some occasions (Deut 29:10, 11; Neh 8:2; Joel
2:16), but they were not required to go. Perhaps women were not required to go because
of their important duties as wives and mothers.
For instance, Hannah went to Shiloh with her husband and asked the Lord for a
son (I Sam 1:3-18). Later, when the child was born, she told her husband, "I will not go
up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the
Lord, and there abide forever " (vs 22).
As head of the family, the husband or father presented the sacrifices and offerings
on behalf of the entire family (Lev 1:2). But the wife might also be present.
Women attended the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut 16:14), the yearly Feast of the
Lord (Judg 21:19-21), and the Festival of the New Moon (2Ki 4:23).
One sacrifice that only the women gave to the Lord was offered after the birth of a
child:
"And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she
shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a
turtledove for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the
priest" (Lev 12:6).
Several Old Testament women were famous for their faith. Included in the list in
Hebrews 11 are two women, Sarah and Rahab (Gen 21; Josh 2; 6:22-25).
Hannah was a godly example of the Israelite mother: She prayed to God; she
believed that God heard her prayers; and she kept her promise to God. Her story is found
in 1 Samuel 1.
A. MIRIAM
Miriam, the older sister of Moses, was a most remarkable woman.
1. Saved Moses' Life
The Pharaoh had ordered all the Israelite male children killed. The baby Moses'
life was in danger, so his mother "took for him an ark of bulrushes... and put the child in
it; and she laid the ark in the reed bushes by the river's edge " (Exo 2:3).
This was a perilous moment for Moses. But his courageous older sister MIRIAM,
even though a child at the time, stayed nearby "...to watch what would be done to him"
(Exo 2:4).
When Miriam saw Pharaoh's daughter rescue Moses, she immediately presented a
plan of action. "Then said his sister [Miriam] to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call
to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? " (Exo 2:7).
Miriam arranged for Moses' mother to nurse him. Thus Miriam's quick,
courageous action saved Moses. We owe the woman Miriam a lot. What would the world
be like today had we not had the ministry of Moses?
2. Worship Leader And Prophetess....
