What can we learn from the women in the Old Testament

**What Does the Bible Say About Women?** This question, though simply posed, brings a wide array of answers and emotions. While one might emphasize [Galatians 3:8](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/GAL/chapter/3/version/CBT/lang/bul/) ("There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"), another might refer to the "harsh" language of [1 Corinthians 11](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/1CO/chapter/11/version/CBT/lang/bul/) and [14](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/1CO/chapter/14/version/CBT/lang/bul/) ("Women should remain silent in the churches... they are to be in submission, as the law says. ([1 Corinthians 14:34](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/1CO/chapter/14/version/CBT/lang/bul/))). Since God has blessed me with a daughter, I have realized the importance of conveying the answer to this question to her. As I watch her grow, I see her interest in stories and her search for connections with the heroines in them. Now, as she begins learning about God’s word, I realize that my daughter will start identifying with the women in the Bible. How can the pages of Scripture impart positive lessons to her and to young women worldwide? The Bible indeed features captivating heroines. Ruth, Mary, and Esther are images of strength and righteousness. Some women, like Tamar and Jael, whose stories are a mix of good and evil, are more complex. Others are wise, like Abigail. There are also foolish and self-centered ones, like Leah, Rachel, and Michal. The many diverse characters have taught me not to label Biblical women as good or bad people. Instead, engaging with each of them should teach us a lesson. In all the Bible characters, whether men or women, we find both heroes and villains, and everything in between these extremes. There are two stories that stand out for two reasons: the qualities of the women involved and the strength of the lessons they teach. These less-known stories are about the daughters of Zelophehad and a princess named Jehosheba. Unfamiliar? No problem, let’s explore them together. The daughters of Zelophehad appear in [Numbers 27](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/NUM/chapter/27/version/CBT/lang/bul/). Their father died in the wilderness, and they were still unmarried. Seeing that society was ready to overlook them for this reason, they approached Moses. They requested a portion of their father's land to remain in their family line. Moses brought their petition before God, who declared that they were right. The land should be allocated to them as family representatives, despite the custom of the time forbidding women from owning property. What society thought about them didn’t matter. The daughters of Zelophehad were deemed worthy by God, but they were also prepared to follow His will. This is evident later when some came to Moses to ensure that the girls would marry within the Israelite tribe so their land wouldn’t fall into another tribe. The matter was again taken to God, and He commanded them to marry anyone they wished, provided he was from their people. They complied because what mattered to them was not societal norms but God's will. The story of Jehosheba is very different ([2 Kings 11:2](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/2KI/chapter/11/version/CBT/lang/bul/), [1 Chronicles 22–24](http://bulgarian.bible/scripture/index/mode/seg/book/1CH/chapter/22/version/CBT/lang/bul/)). She was a princess, daughter of King Joram, and sister of King Ahaziah. When her brother was killed, their mother, Athaliah, decided to take the throne. Athaliah cleared the palace of all royal contenders. Then Jehosheba took her young nephew Joash to the temple, where she secretly raised him as her son while her husband led a revolt to dethrone the evil queen. Instead of pursuing her own dreams of success, Jehosheba aimed to fulfill God’s plans. Her courage is forgotten by most, but God preserved the name of this brave princess so that all might hear of her. So, what unites these women in a way that teaches us something today? It's that they follow God’s plan, not the world's direction. The daughters of Zelophehad lived in a world where women had very few rights. They, however, sought acknowledgment from God, adhering to the boundaries He set. Jehosheba, on the other hand, lived in a time when a woman was rising to power. Yet she did not try to seize the rare opportunity to become queen but sacrificed her life for God’s plan and the heir’s right to the throne. In their time, these women acted according to God’s will, not the world’s direction. Their value was not defined by how society or those around them viewed them, but in pleasing God. They remain timeless witnesses that while the world changes, a woman’s worth is not measured by political systems or surrounding circumstances, but by her steadfastness and devotion to God. The daughters of Zelophehad and Princess Jehosheba provide valuable lessons I am glad to pass on to my daughter. May we all guide the women we love towards the impactful stories of such lessons. *Biblical quotes are according to the text of the Bible, new translation from original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013. Link to the original article: [https://www.abwe.org/blog/lessons-women-old-testament](https://www.abwe.org/blog/lessons-women-old-testament)