Badass Women of the Bible by School of Art, George Mason University

ROSE HELEN MOORE

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE Copyright ÂŠ Text and design 2020 by Rose Helen Moore All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, contact: Rose Helen Moore rhmcreative@gmail.com

To Mimi, the most stubborn, loving, faithful, badass woman I have ever known.

contents acknowledgments • VII foreword • 1

Bithiah • 3 Rahab • 9 Deborah • 15 Ruth • 21 Abigail • 27 Judith • 33 Esther • 39 Mary of nazareth • 45 Mary Magdalene • 51 Endnotes • 57 Bibliography • 61

acknowledgments

To my parents Kathleen and Jim Moore: without the two of you, I would literally not exist. In all seriousness, though, you two have played the biggest part in shaping me into the person I am today. My drive to create, my confidence in my abilities, and the part of me that cares so much are all things I learned from experiencing life with you two. Thank you for your unending love and support. I love you both so very much. To my grandparents BJ Moore, Gary and Bonnie Moore, and Tom and Lucy Walbroehl: thank you for your unwavering love and support throughout my life. Whether you’re only a short drive away, all the way across the country, or up in Heaven watching over me, I know that I have you all in my corner always. Next, to my amazing editors Paul Moore and Amanda Douilette: Paul, my big brother and partner-in-crime, I don’t know who I would be if I didn’t have you in my life to bounce ideas off of, make jokes with, or vent about life to (I’m using grammar incorrectly on purpose—suck it). Thank you for being the best big brother I could ever ask for (double suck it *wink*). I’ll see you very soon, bub. vii

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

Amanda, you have been so many things to me: a friend, a bible study leader, a roommate, a confidante, and an inspiration. I am constantly in awe of how much you care for and love others and how much of yourself you give to each and every one of your relationships. I am better for knowing you. To Amanda (again), Cristina Benzo, Cristina Catterton, Erika Messerschmidt, Hannah Johns, Katie Ryan, Sam Loritsch, Sienna Kunze, and Shannon Cummings: thank you all for your contributions to this book. Each one of you is a badass lady in your own right and truly inspiring. I love you all very much. To my wonderful professors James Quigley and Jim Van Meer: thank you for your continued support. From the first class I took with each one of you, you have pushed me to do my best, expanded my knowledge about many things not limited to the field design, helped me to recognize my potential, and shown me what it is to be a teacher and mentor. I would not be the designer I am today without your influences. To Kristen Juda: thank you for letting me bounce ideas off of you for this project and for safely gathering resources for me during the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic. More generally, thank you for being a confidante and letting me vent to you whenever I come into the Chapel. Thank you for your support, love, smiles, and laughter. I am so very glad to count you as a friend. Lastly, to the nine badass women of the bible examined in this book: thank you for being inspirations and amazing examples of what it means to be a woman of faith.

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foreword

What the Bible says about women (according to people who don’t understand what the Bible actually says about women): “Women need men to interpret God’s will for them; women’s discernments can be incorrect because of their clouded judgment.” “Women are the source of original sin, and God had to have men control us.” “Women were made to be servants because God made man first. Also, because God is male, women can’t possibly lead.” “God chose men to lead and women to serve them.” “God made men to lead. If a female leads, she is actually preventing men from being the leaders they were meant to be.” Or, similarly: “God created male personalities to lead, and women are actually harming God’s vision for men when they lead.” 1

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The statements above have, at one point or another, been told to a friend of mine. Some of my other friends have expressed that they have been told similar things. I, myself, have read numerous Facebook posts and online articles conveying various misconceptions about what exactly it is the Bible says about womanhood. All these experiences combined have led me hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to writing this book. My mission? Correcting these misunderstandings and helping to stop the spread of misinformation. So how does the Bible actually define a woman of faith? Well, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where it gets complicated. Contrary to what the statements above would have you believe, there is no one correct way to be a woman of faith. This is shown through the vastly different stories of these nine badass women. Join me on this journey to discover what it means to be a badass woman of faith.

bithiah 3

LOVE

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, and her maidens walked beside the river; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to fetch it. When she opened it she saw the child; and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son; and she named him Moses, for she said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” Exod. 2:5–10

Merriam-Webster defines love as “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties,” such as the love a mother has for her children.1 However, for some people, that kind of love can be found in the unlikeliest of places. For Bithiah it was found in a small male child whom she discovered floating down a river. This already sounds pretty extraordinary, right? A woman immediately 5

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found her heart full of maternal love for a child to whom she had no ties? In the story of Bithiah, we soon learn that this love was even more impressive. Before we go into the why of that, I’ll need to lay down some backstory for you. Firstly, who was Bithiah? Well, she was the daughter of the Pharaoh. Secondly, at the beginning of this story the Pharaoh had decided that the Jews living in Egypt had grown too numerous and were a danger to the Egyptians. After failing to convince the midwives to kill any sons born of Hebrew mothers, he instructed his people to cast those children into the Nile. This is important because the baby that Bithiah found in the river was a Hebrew boy, who had been placed in the river by his mother, safely nestled in a basket in the hope of somehow saving his life. Upon opening the basket and seeing the child, Bithiah knew that this was indeed a Hebrew child. By not only saving him but also deciding to raise him as her own, Bithiah was defying direct orders from her father and king and almost undoubtedly risking her own life in doing so. Now, there are several different theories on why Bithiah did this.2 One theory states that when she laid eyes upon him she saw the “Divine Presence” within him. Another asserts that she simply was acting with compassion towards a crying baby. Lastly, a third posits that she had been suffering from leprosy and was cured of it when she picked up the basket, which caused her to love the child. However, when you consider that she immediately knew that this was a Hebrew child and that in sparing his life she would be directly defying her father’s orders, none of these lines of thinking actually make much sense. Why would she risk her own life for a child she did not know? Personally, I think the answer can be found by taking a much simpler, but perhaps harder to understand, line of thinking: 6

BITHIAH

Bithiah was a woman with a heart that was inclined to love and care for others, one that had perhaps been touched by God. When Bithiah took in the child, she named him Moses. Yes, that Moses. The Moses who, through God, freed the Hebrews, guided them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and led them towards the Promised Land. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible how something as basic as love could influence the events of history so drastically. Had she not taken Moses in and raised him as her own, he surely would have died, either from being left on the river or from being discovered by a person with a lesser heart. The Israelites would probably have been enslaved for decades or centuries more to come. Her story proves that love, selfless love, takes incredible strength and is something to be admired.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE By Amanda Douilette

We all know that loving someone isn’t easy. I’ve heard the story of the good Samaritan enough times to be able say it verbatim. The message to love others as our neighbors is clear. To love someone enough to die for them—well, that is a great narrative for Jesus but a hard act to follow. Yet woman after woman in the bible seems to manage, Bithiah being one of them. Bithiah’s actions can be labeled rebellious or faith-driven, but the truth is much simpler. It is love. Love for a baby whose cries echoed off the river. Love for a people her father was murdering. Love so strong it would turn the tides of history. Bithiah’s love isn’t a simple neighborly love where she didn’t walk by the baby but rather a love where she raised a life. She exhibits the type of love that lends the strength to defy tradition and to trust in a new, greater God. This love isn’t confined to the Old Testament, or even the Bible as a whole. This love is endless, as it is the Alpha and the Omega. Embodying love like Bithiah’s leads to women opening shelters for at-risk women and their children. It inspires women to testify against men who have committed egregious wrongs and profited. It empowers women to teach, lead, and create all around the world. It is Love that leads women to defy death orders and lay down their earthly lives to fulfill the promise of eternal life. It is God-given, Jesus-tested, Spirit-confirmed, woman-approved, unconditional Love.

Rahab 9

TRUST

The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring forth the men that have come to you, who entered your house; for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; and she said, “True, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; and when the gate was to be closed, at dark, the men went out; where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords; and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. Josh. 2:3–7

If there is one redemption story in all of the Bible that makes Christians more uncomfortable than any other, it’s the story of Rahab the harlot. Various Christian theologians, as well as certain versions of the Roman Catholic Bible, have tried to either sanitize her story by ignoring her role as a prostitute or by rewriting her role as simply having been an innkeeper.3 This was because her identity as a prostitute not only made them uncomfortable but also made them 11

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question their worldview when paired with her role in the Biblical narrative. Rahab the harlot was, more importantly, Rahab the heroine, and as noted by Dr. William L. Lyons, “…prostitutes are rarely considered heroines in either ancient or modern times…”4 Rahab’s part of the Biblical narrative began when two Israelite spies were sent to Jericho. They were looking for somewhere to hide and came knocking on her door. She took them in and, before hiding them, revealed that she knew the Israelites would be coming to conquer Jericho. More importantly, Rahab admitted to believing in God as the one true God. In return for protecting them, she asked them to spare her and her family when the city was to be destroyed, and they agreed. When men sent by the king of Jericho came to her door, they asked her if the two spies were there. She told them that they had indeed been there but that at dark “the men went out; where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”5 Once the king’s men left, Rahab led the spies safely out of her house so they could escape. Rahab’s willingness to help the spies is significant for two reasons. First, she was risking her immediate safety. If the king had found out that she had lied, he would have surely put her to death. Second, her request for protection was one made in blind trust. Rahab had to not only trust that these men were indeed who they said they were, but also that they would keep their promise. She had no prior experience with any of the Israelites; her only knowledge about them would have come from others who knew of them. Her willingness to risk her safety and put her trust in these strangers showed tremendous inner-strength and spirit. Her risk paid off. When the Israelites destroyed Jericho, the two spies whom she had protected came, collected her and her family, and brought them to safety. She 12

RAHAB

spent her remaining days in Israel and was an ancestress of Jesus through her son, Boaz. Rahab’s transition from prostitute to faithful woman of God is pretty awesome and shows that if you are open to change, you have the ability to redeem yourself. Rahab’s story also highlights this very important fact: God does not care about what you have done in the past so much as He cares about what is in your heart and the person you will become. God has a plan for each of us; however, He has also given us the gift of free will, and it is up to us to decide what we will do with that gift. God will work through those who allow Him to, whether it be a typical “good person” or an outcast such as Rahab. Her story demonstrates a woman’s capability to make risky choices in the name of what is right. It also shows that no matter what you have done in the past, where you come from, who your family is, or who you are now, you have the ability to move forward and do great things.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

DRAWN TO THE GOOD By Sienna Kunze

Rahab stands as a great example of faith, hope, and trust. Though not an Israelite herself, Rahab still recognized something in these men that merited her putting her trust in them and supporting what she could see as the truth and as good. Her personal history is used to show that women of any state in life, any background, and any past mistakes or misguiding can turn to and fight for the good and the true. We are all drawn to the good and the true, but sometimes we can back away from it or be too afraid, insecure, or even indifferent to stand up for it. Yet, just the contrary is what we should be doingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we should be running towards it. Rahab is an example of standing up for this, even when those around her may not have seen it. In the Christian context, this can look like following God, but it also extends far beyond simply this for Christians and non-Christians alike: standing up for the oppressed and against racism; helping the physically poor and the poor in spirit; and speaking truth in a world that needs to hear it. As Rahab found the good and the true and fought for it by hiding the spies, so does she serve as an example for women today to stand for the good and the true. Others may come knocking at our door, expecting us to back down, but like Rahab, we must remain firm in our convictions and pursuit of justice.

Deborah 15

Leadership

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time… She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naphatali and the tribe of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’” Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead you to glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. Josh. 2:3–7

When you think of a strong leader, what traits come to mind? Merriam-Webster defines a leader as “a person who has a commanding authority or influence.”6 In multiple articles, Forbes lists various traits possessed by great leaders—including integrity, loyalty, decisiveness, strategic-thinking, and responsibility.7 That definition and 17

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those traits are all exemplified in the story of Deborah, biblical Israel’s sole female judge and military leader. Deborah is first introduced to us in Judges 4 as eshet lapidot.8 When translated into English, eshet can mean one of two things—woman or wife, while lapidot is either torches or the name of her supposed husband.9 As pointed out by Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, “it is a strangesounding name for a man and, moreover, does not have that standard patronymic ‘son of.’”10 If we use the other translation, Deborah is first introduced as “woman of torches,” which could also mean fiery woman. Dr. Frymer-Kensky states, “‘Torch Lady’ provides a significant wordplay, for it is Deborah, not her husband, who is the torch that sets the general Barak...on fire.”11 She commanded the respect of the Israelites. She was the only female judge named in the Bible and went on to lead armies into battle. Before we delve deeper into her story, I should explain the difference between the judges of ancient Israel and the judges we have today. We think of a judge as someone who presides over court proceedings and make decisions regarding those proceedings. This is not what is meant by the term judge in the bible. The root of the Hebrew word used to describe the judges of ancient Israel, špṭ, had a meaning much broader than how we define judges today.12 Ryan Nelson states that, according to The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, “The Hebrew root of špṭ had a much wider meaning than the idea of simply ‘administering justice to,’ or ‘to pass sentence,’…the basic meaning could now successfully be established as meaning ‘to rule,’ or ‘to command.’”13 This definition, along with the actions of the judges, show us that they were actually more leaders to the people of Israel than they were like the judges of today. Deborah’s story began with her summoning the general Barak and giving 18

DEBORAH

him God’s command to lead Israel’s armies against the Canaanite general Sisera and the Canaanite armies. Barak accepted his orders, but only on the condition that Deborah come with him to help him lead these armies. This is important for two reasons. First, it shows just how much respect Deborah commanded from the people of Israel. This great warrior, chosen by God to lead armies, was only willing to go into battle if Deborah joined him. Second, it also highlights Deborah’s own strength as a leader. Barak was uncertain of how the battle would go, but Deborah had unwavering faith in God’s plan and in the abilities of both Barak and the armies of Israel. She agreed to his request, showing no fear or hesitation, and under her leadership the Israelites were victorious. Deborah, in her role as judge and leader, acted no differently than a man would have in her position. This is fitting, as the Hebrew word for “judging” used in reference to Deborah is the same one that was used for the male judges.14 The Israelites showed the same respect and deference to Deborah as they did to any of the male judges that came before or after her. Deborah’s story and role as judge and military leader show that, in the eyes of God, gender is not a factor when choosing someone to lead. God does not pick leaders dependent on their manhood or womanhood but rather on who they are as a person—their capabilities, intelligence, faith, and heart.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

CHOSEN TO LEAD By Katie Ryan

As a prophetess, a judge, and a wife, Deborah had a full plate. In the Book of Judges, Deborah was the only female judge to stand on her own. Her powers were not granted in spite of her gender, but rather they were given to her because she was worthy. So often in our twenty-first century world, women are encouraged to have it allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;career, husband, home, and babies. Be fit, be fun, be virtuous, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be boring. In a barrage of ideas and demands of what women should be, there are still antiquated ideas of how women should behave and about whether or not they can lead. Deborah is an early example of leadership from a woman who was chosen to lead, not to fill a quota or for political correctness but rather for her skills and effectiveness. The Judges of the early Israel did not wear the powdered wigs and black robes that we might associate with courtroom judges today; they were military leaders. When Deborah commanded Barak to march on Mount Tabor with the Israelite army, he would not go without her. Deborah not only foretold the victory of the Israelites but also led them to victory herself. I am a twenty-somethingyear-old woman forging her way in a male dominated field. Will I be lucky enough to have a vision for the future, lead the charge to make it happen, and bask in a victorious success? Time will tell. Deborah gives me hope because she shows that we, a sisterhood of women committed to distinction, have triumphed before.

ruth 21

Loyalty

And [Naomi] said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. Rth. 1:15–18

The story of Ruth is fairly easy to misinterpret. For example, in the article “10 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Ruth,” author Mandy Smith interpreted part of Ruth’s story as a lesson about getting your man, writing, “Talk about letting a man know you are interested, right?!”15 In order for you to fully understand why this interpretation was so off-base, I’ll have to take you back to the beginning of the Book of Ruth. 23

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Ruth’s story actually started with that of another woman: Naomi. Naomi, her husband, and their two sons lived in Bethlehem during the time of the judges. During this time there was a famine, and so Naomi and her family relocated to the nearby country of Moab. There, the two sons met and married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. However, tragedy struck. Naomi’s husband died, and then, 10 years later, her two sons also died. Realizing that there was no one left to provide for or take care of her, as those were jobs for men in that time, Naomi determined that she needed to go back to Bethlehem. She said to her daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find a home, each of you in the house of her husband!”16 Orpah made the decision to listen to Naomi and return to her family, as was expected of a widow her age. However, what might be the right decision for one person isn’t necessarily that for another, and the easier choice often isn’t the correct one. This was certainly true for Ruth, who unlike Orpah decided to stay with her mother-in-law. She told Naomi, “…where you go I will go…your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”17 Ruth renounced her family, her country, her traditions, and her beliefs, all in the name of loyalty to and love for Naomi. Ruth’s decision to go with Naomi to Bethlehem was one made out of strength. Ruth’s husband had just died, and custom dictated that she would return to her family. Naomi even tried to get Ruth to stay in Moab, but Ruth repeatedly refused to leave her. Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi was noted as particularly impressive by biblical scholar Phyllis Trible, who wrote, “In the entire biblical epic of Israel, only Abraham approaches this radicalness, but then he had a call from God (Gen. 12:1–3) and also a wife. Ruth stands alone, without support 24

RUTH

human or divine.”18 Trible also made this very important point: “…she reverses sexual allegiance. A young woman commits herself to an old woman in a world where life depends upon men.”19 As Trible mentioned, this was a time when women being able to survive depended upon them having a man to provide for them. Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, and since there was no man to care for them, Ruth took it upon herself to provide. She went to the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s late husband, and collected wheat. She soon met Boaz, who took a liking to her and offered her protection while she worked in his fields. It was at Naomi’s behest that Ruth sought out Boaz as a husband. This was where Smith got it wrong. Ruth did not go to Boaz because she had fallen for him or was trying to “make a move” and get her man. Rather, she went to Boaz because Naomi requested it of her and because marrying Boaz would have enabled her to secure her mother-in-law’s safety and security. The lesson here is not, “If you want a husband, you should go after him just as Ruth went after Boaz.” The lesson, shown both in Ruth’s decision to go to Bethlehem with Naomi and in her willingness to seek out Boaz at Naomi’s instruction, is that you do what you must to provide for and take care of those you love most. Ruth’s story demonstrates strength in going outside of tradition and cultural norms, fulfilling what was usually a man’s job in order to care for Naomi. It shows that loyalty and love for one person can be enough, even when society deems it insufficient.

MY CHILDHOOD HERO By Sam Loritsch

When thinking about faithfulness and loyalty, the first biblical woman who comes to mind is Ruth. When I was a little girl, Ruth was always my favorite Bible character. Sure, David was amazing, and Esther was a literal QUEEN. Yet, I resonated most with Ruth. She was so resolute and unwavering. She loved fiercely and trusted God, even when she didn’t know how her life would go. When Ruth decided to stay with Naomi instead of going back to her people, she was giving up the obvious chance to find a new husband. Israel was a foreign country, and it wasn’t a secret that they rarely, if ever, married non-Jews. During this time in history, giving up the opportunity to find a husband was a bold move. It wasn’t simply the chance of a marriage that she was abandoning, but also guaranteed financial and social security. Despite this, she decided that Naomi, and her God, were more important than conforming to societal norms. This decision took guts, and I so wanted to be like that—to love with loyalty and reckless abandon. I believe that loyalty is a character trait lacking in a lot of people my age. Nowadays, people leave when things get hard or when they don’t know what they’ll get out of a relationship or a situation, but Ruth stuck it out. She stayed with Naomi and listened to her advice. It ended well for her: she ended up with a loving husband, a mother, and the family she wanted. Ruth didn’t know that she was going to get that, though. She stayed without any promise of what tomorrow held—she only had her trust in God and trust in her relationship with Naomi, and that is why I love her.

Abigail 27

Silohuette Illustration Depiction Bible Verse on Next Page

wit

When Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from the donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, “Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your handmaid speak in your hearing and hear the words of your handmaid. Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt, and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 1 Sam. 25:23–26

Behind every strong woman is a man who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Well, perhaps not every strong woman, but this certainly rings true for Abigail. Biblical scholar Adele Berlin describes Abigail as “beautiful and intelligent…an ideal wife, always protecting her husband’s interests, taking initiative when he is unable 29

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or unwilling to act, and apologizing for his rude behavior.”20 While many might question why such an intelligent woman would stay married to Nabal when he is portrayed as such a witless wonder, the context and time period of the story provide all the answers. Abigail couldn’t leave her husband because it was impossible for a woman to initiate divorce in this time, even if the husband was a foolish brute. In addition, having a husband offered certain financial and societal protections that she could not afford to lose. This is where Abigail’s incredible wit came into play. Lexico.com defines wit as “mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence.”21 When first seen in 1 Samuel, Abigail had just been told by one of her servants that her husband had put the safety of every person in their household at risk. Nabal had been rude and demeaning towards David and his men and had thus incurred their wrath. To clarify, David was God’s anointed one—a famous warrior who was destined to be king. Abigail immediately jumped into action by gathering food and drink to present as a peace offering to David. She then took off to intercept David and his men without telling Nabal. This last detail is extremely important as it shows exactly how perceptive Abigail was; she understood both the situation and her husband enough to know that the best thing to do was to act without telling him, lest he do something to make everything even worse. Her interaction with David emphasized exactly how insightful she was when it came to interacting with others. Upon reaching him, she dismounted her donkey and bowed at his feet, showing him deference. Whether or not she actually respected him did not matter; she knew exactly what to do in order to gain his respect in return. 30

ABIGAIL

Her wit was evident when she talked to David about her husband, saying, “Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him, but I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.”22 This is perhaps my favorite verse from the entirety of the Bible. In one line, not only did Abigail manage to place blame completely on her husband, suggesting that had she been there she would have acted differently, but she also straight up insulted Nabal, calling him a fool. This statement was smart as it likely put her further in favor with David, and it showed that she was a woman willing to speak her mind. In the end, Abigail’s wit saved her household. Had she not been able to think on her feet, David’s men would have slaughtered everyone. She preserved her household staff and herself from certain death and David from horrible guilt. Her intelligence, given to her by God, saved her and ensured the great reign of King David, who would become Jesus’ great, great, great, great, great…well, you get the point, grandfather.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

TRUE FEMININE POWER By Shannon Cummings

Abigail’s story only takes up a chapter in the bible, yet I believe it is one of the most relatable to women of today. Abigail is described as intelligent and attractive but also as having had the unfortunate circumstance of being married to a rich fool. For a woman of her time to go against what her husband had done and try to make amends was radical, but that’s exactly what Abigail did. I’m sure most women back then would have stayed out of their husbands’ affairs. By all accounts she had it “made” for a woman of that time, what with being married to a wealthy man. Instead, she put herself between two prideful, angry men. If she had been passive, her whole household would have been killed, but she laid down at the mercy of an angry king-to-be. Using her wit and charm, she convinced him to stand down. Abigail is a perfect example of true feminine power and intellect. She never once pitied herself because of who her husband was. Rather, she trusted in the Lord and did what was right by her people. She essentially risked the wrath of both her husband and David to stand up for what was right, and selflessly put the blame on herself—now took a lot of courage. So, if anyone tells you that women in the Bible always, 100% do whatever their husband tells them, or have no role other than just playing house all day, let them know they are wrong. Tell them the story of Abigail, one of the least idle and most independent women out there.

Judith 33

initiative

She went up to the post at the end of the bed, above Holofernes’ head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, “Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!” And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body. Then she tumbled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts; after a moment she went out, and gave Holofernes’ head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag. Jdt. 13:6–10

The book of Judith begins with the Assyrian general Holofernes leading King Nebuchadnezzar’s armies in an assault on Palestine. Eventually, they came to the Jewish city of Bethulia, where the general Achior warned Holofernes against attacking the Jews, as they could not be conquered unless they sinned against God. In his arrogance, Holofernes ignored the warning and laid siege to the city. Enter Judith. 35

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

Judith was described as a widow in mourning who was “prudent of heart, discerning in judgment, and quite virtuous.”23 There was nothing there to indicate that she would be a woman of action, determined to do what the protectors of the city were too frightened to do, yet that is exactly who she turned out to be. When she found out that the city’s leaders had promised the people of Bethulia that they would surrender the city if God did not save them within five days, she could not remain silent. She had her maid summon the town elders and rebuked them, saying, “Who are you, that have put God to the test this day, and are setting yourselves up in the place of God among the sons of men?... do not provoke the Lord our God to anger…He has power to protect us within any time He pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies… let us call upon Him to help us, and He will hear our voice, if it pleases Him.”24 Judith then told them that she had a plan that would save them, though she would not tell them what it was. She simply said that it would “go down throughout all generations of our descendants.”25 Just this far into her story, Judith had already shown more initiative than any of the male leaders of her city, as well as more understanding of exactly how God works. The rulers were sitting around and waiting for God to swoop in and save them with no action necessary on their part. Judith, however, understood that God often works through individuals. Rather than wait for another person to volunteer, she took it upon herself to solve the problem. Upon gaining approval from the leaders, Judith and her maid left Bethulia to infiltrate Holofernes’ camp. They brought with them Judith’s beauty, tiara, and linen gown, which were, as explained by biblical scholar Robin Gallaher Branch, “…her weapons, as important 36

JUDITH

and deadly as Sisera’s 900 chariots in Deborah’s war.”26 Judith and her maid were almost immediately captured by the enemy. Rather than choosing to wait and see what the enemy would do with her and her maid, she told the captors that she was there specifically to meet with the general. The captors replied, “You have saved your life by hurrying down to the presence of our lord.”27 She was brought before Holofernes and proceeded to weave an elaborate lie. She told Holofernes that the people of Bethulia had committed sin against God—the one thing that would allow them to be defeated. She also told him that she served God and that God had sent her to him to ensure his victory. Holofernes believed her and allowed her to stay in the camp, treating her with care and respect. However, Judith also knew when to wait. For three nights, she remained in the camp, building favor and trust with Holofernes. On the fourth day, she was invited to dine with him. During this banquet, Holofernes let down his guard and got rip-roaring drunk. He then proceeded to pass out. Judith seized the opportunity, grabbed Holofernes’ sword, and sliced off his head. Then she and her maid snuck out of the camp with his head in their bag. Upon returning to Bethulia, the general’s head was hung up outside on the city’s wall. When the Assyrian armies discovered their general’s death, they scattered in every direction. Judith’s willingness to take initiative was the sole reason for the defeat of the Assyrian armies. Had Judith not met with and rebuked the elders, and then taken it upon herself to actually go and defeat the enemy, it is likely that no one else would have. This means that not just Bethulia but the entirety of Israel would have fallen. It was by the hand of a single woman that they were saved.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE “Unapologetically Badass” By Erika Messerschmidt During the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the arrogant ruler vowed “by his throne and kingdom that he would surely take revenge on the whole territory of Cilicia and Damascus and Syria, that he would kill by the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the people of Ammon, and all Judea, and every one in Egypt, as far as the coasts of the two seas.”28 Nebuchadnezzar ordered the general Holofernes to carry out his orders because the people disobeyed his wishes. Meanwhile, a Jewish widow named Judith was destined to put a stop to Holofernes and his evil deeds. It is striking to read about her courage and command over the elders in her community and about how willing they were to listen to her plan to take out Holofernes and save the Jewish people from a terrible fate. Her courage was unapologetic, and her eloquence was well regarded by both her own people and the foreigners with whom she interacted. She knew how to use both her beauty and cunning intelligence to her advantage to carry out her plan to defeat Holofernes and his army. When Judith reached Holofernes’ camp and spoke with his direct reports, her story of why she had come to be there was convincing and well thought out. She misled the adversaries into allowing her to ingratiate herself with their leader by gaining trust and credibility. When all was said and done, she perfectly executed her plan to behead Holofernes and brought back peace and stability to her land. It is fantastic to hear a story of a respected, courageous, and intelligent woman in the Old Testament.

Esther 39

courage

Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil design of Ha’man the Ag’agite and the plot which he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, and Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Ha’man the Ag’agite, the son of Hammeda’tha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. Esth. 8:3–5

Biblical scholar Sidnie White Crawford describes Esther at the beginning of her story as beautiful, obedient, pliant, and cooperative.29 There is no indication that Esther would become someone of great importance in Biblical history, but that is exactly what she became. Her story is the inspiration for the Jewish holiday of Purim. As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in his famous novel The Fellowship of the Ring, “Courage is found in unlikely places.”30 41

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The story of Esther began when King Ahasuerus of the Persian empire became enraged with Vashti, his wife and queen, banished her and, as Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik so eloquently puts it, “In a contest eerily akin to reality shows today, he conducts a search for a new queen.”31 As one of the beautiful maidens in the land, Esther was a “contestant” in the king’s search. She was one of the many Jews who had ended up in Persia as a result of the diaspora, though her heritage was unknown to anyone at the palace. Upon meeting her, “the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”32 Shortly after Esther’s crowning, a plot against the king developed. The Jew Mordecai, who held a political position and was, unbeknownst to anyone at the palace, the cousin and adoptive father of Esther, discovered the plot. Mordecai relayed this information to Esther who then relayed it to the king, and the plot was foiled. Soon after this, the king promoted a man named Haman to a position above all except the king himself. Haman was respected by the men under his command, except for Mordecai, who refused to show him deference. In response, Haman issued an edict written in the name of the king ordering the annihilation of all Jews within the kingdom. Word of this made its way to Mordecai and then from Mordecai to Esther. At this point her true character began to shine through. Before this Esther had not done much despite being the queen. At first, when she learned of this edict against the Jews, Esther reacted with fear. Mordecai had asked her to speak with the king, but Esther had not been summoned to him in some time. Going to the king without having been called could result in death, even for the queen. 42

ESTHER

However, with some prompting from her cousin, Esther was able to find courage within herself. She knew that she would have to be the one to act. She was the only one with access to the king and the only who could influence the king to help the Jews. With grim determination, she made the decision to go and see the king even though she had not been called, stating, “…if I perish, I perish.”33 Her courageousness paid off; the king listened to her when she told him of Haman’s unjust plot and then ordered that Haman be executed. When Esther pleaded with the king to revoke the edict, he told her he could not, as an edict signed by the king could not be revoked. Instead, he wrote a new edict that allowed all the Jews in Persia to arm and defend themselves from Haman’s forces, which they successfully did. Esther was an unlikely heroine. She received no direct promise of protection from God. She had to rely completely on her faith in God, the faith she had learned from others. She had to have faith in someone who had not been directly present in her life up through that point. The lack of any direct promise from God made her willingness to risk her life even more courageous. She had no way of knowing that she would succeed, but succeed she did. Though it was but one moment of courage, it was one moment that saved the lives of many. Esther transformed from a pliant and cooperative beauty queen to someone worthy of respect. She was able to save lives with just her words. Courage, indeed, can be found in unlikely places.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

BEAUTIFUL AND BRAVE By Cristina Benzo

The story of Esther starts off like any imaginative fairy tale: the king was looking for a new bride after dismissing his previous one for insubordination. Esther, our stunningly beautiful heroine, found favor with the king and became his new bride. Enter our villain, the king’s antisemitic chief advisor who ordered the Jews to be killed. Esther’s cousin heard of the plan, and pled with Esther to convince the king to call it off. Esther, for fear of being killed, was reluctant, but later realized she had to do what was right for her people. Here’s where female guile and cleverness come in: instead of asking the king directly and risking her reputation, she asked the king and our villain to join her in a banquet. At the banquet, Esther revealed the evil plot and asked the king to slay the villain and save the Jews, which he did. Her bold actions make her a notable female figure in the bible. Without her courage and cleverness, the Jewish people of Persia would have unjustly been killed. Her cunning provides an example of how to diplomatically ask for what you want while staying true to your values and people. She was brave enough to stand up for her values and speak her mind on what she wanted and what she thought was just, something many oppressed people can be inspired by. Her actions also stand as an inspiration to all groups fighting for justice and vindication against those who have wronged them.

mary of nazareth 45

faith

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jhn. 2:1–5

Imagine: you’re a 14-year-old virgin, at home, by yourself, and some random guy appears to you out of nowhere and says, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” and then asks you to give birth to the Son of God.34 What would you do? Probably, you’d yell for help or look for something like a baseball bat with which to defend yourself. You most likely wouldn’t say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” and yet, that is exactly what Mary said.35 47

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

Granted, times were indeed quite different back then. A pregnant fourteen-year-old wouldn’t have raised too many eyebrows—if she were actually married. However, Mary wasn’t married; rather, she was betrothed to Joseph, with whom she had not yet been intimate. By saying yes to God, Mary was risking not only her reputation but also her life. An unmarried woman becoming pregnant was very wrong in this society, but a betrothed woman becoming pregnant by someone other than her betrothed? That was a sure way to get stoned to death. But despite all this, Mary still said yes—because she had faith in God. Dictionary.com defines faith as “confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof.”36 This certainly applies to Mary. Despite everything, Mary said yes to God because she had faith that, through Him, everything would be fine. The amount of faith she had in God to be completely sure of her decision was tremendous. It shows just how strong of a person she was even at only 14 years old. Had I been in her shoes, there was no way I would have been able to do what she did. I am not that strong, nor is my faith—in God or in anyone else. Mary exemplifies what it means to be a woman of faith again and again throughout her lifetime. My favorite example of Mary’s faith in God, and perhaps the most typical badass moment from her story, is the Wedding at Cana. Jesus, His disciples, and Mary went to a wedding in Cana. At some point, the hosts ran out of wine. However, rather than talking to the steward in charge of the feast, the servants, or the families of the bride and groom, Mary brought this problem to Jesus, despite Him not having yet performed any public miracles in front of her. When He told her that it was not yet time for Him to begin His public works, she just turned to the servants and said, “Do whatever 48

MARY OF NAZARETH

He tells you.”37 Now, this could be interpreted as a mother simply thinking that she knows best and telling her son what to do. This interpretation would be wrong. As theologian Edward Sri explains, “Mary’s faith stands out all the more when we recall that…Though she encountered much divine intervention in [Jesus’] conception, birth, and infancy, she has yet to witness the mighty deeds of His public ministry. Nevertheless, Mary exhibits trust in Jesus’ supernatural power and believes He can help with the wine shortage at the wedding.”38 Despite her Son saying that it was not yet time for His public works to begin, despite there being other, some would say more reasonable, options to fix this problem, Mary’s unwavering faith in both God and in her Son led to Jesus performing His first public miracle. Throughout her entire life, Mary’s faith in God never wavered. Even when her Son was put to death on the cross, Mary did not lose her faith in or love for God. Instead, she trusted in God’s plan, that what had happened had needed to happen and that what would come to pass would need to come to pass. Mary has left behind a legacy of faith and love that sometimes seems nearly impossible to touch; however, this does not mean we should not try. The goal is not to be exactly like Mary. We are each called to follow our own path in life, but in following that path we should do our best to emulate Mary, especially her faith in God.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

UNSHAKABLE

By Cristina Catterton Spoiler alert: Jesus transformed water into wine. He did this even after telling His own mother that His hour had not yet come. It’s incredible to me that Mary’s faith in Him, the man she had raised, remained unshakable even though His answer was a very firm “not yet.” This is not the only place we see Mary’s unshaken faith, though. We see it when the Angel came to her, announcing that she, a 14-year-old virgin, would be the mother of God Himself. We see it when she lost her Son at the temple for three days and, though scared, knew that she would find Him. We see it when she watched her only Son be tortured, mocked, and crucified as she, though heartbroken, still believed in His resurrection. We see time and again, in every one of these accounts of Mary in the Bible, that her faith in God led to some pretty incredible things. It can be so hard in this world to have faith, but I constantly wonder what would happen if I had the same faith that Mary did. Sometimes, though, I do take that leap of faith. I have faith in the goodness of others and of myself. I have faith in the goodness of God as my loving Father, that He knows and wants what is best for me. While it can be so incredibly difficult to let go of my own desires for life to come easily and gently, I’m never disappointed when I realize that all of my hardships have worked out for the best. I’ve learned that we really do need to look beyond ourselves, fix our eyes to something greater than just us, and have the childlike faith of Mary in order to see miracles all around us.

mary magdalene 51

Silohuette Illustration Depiction Bible Verse on Next Page

steadfastness

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb…she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that He had said these things to her. Jhn. 20:11–18

Before I delve into the story of Mary Magdalene, I want to take some time to set the record straight. Although no longer an official Church teaching, the idea of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute continues to be spread and taught as truth. “On that false note hangs the dual use to which her legend has been put ever since: discrediting 53

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

sexuality in general and disempowering women in particular,” as noted by author James Carroll.39 If you ask me, this fake news likely originated as a way to diminish her importance and authority as a leader in the male-dominated early Church. To be clear, nowhere in any of the Gospels is Mary Magdalene explicitly described as being a prostitute. Her image was conflated by Pope Gregory XIV with that of another woman who had a bad reputation and was then further twisted into that of a promiscuous woman.40 In Luke’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene is first mentioned as a woman “from whom seven demons had gone out”41 and then later as a devout disciple of and friend to Jesus. She was also the first person to see Him after His Resurrection. So now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get to her actual story. What is known from the Bible is that Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ most steadfast disciples. In all four of the Gospels she was noted as present when Jesus died on the cross. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, she was stated to have been present at His burial. Lastly, it was written in Mark and John that Jesus appeared to her first after His Resurrection, instructing her to tell the other disciples that He had risen. Mary Magdalene is only featured in a handful of verses, but those handful are very telling— especially the last few. In the Gospels of Mark and John, Jesus chose to appear to Mary Magdalene first. It seems curious that He would appear to her before Peter, whom Jesus had declared the rock upon which He would build His church. However, Mary Magdalene had proven time and again that she was steadfast in her belief in Him. She was there with Him all the way to His death and burial, while others—including Peter, who denied knowing Jesus three times— were not. Her steadfastness becomes even more impressive when you remember the verses in which she was first mentioned. 54

MARY MAGDALENE

Mary Magdalene’s story in the Bible began, chronologically, in Luke 8: 1–3, “Soon afterward He went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…”42 To clarify, “from whom seven demons had gone out” actually means that she had been possessed by demons which were later exorcised by Jesus. “Seven” here does not signify a specific number of demons, but rather, as explained by biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman, “It is often used to refer to a ‘complete’ number.”43 This means that her entire being was totally taken over by the demons possessing her. This level of possession would have been excruciating and left both physical and mental scars, even after healing. The fact that she was able to move past this ordeal and become arguably one of the most devoted of Jesus’ followers is extraordinary. Mary Magdalene’s incredible inner-strength and steadfastness were not attributes seen in many others to the extent they are seen in her throughout the New Testament. Jesus’ trust in and regard for her is also incredibly important as it demonstrates that, as stated by Carroll, “according to his teaching and in his circle, women were uniquely empowered as fully equal [to men].”44 Jesus’ treatment of Mary Magdalene, and other women, as equal to His male disciples shows that as followers of Jesus we should act accordingly. Women who trust in Jesus and pursue Jesus with all their heart, women like Mary Magdalene, have not only the capability but also the right to be leaders.

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

A TRUE FRIEND By Hannah Johns

Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus during His public ministry and was one of His miracle healings; she’s mentioned as the one who was freed from seven demons. I imagine that this pain within one’s body and anguish in one’s mind would have caused her great distress and total isolation from others. Torment like this would have caused her to act uncontrollably towards herself and others. From her miraculous encounter, Mary Magdalene found the healing she required to feel whole again—to be free. She stands to me as a dedicated follower of Jesus. She was present at His death and His burial, whereas many of His trusted friends deserted Him in fear of being put to death themselves. Yet Mary Magdalene stayed, and her dedication persisted until the end; she did not leave Him alone in His suffering, as He had once healed her from her own. This is why she stands as example of a dedicated friend and follower. She found her purpose and did not grow discouraged. Today we can look to Mary Magdalene as a clear example of steadfastness—to stay true to our passions and to persevere. We can learn from her to give it our all and stick by something until the very end, not in hopes of reward but for the sake of love in all our passions.

Endnotes

1. “Love,” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, accessed April 12, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love. 2. Tamar Kadari, “Daughter of Pharaoh: Midrash and Aggadah,” February 27, 2009, www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/ daughter-of-pharaoh-midrash-and-aggadah. 3. The New American Bible (New York, NY: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1970), 260; Tikva Frymer-Kensky, “Rahab: Bible,” 27 February 2009, www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rahab-bible. 4. William L. Lyons, “Rahab through the Ages: A Study of Christian Interpretation of Rahab,” accessed April 19, 2020. www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?ArticleId=786. 5. Josh. 2:5 RSV 6. “Leadership,” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, accessed April 19, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ leadership. 7. Kimberly Fries, “8 Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership,” February 8, 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/kimberlyfries/2018/02/ 08/8-essential-qualities-that-define-great-leadership/ #15cc7b823b63; Deep Patel, “11 Powerful Traits Of Successful Leaders,” March 22, 2017, www.forbes.com/ sites/deeppatel/2017/03/22/11-powerful-traits-ofsuccessful-leaders/#705b4e76469f. 57

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE 8. Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. “Deborah.” Accessed on April 19, 2020. www.myjewishlearning.com/article/deborah. 9. Ibid. 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. 12. Ryan Nelson, “Who Were the Judges of Israel?” March 2, 2020, www.overviewbible.com/judges-of-israel. 13. Ibid. 14. Sandra Glahn, “Deborah: The Woman God Uses,” July 21, 2011, www.bible.org/article/deborah-woman-god-uses. 15. Mandy Smith, “10 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Ruth,” March 8, 2018, www.ibelieve.com/faith/10-powerful-lessons-from-thebook-of-ruth.html. 16. Rth. 1:8 RSV 17. Rth. 1:16 RSV 18. Phyllis Trible, “Ruth: Bible,” March 20, 2009, www.jwa.org/ encyclopedia/article/ruth-bible. 19. Ibid. 20. Adele Berlin, “Abigail: Bible,” February 27, 2009, www.jwa.org/ encyclopedia/article/abigail-bible. 21. “Wit,” Lexico.com, accessed April 12, 2020, www.lexico.com/en/ definition/wit. 22. 1 Sam. 26:25 RSV 23. Jdt. 8:7 RSV 24. Jdt. 8:12–17 RSV 25. Jdt. 8:32 RSV 26. Robin Gallaher Branch, “Judith: A Remarkable Heroine,” January 31, 2020, www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/juditha-remarkable-heroine. 27. Jdt. 10:15 RSV 28. Jdt. 1:12 RSV

ENDNOTES 29. Sidnie White Crawford, “Esther: Bible,” March 20, 2009, www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/esther-bible. 30. J. R. R. Tolkien, “Three is Company,” in The Lord of the Rings Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring (New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1986), 124. 31. Meir Soloveichik, “Queen Esther, a Hero for Our Time,” March 8, 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/opinion/queen-estherpurim.html. 32. Esth. 2:17 RSV 33. Est. 4:16 RSV 34. Lke. 1:28 RSV 35. Lke. 1:38 RSV 36. “Faith,” Dictionary.com, accessed on April 19, 2020, www.dictionary.com/browse/faith. 37. Jhn. 2:5 RSV 38. Edward Sri, “Mary at Cana,” in Rethinking Mary in the New Testament, (Village, CO: Igantius Press, 2018), 151. 39. James Carroll, “Who Was Mary Magdalene?” June 1, 2006, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-marymagdalene-119565482. 40. Sarah Pruitt, “How Early Church Leaders Downplayed Mary Magdalene’s Influence by Calling Her a Whore,” last Modified March 15, 2019, https://www.history.com/news/marymagdalene-jesus-wife-prostitute-saint. 41. Luk. 8:2 RSV 42. Luk. 8:1–3 RSV 43. Bart D. Ehrman, “Jesus and Mary in Conversation,” in Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: the Followers of Jesus in History and Legend, (Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006), 206-207. 44. James Carroll, “Who Was Mary Magdalene?”

bibliography

Berlin, Adele. “Abigail: Bible.” February 27, 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/abigail-bible. Branch, Robin Gallaher. “Judith: A Remarkable Heroine.” January 31, 2020. www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-thebible/people-in-the-bible/judith-a-remarkable-heroine. Carroll, James. “Who Was Mary Magdalene?” June 1, 2006. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-marymagdalene-119565482. Craven, Toni. “Judith: Apocrypha.” March 20, 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/judith-apocrypha. Crawford, Sidnie White. “Esther: Bible.” March 20, 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/esther-bible. Ehrman, Bart D. “Jesus and Mary in Conversation.” In Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: the Followers of Jesus in History and Legend. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006. “Faith.” Dictionary.com. Accessed on April 19, 2020. www.dictionary.com/browse/faith. Fries, Kimberly. “8 Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership.” February 8, 2018. www.forbes.com/sites/ kimberlyfries/2018/02/08/8-essential-qualities-thatdefine-great-leadership/#15cc7b823b63. 61

BADASS WOMEN OF THE BIBLE Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. “Deborah.” Accessed on April 19, 2020. www.myjewishlearning.com/article/deborah. Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. “Rahab: Bible.” 27 February 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rahab-bible. Glahn, Sandra. “Deborah: The Woman God Uses.” July 21, 2011. www.bible.org/article/deborah-woman-god-uses Kadari, Tamar. “Daughter of Pharaoh: Midrash and Aggadah.” February 27, 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/ daughter-of-pharaoh-midrash-and-aggadah. “Leadership.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Accessed April 19, 2020. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadership. “Love.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Accessed April 12, 2020. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love. Lyons, William L. “ Rahab through the Ages: A Study of Christian Interpretation of Rahab.” Accessed April 19, 2020. www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?ArticleId=786. Nelson, Ryan. “Who Were the Judges of Israel?” March 2, 2020. www.overviewbible.com/judges-of-israel/ The New American Bible. New York, NY: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1970. Patel, Deep. “11 Powerful Traits Of Successful Leaders.” March 22, 2017. www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/03/22/11-powerfultraits-of-successful-leaders/#705b4e76469f. Pruitt, Sarah. “How Early Church Leaders Downplayed Mary Magdalene’s Influence by Calling Her a Whore.” Last Modified March 15, 2019. www.history.com/news/mary-magdalene-jesus-wifeprostitute-saint. Smith, Mandy. “10 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Ruth.” March 8, 2018. www.ibelieve.com/faith/10-powerful-lessons-from-thebook-of-ruth.html. Soloveichik, Meir. “Queen Esther, a Hero for Our Time.” March 8, 2020. www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/opinion/queen-esther-purim.html. Sri, Edward. “Mary at Cana.” In Rethinking Mary in the New Testament. Village, CO: Igantius Press, 2018. Tolkien, J. R. R. “Three is Company.” In The Lord of the Rings Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1986.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Trible, Phyllis. “Ruth: Bible.” March 20, 2009. www.jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/ruth-bible. “Wit.” Lexico.com. Accessed April 12, 2020. www.lexico.com/en/definition/wit.

In loving memory of Tom and Lucy Walbroehl

about the author Rose Helen Moore is a visual communicator who, through her design and writing, uses humor and levity to convey important messages in order to make them accessible to the general public. She has been practicing the Catholic faith her entire life and is passionate about caring for and helping others.