“I am a peacemaker in Israel.” (Cf. II Sam 20:19): Women Peacemakers in the Bible

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This essay deals with three biblical cases where women are agents of finding alternatives in conflicts and crises. In the cases, the conflicts occur between different ethnic groups (Exod 1:15 -22), between different groups within a nation (II Sam 20:14 -22), and between family members (Genesis 27). Through these stories we witness to active peacemakers, Puah and Shiprah, the wise woman Abel Beth–maacah (We call her Ms. Abel.), and Rebekah.
The Hebrew midwives’ courage to defy the Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew male babies came out of the principle of the fear of God. Their work was possible because they worked together. The audacious woman at Abel shows us that even the most violent can be invited to peace-talks. Rebekah’s peace work not only prevented fratricide but also prepared for her son’s future reconciliation.
In all three cases the women were common in their motherly roles: not just Rebekah who was a real mother, but also the midwives and Ms. Abel functioned as mothers, bringing and working for life. All were also in common in using communication as their primary means: they knew how to deal with conflict situations and what to say in given situations. Here, peace does reside first on lips and then in actions. In all three cases the women worked for alternatives to murder, battle, and fratricide, using wisdom and words to bring peace and life, that is, achieving peace by means of peace.

참고문헌 (Reference)

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3 Susan Niditch, "Underdogs and Tricksters : A Prelude to Biblical Folklore" Harper & Row 1988

4 Claudia V. Camp, "The Wise Women of 2 Samuel: A Role Model for Women in Early Israel" 43 (43): 14-29, 1981

5 Benno Jacob, "The First Book of the Bible: Genesis" KTAV 185-, 1974

6 Robert Altar, "The David Story" Norton 325-, 1999

7 Marcia L. Geyer, "Stopping the Juggernaut: A Close Reading of 2 Samuel 20:13-22" 41 (41): 33-42, 1986

8 Mary D. Turner, "Rebekah: Ancestor of Faith" 20 : 46-, 1985

9 "Norman Cohen believes that Rebekah obviously has no great affection for Esau The Two that Are One: Sibling Rivalry in Genesis" 32 (32): 337-, 1983

10 J. Pelikan, "Martin Luther lingers between two irreconcilable opinions regarding her behavior she accomplished the divine oracle wholly in faith and it was ‘a serious and horrible sin against the husband.’" Concordia 110-121, 1968

11 P. Kyle McCarther, "Jr. II Samuel, Anchor Bible" Doubleday 431-, 1984

12 "Jo Ann Hackett believes that the place may not have been much affected by the institutional structure of the monarchy and older patterns of authority persisted. “1 & 2 Samuel,” Women’s Bible Commentary" Westminster/John Knox 95-, 1998

13 Robert P. Gordon, "I & II Samuel" Zondervan 295-, 1986

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16 Susan Niditch, "Genesis in Women’s Bible Commentary" Westminster/John Knox 23-, 1998

17 Claus Westermann, "Genesis 12-36" Augsburg 443-444, 1985

18 Herman Gunkel, "Genesis" Mercer Univ. Press 307-, 1997

19 Walter Brueggemann, "First and Second Samuel, Interpretation" John Knox 331-, 1990

20 Terence E. Fretheim, "Exodus, Interpretation" John Knox 36-, 1991

21 William H. C. Propp, "Exodus 1-18, Anchor Bible" Doubleday 140-, 1999

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23 Tony W., "Cartledge, 1 & 2 Samuel" Smyth & Helwys Publishing 634-, 2001

24 See Yani Yoo, "A Rhetorical Reading of the Rebekah Narratives In the Book of Genesis" ProQuest Information and Learning 2001