Jnana Drishti III Lesson 9 Esther and Judith, Empowered Women 1) Ancient world was ruled in a highly patriarchal

(purusha medhavitwam) ethos. The OT world was no exception to this. God created Adam and Eve as equals in the image of God but differently as male and female. The differences between the male and female based on their sexualities and the related qualities and aptitudes are God made, and willed by God for the well being of humanity. They reflect the God made hierarchy of creation: (Imagine an only men/ ladies world) everything in the universe is created for man and woman but man for woman and vice versa. They together make a unity in two, one flesh. In all gender related issues of our times Gods wisdom reflected in human sexuality has to respected and responded to. In the OT many holy women were called to play their own specific roles in salvation history. Eve, who, inspite of her disobedience, received the promise of a posterity, victorious over the evil one (Gen 3/15), Sarah, wife of Abraham (Gen 18/10-14), Hannah, mother of Samuel, Deborah, Ruth etc. It is to be noted here that none of these devout women held a leadership role in Salvation History. Same is true of the many women who are said to have accompanied Jesus in his missionary expeditions through towns and villages providing for him and his disciples out of their funds (Lk 8/1-3) and many influential women closely associated with Pauls missions mentioned in Romans ch. 16. The roles played by these Old and New Testament women in their own times offer a challenge and opportunity to the highly enlightened women of our times who form half of the members of the church. Esther was a chosen instrument to liberate the people of God from foreign domination that over reached to religious slavery. The book of Esther is a historical novel originating around 150 BC placed in the setting of the Jews in Persia of that time. It was intended as an encouragement for the (Diaspora) Jews, assuring them that God would never abandon them, but would help them by means of his own choice, in this case by a woman. The theology of the story is implied in the words (of Mordecai): even if you (Esther) remain silent relief and deliverance will come from another source (Yahweh) (Esth 4:14). The way in which Esther prepared herself for the great assault (of conquering Hamman) by fasting for three days (Esth 4/16) has become paradigmatic for all spiritual endeavors even in our own times. On the theological plain it should be noted that it is not the handling of the situation that saved the people but the spiritual empowerment with which one handled the situation that saved the people. [Story: Esther was the adopted daughter of Mordecai, an elite Jew who was deported to Persia from Jerusalem. Ahasuerus, king of that place being displeased with his queen Vasti deposes her and takes

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Esther as the queen. Later a certain Hamman was promoted by the king above all his officials. Being antagonized by Mordecai for not kneeling before Hamman for paying him homage, Hamman started plotting against Mordecai and his Jewish people, for which he even secured orders for destroying the Jews not sparing even the women and children. 14th day of the 12th month of Adar was fixed for executing the orders. Mordecai pleaded with Queen Esther to appeal to the king to spare the lives of her people. In the process Namman incurred the wrath of the king and was himself hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai. Esther got the orders for destroying the Jews revoked and thus became a Saviour of the people.] 4) Judith is another example of how God empowers women for the safety of his people. Composed by 100 BC when the Jewish society was moving forward like a rudderless ship, as both the royal and prophetic leaderships were almost extinct by that time. Under the circumstances the book upholds the idea of that God is the master of history at all adverse circumstances for his people both individually and collectively. The focus is not in the strength of the army but rather on faith in the God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn and Saviour of those without help (9/11). [Story: Judith a beautiful young widow lived the life of a celibate; spend most of her time in fasting. Holofernous the chief general of king Nebuchednezer was preparing for war with Judea and to take over Jerusalem (chp 4). People got ready for war by prayer and fasting (chp. 5). Meanwhile their water supply was totally cut off. On the brink of dying of thirst, people confronted Uzziah their leader and demanded negotiations with Assyrians. He asked the people to hold out for five more days for Gods intervention. Judith severly rebuked Uzziah and the elders for fixing up the date for God to act. At this critical moment Judith took up single handedly the initiative to come out of the tragedy. She prepared herself with prayer and fasting (chp 9/1-14). After beautifying herself fully, she walked straight to Holofernous camp, cunningly briefed him over a strategy that would lead him through Judea to Jerusalem (11/5-19). Holofernous invited Judith to dine with him from his own table but she declined so as not to be defiled by pagan food. She stayed for herself in a tent of Holofernous camp, for three days, faithfully keeping her ritual baths and prayers (chp. 12). On the fourth day night Holofernous brought her to his own tent to seduce her. As he was lying on the ground fully drunk and unconscious, Judith cut his head by his own sword, hurried out with his head, came to Bethuliah to the elders and showed it to them. Realizing what has happened the army of Holofernous fell into total disarray, and was

overrun by Israel. A victory song of Judith was recorded and a temple thanksgiving celebration was organized.] 5) The stories of Esther and Judith are not historical events but part of a literary device of narrating theology by stories (Theologia Narrativa). The time setting of these stories is important. The royal leadership, if and when existed, was corrupt and ineffective. Prophecy was no more heard. People were in the Babylonian captivity or returning there from. The right leadership was the need of the time. Esther and Judith are points of reference to the leadership that God provides for his people in times of need. At the same time they are guidelines for solutions to be taken in faith for the present day issues of feminism, gender equality, and womens role in the life of the families and the church.