Mighty Bible Women

Photo: William Blake 1775

The Bible is full of ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things.Today we can pick up our Bibles and learn valuable lessons from their lives.

Elimelech and his wife Naomi left Bethlehem - Judah when times were hard and moved to a new home in the uplands of Moab.
In course of time he died, as also his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, who had married women of Moab Oprah and Ruth,and three widows were left mourning the loss of their husbands.

Naomi make plans to return home to Bethlehem.

Ruth 1:12 {KJV}

12.} Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13.} Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14.} And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15.} And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16.} And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God:
17.} Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.

18.} When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19.} So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi?
20.} And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21.} I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why [then] call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22.} So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.



There Naomi had a rich realitive Boaz and little did she know what direction her life would take. Soon everything would change as Ruth went to glean in fields that were owned by Boaz.

By: Julius Schnorr von Carols Feld 1828

Ruth meets Boaz

Ruth 2 : 4 (KJV)

4.} And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD [be] with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
5.} Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel [is] this?
6.} And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It [is] the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

7.} And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
8.} Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9.} [Let] thine eyes [be] on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of [that] which the young men have drawn.

10.} Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I [am] a stranger?
11.} And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12.} The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

13.} Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

By: Thomas Matthews



Boaz and Ruth were eventually married. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David. So Ruth is included in the maternal bloodline of our Lord.

The story of Ruth shows her unselfish desire to stand by her mother-in-law and to serve God. To prove herself trustworthy and because of this though not of the chosen race was privileged to become the ancestress of David, and through David Jesus was born.

Naomi and Ruth loved, honored and took care of each other. They were family they loved, honored and served God. Naomi thought her life was over but God restored her dignity with her kinsman and gave her a family.

Ruth was blessed with a loving husband, a son and a loving mother figure in Naomi. I hope that this would inspire us ordinary people to do something extraordinary today...

PART 1

Photo: Esther & Mordecai By Aert de Gelder

King Ahasuerus of Persia held a feast for one hundred and eighty-days in Susa to show off the vast wealth of his kingdom and the beauty and wonder of his majesty.

The King Ahasuerus ordered his queen,Vashti to come before him and his guests wearing her crown to show off how beautiful she was.
But when the king's command was delivered, Queen Vashti refused to come. Some Jewish tradition says that the request was for her to come wearing only her crown.

Furious that she refused to come, the King asked his advisors what he should do according to what the law stated they advised the King to depose Vashti to make her an example for other women who did not follow their husbands rules. The King agreed and followed this advise and began searching for a new queen, by collecting new concubines.



Book of Esther (KJV) Chapter 2: 5

5.} [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordecai , the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6.} Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7.} And he brought up Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

Esther Finds Favor

8.} So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9.} And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the house of the women.
10.} Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew [it].

11.} And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12.} Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)
13.} Then thus came [every] maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

14.} In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15.} Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16.} So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

By Aert de Gelder

Book of Esther
Chapter 2: 17 {KJV}

17.} And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18.} Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19.} And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

20.} Esther had not [yet] shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.



At that time Mordecai used to sit at the gate and two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh who kept the door were angry and sought to kill the king. Mordecai heard of this and told Esther the Queen who told the king in Mordecai's name. When it was looked into they were caught and they were hung and it was written in the king's book of records that Mordecai had saved the king's life.

Soon after this, Haman the Agagite one of the foremost princes of the time was honored by the king and given supreme authority over the kingdom. The people were to bow down to him as he rode through the streets on his horse. All of the people did so except for Mordecai who refused to bow to anyone accept his God.

This made Haman furious and with his wife and advisors decided to devise a plot against the Jews to kill them all throughout the Persian empire. He selected a date for this by the drawing of lots he then sought the king's approval. He offered the king ten thousand silver talents.The king gave his approval, but refused to take the silver talents.

Mordecai upon hearing this tore his robes and put ash on his head. (a sign of mourning) Esther seeing this sent clean clothes to him and inquired what was wrong. he refused the clothes and told her that if she did not do whatever she could to stop it that she also would be killed.

Now Esther was not permitted to see the king unless he asked for her and he had not requested her presence in thirty days. You could request to see the king but risked death if he refused. So she and her maid-servants fasted and prayed for three days before she built up her courage to enter the king's presence.

Esther and her maidservants
By: Aert de Gelder

Chapter 5: 1 (KJV)

1.} Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on [her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2.} And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3.} Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what [is] thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4.} And Esther answered, If [it seem] good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5.} Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6.} And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is] thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7.} Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request [is];
8.} If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.



Haman continues to be offended by Mordechai and builds a gallows for him.

That night, Ahasuerus has trouble sleeping and has the court records read to him to help him sleep. He discovers the services that Mordechai did him in the earlier plot against his life. He is told that Mordechai did not receive any recognition for when he saved the king's life.

Haman appears then and King Ahasuerus asks him what should be done for the man that he wishes to honor. Haman in his arrogance thinks that the king wishes to honor him and says he should be dressed in the king's royal robes and led around on the king's royal horse. To his shock and horror, the king instructs him to do so to Mordechai.

King Ahasuerus, Haman and Esther By:
Rembrandt van Rijin 1660

Chapter 7: 1 (KJV)

Esther's Plea

1.} So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2.} And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is] thy request? and it shall be performed, [even] to the half of the kingdom.
3.} Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

4.} For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
5.} Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
6.} And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

By: Gustave Dore

Haman Is Hanged

7.} And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath [went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
8.} Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther [was]. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
9.} And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

10.} So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

Esther 8: 1

Mordecai Promoted

1.} On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he [was] unto her.
2.} And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3.} And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

The king tells Esther and Mordecai what must be done in order to save the Jews.

Chapter 8: 8

8.} Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal [it] with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.



So all of the king's scribes are gathered and another decree is written allowing them to defend themselves against any attacks by their enemies.

Mordecai is promoted a leading position in King Ahasuerus court and sets up an annnual commemoration of the delivery of the Jewish people from being destroyed


Chapter 9: 1

1.} Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

The Feast of Purim
Chapter 9: 20

20.} And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that [were] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, [both] nigh and far,
21.} To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22.} As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Chapter 9: 32

32.} And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.



Esther shows her grace, beauty and poise in everything she does. Docile and obedient to her Uncle willing to do what it takes to save the Jewish people even though it puts her at great risk.

That God raised her up and used her to avert the destruction of the Jewish people and to help bring them peace and wealth in their captivity is also evident from the scripture account

I first became interested in women in the Bible when a friend of mine said the reason she did not like the Bible was because of the way women were treated in biblical times.

I told her that I thought that mankind treated women that way not God. I started studying women in the Bible and found many examples of God's love and use of women in many way's throughout the Old and New Testament's.

My goal in this series is to show that God did use women in many ways. In the Old and New Testements are many examples of men and women surrendering all to serve God.

My hope is that we would look at these examples and be inspired to surrender all to God and allow him to lead us to victory in everything, whether we change the world or change our world.

Deborah was a judge and prophetess and Jabin the king of Hazor, had held Isreal under strict rule for twenty years. The spirit of the people was crushed. Now Deborah was able to bring back the spirit of patriotism to the people because of this her fame spread.

Judges 4: 1 (KJV)

Deborah and Barak Deliver from the Canaanites

1.) And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
2.) And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host [was] Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
3.) And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4.) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5.) And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6.) And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, [saying], Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7.) And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
8.) And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, [then] I will not go.
9.) And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

10.) And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
11.) Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.
12.) And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

13.) And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, [even] nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that [were] with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
14.) And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this [is] the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15.) And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all [his] chariots, and all [his] host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off [his] chariot, and fled away on his feet.

16.) But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; [and] there was not a man left.
17.) Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for [there was] peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
18.) And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

19.) And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20.) Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
21.) Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

22.) And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her [tent], behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail [was] in his temples.

By: Gustave Dore

23.) So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
24.) And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.


What is interesting about this story is that Deborah and Jael are shown to be both strong and independent.

Deborah summoned Barak and gave direction to lead the Jewish army to victory. Led by God she followed through with the plan even though she had to put herself at great risk and by listening to her and God the Jewish people experienced victory.

Judges 5 is the same story but more like a poem it is usually referred to as The Song Of Deborah.

"Scripture taken from the KJV."