Before You Were Born, I Anointed You
Uncovering Scripture’s “Hidden” Female Prophets
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Women
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2022
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Publisher's Description
Prophetic ministry in the Bible has long been perceived as the exclusive domain of individuals who were powerful, authoritative, argumentative, and, almost always, male. This impression cannot be sustained. In a logical and engaging way, Anna Beresford convincingly shows us that female characters throughout the biblical story are not merely peripheral actors but are often the ones who proclaim God's prophetic word with disturbing clarity. Beginning with the few women acknowledged as prophets in the Hebrew scriptural tradition, Beresford proceeds to uncover a surprising host of "hidden" female prophets. Among this cast we meet the widow whose last penny is consumed by organized religion; the gate crasher who teaches a pious Pharisee stern lessons in hospitality; a woman who has the last word in a theological debate. A woman used to trap Jesus proclaims truth to power, and a feisty foreign lady cleverly proves that God's love is for all of us, regardless of gender or ethnicity. This book is a compelling reminder that God speaks to all people--women and men--and calls on us to share the message "whether it is convenient or not" (2 Tim 4:2 NET).
Endorsements (2)
“This is a fascinating, well-written, and very useful book. It sets out on a quest to uncover women prophets in the Bible silenced by patriarchy and misogyny in subsequent interpretation. Its inclusion of ‘enacted parables’ in the stories of women, particularly in the New Testament in women’s encounters with Jesus, is particularly insightful, demonstrating how the Bible can be used today to resist patriarchal readings and structures within the life of the church.”
“We often speak today of giving voice to those at the margins. Anna’s comprehensive study, in which she uncovers the hidden female prophets of both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, does just that. . . . I recommend the reading of this book to all who wish to deepen their understanding of the role and place of the female prophet in our Christian faith tradition.”
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