2 Kings 22:3-23:30 / Acts 21:37-22:16 / Psalm 1 / Proverbs 18:11-12
Congratulations on making it halfway through the year with me as we read our Bibles together! We’ve completed the Psalms and are starting again. I wonder what new things I’ll find as I read a second time. I’m excited to discover what Holy Spirit will place on my heart to talk about these next 6 months.
One topic that fascinates me is women in the Bible, along with women in leadership in general. Not every culture or belief system allows that women may lead in a spiritual capacity, but my husband and I fully agree with and support women in leadership. So, when I saw that there was a woman prophet named Huldah in 2 Kings 22:14, I wanted to try to find out a little more information about her.
In 2 Kings 22 (the only mention of her in scripture) she is called The Prophet Huldah. She lived about 624 BC and was married to a man named Shallum who was the keeper of the Temple wardrobe. They lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem, however, that is all the information given in this text.
Huldah’s name means an earthling, a mole, weasel (a burrowing animal) or life. From my own observation, someone who burrows through the earth is one who is searching for treasure and Truth.
The word used here for prophet or prophetess is nebia and it means an inspired woman or a poetess.
Her husband Shallum’s name means “retribution”, which is the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter.
On further research for information on Huldah, history tells us she was a scholar and a seer (prophet) and was of high social ranking. Huldah was a woman of spiritual insight and intelligence. Her husband was also a trusted high-ranking person in society because one who had access to the king in an intimate relationship as his wardrobe manager would have had private access others would not have had.
The New Quarter of Jerusalem, or second quadrant (Jerusalem was divided into four quadrants) was in the same section as the temple and the palace, further speaking to the high standing of this family.
In summary, it seems that Huldah was respected in both a worldly and a spiritual sense. It is interesting that King Josiah sent five of his male advisors to consult with her, so Josiah must have trusted in her reputation, judgment and ability to speak for the Lord.
May we also be of sterling reputation, able to bear influence both in the world and in God’s Kingdom!
