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The theological significance of the propeht Huldah's prophecy : a feminist perspective on 2 Kings 22:14-20

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The question I am attempting to answer, IS "What is the theological
significance of the prophecy ofHuldah, the prophet? Why is Huldah there?"
Scholars have offered different reasons for the presence of Huldah in 2 Kings
22. Why Huldah and not one of the other male prophets, has been approached
to "enquire from the Lord". The explanations offered, can all be challenged.
It does not supply us with convincing theories which can be used to examine
the theological significance of the prophecy of Huldah.
I would therefore argue, that the text itself, supply us with clues which can be
used to discuss the theological significance of the prophecy of Huldah.
Seeing that the text is part of the Deuteronomistic History, clues (to help
with the understanding of Huldah),would therefore also be found within this
history. In other words, the literary context as well as the Deuteronomistic
background of 2 Kings 22, provide us with clues for the theological
significance of Huldah as a prophet. Furthermore, I would like to argue that
the interpretations made from the clues could be enriched by the fact that I
am a woman. A feminist approach could introduce a different perspective
1 therefore did a close reading of the text, 2 Kings 22 1-20 with specific focus
on 2 Kings 2214-20. Special attention is given to the language used, the
characters included in the story as well as the context of the story. In order
to try and get a better understanding of the language, the Hebrew text was
used as point of departure and a translation to Engli h was made to use in my
discu sion.
Through my journey with Huldah, t have been inspired The inclusion of
Huldah, highlights the presence of female prophets in the history of Israel.
God calls women as well as men. Huldah can be used a a different model for women. In her patriarchal society, she was a married woman who was also a
prophet. A prophet who was repected by her people. The king sent his
"trusted attendants" (five males) to "enquire from the Lord" and they went to
Huldah, the prophet. Therefore, the story of Huldah emphasises the fact that
women also played important roles in the history of Israel. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vraag wat ek probeer beantwoord is, "Wat is die teologiese belang van
die profeet Guldah ') Waarom is Guldah daar." Talle geleerdes het
verskillende redes vir die teenwoordigheid van Guldah in 2 Konings 22
verskaf Redes waarorn Guldah, en nie een van die manlike profete me,
genader is om " die Here te raadpleeg" nie. AI die verduidelikings wat aan
die hand gedoen word, kan egter bevraagteken word. Dit verskaf nie
oortuigende teoriee wat gebruik kan word om die teologiese waarde van
Guldah te ondersoek nie.
Ek wil dus argurnenteer dat die teks self leidrade verskaf wat gebruik kan
word ten einde die teologiese belang van die profesie van Guldah te bespreek.
Aangesien die teks deel is van die Deuteronomistiese Geskiedenis sal
leidrade, om te help met die verstaan van Guldah dus ook in hierdie
geskiedenis gevind word In ander woorde, die literere konteks sowel as die
Deuteronomistiese agtergrond van 2 Konings 22, verskaf ons met leidrade vir
die teologiese belang van Guldah as profeet. Verder sou ek graag wou
argumenteer dat die interpretasies gernaak vanuit die leidrade, verryk kan
word deur die feit dat ek 'n vrou is. 'n Ferninistiese benadering kan 'n ander
perspektief in Iei.
Ek het dus die reks, 2 Konings 221-20 krities gelees met spesifieke fokus op
2 Konings 22.14-20. Spesiale aandag is gegee aan die taalgebruik, die
karakters wat ingesluit is in die storie, sowel as die konteks van die storie
Ten einde die taalgebruik beter te erstaan, is die Hebreeuse teks as
vertrekpunt gebruik en 'n vertaling in Engels gedoen, wat in die bespreking
gebruik is.
Die reis met Guldah, het my geinspireer. Die teenwoordigheid van vroulike
profete word deur die insluiting van Guldah uirgelig. God roep vroue sowel as mans. Guldah verskaf dus 'n ander 'radikale' model vir vroue van haar tyd
en daag ook sodoende vroue van vandag uit. In haar patriargale samelewing,
was Guldah 'n getroude vrou, sowel as 'n profeet. 'n Profeet wat deur haar
mense gerespekteer was. Die koning het sy "getroue volgelinge" (vyf mans)
gestuur om "die Here te raadpleeg", en hulle het na Guldah die profeet
gegaan. Die storie van Guldah beklemtoon dus die feit dat vroue ook
belangrike rolle in die geskiedenis van Israel gespeel het.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53179
Date03 1900
CreatorsAdonis, Melany Marildia
ContributorsBosman, Hendrik, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old & New Testament.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format107 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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