In honour of International Women's Day, we've put together a list of seven of the best overlooked women in the Bible. Move over, Mary...
Jael
Jael, or Yael, was the wife of Heber the Kenite (which has a nice ring to it). She enters the scene in Judges 4, after Deborah prophesies that the leader of Israel's enemy, Jabin, will be killed by a woman. A battle ensues between the two armies and Israel wins by a landslide, forcing Jabin's leader, Sisera, to flee on foot. He seeks solace in a camp set up by Heber, and asks Jael to keep his hiding a place a secret. She does, but later drives a tent peg through his head while he's sleeping, therefore granting victory to Israel. There's probably a lesson to learn in there somewhere (and the tent peg probably wasn't even pink...)
Shiphrah and Puah
These two barely get a look in in the Old Testament, but play a vital role in the population of Israel. As Hebrew midwives, Pharaoh demands they kill baby boys as soon as they are born (Exodus 1:15-16). They refuse however, demonstrating some quick thinking by claiming that Hebrew women give birth too fast for them to be able to even get there in time for labour. Pharaoh, clearly not having been present during childbirth, believes them and loads of Hebrew children are saved. God blesses Shiphrah and Puah by giving them families of their own, and later – Moses is born. Not a bad legacy to leave behind.
Miriam
Speaking of Moses, he gets loads of glory (and rightly so, leading a bunch of moaning Israelites through the Red Sea is no mean feat), but what about his sister Miriam? She's a budding entrepreneur – managing to persuade Pharaoh's daughter to pay their mother to raise her own child (Exodus 2:7). She'd do wonders on the Apprentice.
The woman at the well
It doesn't get much more overlooked than going down in history as 'the woman at the well' rather than having your own name. But she is the first person to be told by Jesus that he is the long-awaited Messiah in John 4. The disciples didn't even know it yet! So this nameless Samaritan woman of low status, who went to the well during the hottest time of day to avoid being judged and shamed by other people, was the first to learn of Jesus' true identity and to share testimony of his goodness. Not a bad way to be remembered.
Lois and Eunice
Anyone who recognises these two deserves a round of applause, because they're only mentioned once in a throwaway comment by Paul. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul mentions that his friend's faith was in part passed on to him by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. They were clearly incredible faithful women who sowed into future generations. Because of their belief, Timothy went on to spread the Gospel throughout Europe and Asia.
