In the previous issue, we spoke about women queens, and we add here that women practiced the work of prophecy, for the Holy Bible mentioned the names of prophetesses, among them:

1. Miriam the Prophetess, the Sister of Moses the Prophet:
   It was said about Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, in the story of crossing the Red Sea: “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea’” [Ex. 15:20,21]. She was here a prophetess, a chanter, and a choir leader.
2. Deborah the Prophetess and Judge:
   Deborah was a judge for the people, and at the same time she was a prophetess. In this, the Book of Judges says: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time” [Judg. 4:4]. She was courageous and a wise leader. It reached the point that Barak, the commander of the army, together with 10,000 soldiers, refused to go out to war unless Deborah went with him. He said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” So she said to him, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” [Judg. 4:8,9].
3. Huldah the Prophetess:
   She prophesied during the reign of Josiah the righteous king. When King Josiah read what was written in the Book of the Law concerning curses, he tore his clothes and said to Hilkiah the high priest, Shaphan the scribe, and those with them: “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for the people.” So they went to Huldah the prophetess to receive the word of the Lord from her mouth, and she was dwelling in Jerusalem [2 Kings 22:14]. Huldah the prophetess prophesied about the coming destruction, and that Josiah the righteous king would be gathered to his grave in peace, and his eyes would not see all the evil which the Lord would bring upon that situation [2 Kings 22:20].
4. Anna the Prophetess, the Daughter of Phanuel:
   She was present at Christ’s entrance into the temple when Simeon the priest carried Him, and she praised the Lord. In this, the Gospel of Luke says:
   “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age… and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord” [Luke 2:36–38].
5. The Daughters of Philip Who Prophesied:
   When the Book of Acts spoke about Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons, it said: “Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied” [Acts 21:9].
6. The Wives of the Prophets:
   Sometimes the title “prophetess” was given to the wife of a prophet, as happened in regard to the wife of Isaiah the prophet [Isa. 8:3].

An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — El Keraza Magazine — Eighth Year (Issue Twenty-Five) — 24-6-1977.

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