Professor Robin Gallaher Branch of Victory University in Memphis, Tennessee, explores the role of widows in the Bible, explaining that they are not always the elderly and impoverished “wizened whiners” that we imagine. Very often in the Bible, widows are used as teaching tools to help make a special point.
In both the New Testament and Hebrew Bible, widows are repeatedly the subjects of miracles. Following the death of her husband, a widow’s best hope for security would be her son’s ability to provide for her. The loss of a son was thus an even greater tragedy for a widow. Three miracles concerning widows in the Bible prevent or restore the loss of the widows’ sons so the family can survive (1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:1–7; Luke 7:11–17).
The case of the widow Naomi, however, has a twist because her redemption comes unexpectedly through her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth, rather than her own sons (Ruth 2–4).
In other examples from the Bible, widows such as Abigail and Judith use their beauty and resourcefulness to take care of themselves and others.
For more about the role of widows in the Bible, read Robin Gallaher Branch, Biblical Views: “Biblical Widows—Groveling Grannies or Teaching Tools?” in the January/February 2013 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. Not a BAS Library member yet? Sign up today!
More from Robin Gallaher Branch in Bible History Daily
The Bible and Sexuality in South Africa
Barnabas: An Encouraging Early Church Leader Part 1, Part 2
Judith: A Remarkable Heroine Part 1, Part 2
What’s Funny About the Gospel of Mark?
SBL Meeting Gives New Insights on Paul
Getting to Know SBL’s John Kutsko
Studying the Ancient Israelites
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As John Allegro pointed out many years ago. Of all the living creatures its only human females that bear 12 fruits per year.
The Tree of Life (at least the one in the Bible) is the human female
Revelation 22:2
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.