Brave Bible Woman
There are many brave women mentioned in the Bible. For example, it would have required a great deal of courage for Abigail to face 400 armed men who had been insulted and were intent on revenge (1 Sam. 25:1ff). And it would have required courage for Rahab to commit the capital crime of treason against her own people of Jericho by siding with and helping the Israelites (Josh. 2:1ff). It would also have required courage for Priscilla and her husband Aquila to risk their own necks in order to save the apostle Paul (Rom. 16:3-5a). Not to mention the bravery and spunk of Deborah (Judg. chs 4 & 5), Jael (Judg. 4:17-22; 5:24-27), Queen Esther, the woman of Thebez (Judg. 9:53; 2 Sam. 11:21), and several women in Moses’ life.
The unnamed female servant, mentioned briefly in 2 Samuel 17:17, and the unnamed woman of Bahurim, who we can read about in 2 Samuel 17:18-21, certainly qualify as brave Bible women.
The Female Servant involved in Intelligence (2 Samuel 17:17)
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city [of Jerusalem.] 2 Samuel. 17:17 (NET)
The unnamed female servant lived in Jerusalem at a time in Israel’s history when King David and his son Absalom were enemies. Absalom had treacherously seized his father’s throne, and David had fled from Jerusalem to spare the whole city from being sacked by Absalom’s men. Throughout this episode, there were desperate political intrigues with undercover agents and informants at work.
David had asked the priests Abiathar and Zadok to return to Jerusalem so that they could be his eyes and ears (2 Sam. 15:27-29). And he organised for a line of communication to be set up between the priests in Jerusalem and the priests’ sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz who were staying at the nearby hamlet of En Rogel in the Kidron Valley.
Between the two priests and their two sons was an important link in the chain of communication. This link was supplied by the female servant, probably so as not to arouse suspicion. En Rogel contained a spring (or well), and a female servant going to the spring to fetch water or wash clothes would have been an unremarkable sight.
The unnamed woman received reconnaissance from the priests and passed it onto their sons. Her task required loyalty, secrecy, and bravery. This was a woman whose word was trusted. (It is unlikely the messages were written down in this oral culture.) Absalom’s men, however, would not have hesitated to kill her as a spy.
The Brave Woman of Bahurim (2 Samuel 17:18-21)
As it turned out, Absalom did find out that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were acting against him and that they were staying at En Rogel. So the two sons fled to the town of Bahurim (approximately one kilometre south of Jerusalem). Unfortunately, we don’t know what happened to the servant girl, but we know that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were aided by another brave woman.
In Bahurim, the two young men entered a house, perhaps a designated “safe house”, and they climbed down a well situated in the central courtyard. The quick-thinking lady-of-the-house covered the mouth of the well cover and then scattered grain over the covering. Absalom’s servants went to the house and asked the lady about Ahimaaz and Jonathan. The woman didn’t deny seeing them, but she gave Absalom’s servants false information: “They’ve crossed the stream.” (The woman’s husband is very much in the background in this story.)
It’s unclear whether Absalom’s men believed the woman. 2 Samuel 17:20c may indicate that the men searched the house, or it may indicate that they crossed the stream and went on a fruitless pursuit. Either way, the two sons were not discovered; Ahimaaz and Jonathan made it back to David and forewarned him about Absalom’s imminent attack (2 Sam. 17:21).
Many women in the Bible are portrayed as enterprising, resourceful, and courageous. They were engaged in vital tasks and roles that benefitted God’s people. Let’s not underestimate or minimise their courage and capabilities, but celebrate them. This post is my way of celebrating the actions of the two brave women in 2 Samuel 17.