Students of the Bible and Feminisms Class of Union Theological Seminary, Philippines, are tasked to work on individual projects - Pinay Idol.
The challenge is to re-read, re-imagine, re-interpret, re-construct, and re-tell the stories of women characters in the Bible who are voiceless and nameless. More importantly, they are tasked to contextualize their reading of the narratives so that their interpretations may respond to concrete issues affecting women today like human trafficking, prostitution, violence and slavery. Since Feminist theologies are not just limited to issues affecting women, their papers may also include advocacies against militarization and war, globalization, rights of homosexuals and indigenous peoples, etc. The primary question in engaging the Bible text is - Does it uphold the life and dignity of women, all of humanity and Creation?
6 comments:
Ang aking napiling tauhan sa kasulatan ay matatagpuan sa II Samuel 12:3, ito’y ang paglalahad ni propeta Natan ng isang kuwento tungkol sa isang mag-anak na inagawan ng alagang tupa. Ang tupang ito ay alaga ng isang pamilya, inaaruga, pinapakaing kasabay nila, at pinatutulog pa marahil sa loob ng kanilang tahanan, anupa’t msitulang isang tunay na anak at miyembro ng pamilya. Isang araw, may dumating na bisita ang isang mayaman sa kanilang lupain at kinuha ang kanilang paboritong alagang tupa. Ito ang kinatay at ipinakain sa bisita ng mayaman. Malinaw ang ginawang pananamantala ng mayaman sa mag-anak na ito. Marahil ang kanilang alagang tupa ay ipinahiram sa kanila o di kaya’y ipinaalaga (ng mayaman) at kapag ito’y nanganak na, maaaring isauli na ang inahin at sa kanila na ang bisirong tupa. Kapansin-pansin din na walang ginawang pagtutol ang tatay, marahil lubog sila sa utang kung kaya ano man ang kanilang marinig o ipagutos (ng mayaman) ay agad silang susunod.
Ilang bagay ang aking nakita tungkol dito:
1. Nasaan si nanay? Bakit hindi man lamang siya binigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita o makapagpahayag ng kanyang saloobin, siya ba ay pumapayag o tumututol sa ginawa ng mayaman o ng kanyang asawa?
2. bakit hindi man lamang tinanong ang mga anak sa nangyari? Bakit hindi sila pinagsalita habang kinukuha ang kanilang mahal na alaga?
3. bakit hindi man lamang pinagsalita ang tupa? Hindi kaya dahil binusalan na ang bibig nito o baka may mga armas ang tauhan ng mayaman habang ito’y inilalayo sa mga nagmamahal sa kanya?
4. nasaan ang pinuno ng kanilang lugar? Hindi kaya nabayaran na rin ang hukom, pulis at iba pa, kaya walang nangyaring balita ng naganap na insidente o kaya’y yung tinatawag na “news blackout”? Hindi kaya ang mayaman ang siya ring pinuno ng kanilang lugar? At dahil hawak ng mayamang ito ang tatlong (3) G’s, Guns, Goons and Gold, kahit magdeklara siya ng martial law ay pwede, magkaroon man ng take-over sa mga mahihina pwede pa rin.
5. saan nanggaling ang kayamanan ng mayaman? Maaaring nagkaroon siya ng maraming lupain dahil wais ang kanyang magulang o lolo o ninuno kaya? Marahil nauto nila ang mga tagaroon na ipagbili o ipagpalit ang kanilang lupa ng ibang bagay (hal. salapi) at sila na marahil ang mayhawak ng buong lupain, o bayan.
Maraming lumabas na pang-aabuso na ginawa laban sa babae, mga bata at karapatang pantao ng mga nabanggit. Hanggang may mga ganid sa lupa na hindi naman natin puwedeng ariin (“how cannot own something that outlives you?” – Macling Dulag). At marahil ganito rin ang pagtingin ng marami sa isang babae, pag-aari na hindi maaaring ipamigay, na tulad sa isang laruan, at kung ipamimigay man ay tiyak na hindi na papakinabangan, gaya ng isang basura, ngunit kahit na “basura” ay may pakinabang pa rin kahit na papaano o baka nga mas masahol pa rito.
Joey Y. Cunanan BIBLE AND FEMINISM
Jezebel
I Hari 21:2-10
Isang araw, sinabi ni Ahab kay Nabot, “Ibigay mo sa akin ang iyong ubasan. Gagawin kong taniman ng gulay sapagkat malapit ito sa akong palasyo. Papalitan ko ito ng mas mainam na ubasan, o kung gusto mo naman babayaran ko na lang ito sa tamang halaga.” Ngunit ganito ang naging sagot ni Nabot: “Minana ko pa po sa aking mga ninuno ang ubasang ito. Hindi papayagan ni Yahweh na ibigay ko ito sa inyo.” Umuwi si Ahab n malungkot at masama ang loob dahil sa sagot ni Nabot. Nglukong siya sa kanyang silid, hindi makausap at ayaw kumain. Nilapitan siya ng asawa niyang si Jezebel at tinanong, “Ano bang problem mo at hindi ka makakain?” sumagot ang hari, “Kinausap ko si Nabot na taga-Jezreel, at inalok ko siyang papalitan o babayaran ang kanyang ubasan. Ngunit tinanggihan ako, at ang sabi’y hindi raw niya maaaring ibigay sa akin ang kanyang ubasan. Sagot sa kanya ni Jezebel, “Para ka naming hindi hari ng Israel. Halika na! Kumain ka at huwag ka nang malungkot! Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang ubasan ni Nabot.” (Revised Tagalog Popular Version)
Ang tagpong ito ay nagpapakita ng katapangan ni Nabot sa harap ng isang hari, nang hindi niya tanggapin ang alok na kapalit ng kanyang lupa. Hindi rin malinaw kung ang haring ito ay kababata, kamag-anak, kaibigan o kung ano man ang kaugnayan ni Nabot sa kanya. Kung tutuusin, puwedeng gumawa ng agarang pagkilos si Ahab dahil sang-ayon sa I Samuel 8:14 “kukunin din niya (ang hari) ang pinakamaganda ninyong bukirin, ubasan, taniman ng olibo at ibibigay sa kanyang mga opisyal.” Dahil ito ang ipinasabi ng Diyos kay Samuel sa mga Israelita nang sila ay humingi ng kanilang hari. Puwedeng kunin agad ni Ahab ang lupa ni Nabot agad nang walang pasubali, kahit na tumutol si Nabot ay wala siyang magagawa dahil si Ahab ang nakakasakop sa kanya. Gayundin ang nakapagtatakang tugon ni Ahab matapos ang kanilang pag-uusap, umuwing malungkot si Ahab (talatang 4). Hindi man lamang iginiit ni Ahab ang kanyang impluwensiya, maraming paraan upang mapasunod niya si Nabot sa gusto niya. Puwede niyang ipaalala ang sinabi ni Samuel o baka nalimutan na niya ito. Puwede rin niyang tumbasan ng mas malaking halaga o lupa ang lupain ni Nabot, ngunit hindi gayon ang nangyari. Umuwi pa rin siyang masama ang loob. Napansin ni Jezebel ang biglang pananamlay ni Ahab kaya inugat ni Jezebel ang suliranin at nang malaman ang puno’t dulo nito, saka siya gumawa ng hakbang. At kung susuriing maigi na ang dahilan ng kasamaan ng isang hari na tulad ni Ahab ay ang kanyang asawang si Jezebel. Dito mas nagiging hayag ang kapangyarihan o ang nakapangyayaring kalooban ng isang babae sa isang lalaki, kung kaya malungkot na kamalian ang sabihing “weaker sex” ang mga babae dahil sa nangyari kay Ahab, mas nanaig ang kanyang asawa kaysa sa kanyang sariling pagpapasya. Makikita rin na mas binigyang pagpapahalaga ni Nabot ang pamana ng kanyang ninuno, ang lupa. Maging ang hindi pagpayag diumano ni Yahweh sa gusto ni Ahab na ipagbili o ipagpalit ang lupa. Ang pagkilos ni Jezebel ay nagpapakita na sa simula pasimula pa ay nasusunod ang pasya ng mga babae, kaysa sa mga lalake, kahit ang Lumang Tipan ay naroon ng pangalan ng mga lalake, ngunit ang mga babae ang nagiging dahilan ng pagiging bantog o buktot ng isang lalake. Marami nang ginawa ang mga babae na nakatala sa kasulatan, ngunit hindi gaanong binibigyan ng wastong pagsusuri, sina Raquel, Leah, Sara, Deborah at iba pa. Kapansin pansin din ang ginawang pang-aaliw ni Jezebel sa asawa, ganito nga ba ang tungkulin ng babae, ang aliwin o aluin ang kalooban ng isang mahal sa buhay? Hindi sa nagiging mababa ang pagtingin ko sa mga kababaihan dahil ako man ay nanay pa at asawa, ngunit ito ang nakikita ko sa huling talata. Hindi ako nagtataka sa mga lalaking umiiwas na tanggapin ang katotohanan na wala silang kakayahan na tumutol o tumanggi sa dikta ng isang mas nakaiimpluwensiya sa kanila. Isa pa rin ang usapin sa tagpong ito, ang tungkol sa lupa, nais ng hari ng expansion ng kanyang beautification project, pero hindi natuloy dahil matapang marahil si Nabot na tutulan ang gusto ng hari. Maaaring totoo na ito’y pamana sa kanya o kaya ito na lamang ang nananatiling matibay na alaala ng kanyang mga ninuno na pinagyaman ang lupa. At dahil maganda na ang lupa ni Nabot, gustong kunin o palitan o bayaran ni Ahab. Ipinakita ni Nabot ang kanyang matibay na prinsipyo. At kahit marahil magdala pa ng prospective investors, project proposal, master development plan blue print ang hari, tiyak na tatanggi si Nabot, dahil para sa kanya ang lupa ay buhay at buháy!. Marahil hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na humingi ng “pabor” si Ahab kay Nabot na napagbigyan ni Nabot o kaya naman ay hindi lamang ito ang unang pagkakataon na tumanggi si Nabot sa alok ni Ahab ng palit-lupa o bayad-lupa. Marahil ang lupang inaalok ni Ahab ay hindi gusto ni Nabot, payat ang lupa at magulo ang papeles ng titulo, baka marami nang nakatira roon, o kaya ay nadevelop na ng hari at gusto na naman ng hari ng karagdagang lupain. Marami nang usapin sa lupa ang nangyari sa ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon na madalas umaabot sa demandahan o pagpatay makamtan lamang ang isang piraso ng lupa. Sa ganang akin, higit na mainam ang paminsan-minsang tumanggi sa alok ng iba, dahil sa prinsipyong ipinaglalaban, kahit kapalit ng buhay.
The policy of alliance with Tyre now began to bear its natural fruit. Doubtless it assisted Israel in maintaining something of its political independence of Syria. But it threatened Israel’s religious independence and provoked a religious situation of which Omri had not dreamed and which was destined ultimately to lead to the extinction of his dynasty. Marriage alliance with the king of powerful Phoenicia could not be easily bought or lightly taken. Moreover, the Tyrian princess was a woman of character and determination, and judged by the standards of her own nation, deeply religious. Jezebel was the daughter of Ittobaal (=”Baal is with him”), king of Tyre (887-876 B.C.), who was therefore interested in Melkart, the chief male deity of Phoenicia, but had been (before he succeeded, according to Josephus, the usurper Phelles) a priest of Astarte. (The Abingdon Commentary)
Ἰεζαβήλ
Iezabēl
ee-ed-zab-ale'
Of Hebrew origin [H348]; Jezabel (that is, Jezebel), a Tyrian woman (used as a synonym of a termagant or false teacher): - Jezabel.
איזבל
'îyzebel
ee-zeh'-bel
From H336 and H2083; chaste, Izebel, the wife of king Ahab: - Jezebel.
Chapter 21
Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard. (1-4) Naboth murdered by Jezebel. (5-16) Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab. (17-29)
Verses 1-4 Naboth, perhaps, had been pleased that he had a vineyard situated so near the palace, but the situation proved fatal to him; many a man's possessions have been his snare, and his neighbourhood to greatness, of bad consequence. Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment, and makes men torment themselves. It is a sin that is its own parent; it arises not from the condition, but from the mind: as we find Paul contented in a prison, so Ahab was discontented in a palace. He had all the delights of Canaan, that pleasant land, at command; the wealth of a kingdom, the pleasures of a court, and the honours and powers of a throne; yet all avails him nothing without Naboth's vineyard. Wrong desires expose men to continual vexations, and those that are disposed to fret, however well off, may always find something or other to fret at.
Verses 5-16 When, instead of a help meet, a man has an agent for Satan, in the form of an artful, unprincipled, yet beloved wife, fatal effects may be expected. Never were more wicked orders given by any prince, than those Jezebel sent to the rulers of Jezreel. Naboth must be murdered under colour of religion. There is no wickedness so vile, so horrid, but religion has sometimes been made a cover for it. Also, it must be done under colour of justice, and with the formalities of legal process. Let us, from this sad story, be amazed at the wickedness of the wicked, and the power of Satan in the children of disobedience. Let us commit the keeping of our lives and comforts to God, for innocence will not always be our security; and let us rejoice in the knowledge that all will be set to rights in the great day.
Jezebel - chaste, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidonians, and the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). This was the "first time that a king of Israel had allied himself by marriage with a heathen princess; and the alliance was in this case of a peculiarly disastrous kind. Jezebel has stamped her name on history as the representative of all that is designing, crafty, malicious, revengeful, and cruel. She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle, restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain idolatry around her in all its splendour. Four hundred and fifty prophets ministered under her care to Baal, besides four hundred prophets of the groves [R.V., 'prophets of the Asherah'], which ate at her table (1 Kings 18:19). The idolatry, too, was of the most debased and sensual kind." Her conduct was in many respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah (21:1-29). At length she came to an untimely end. As Jehu rode into the gates of Jezreel, she looked out at the window of the palace, and said, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" He looked up and called to her chamberlains, who instantly threw her from the window, so that she was dashed in pieces on the street, and his horses trod her under their feet. She was immediately consumed by the dogs of the street (2 Kings 9:7-37), according to the word of Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 21:19).
Her name afterwards came to be used as the synonym for a wicked woman (Rev. 2: 20). It may be noted that she is said to have been the grand-aunt of Dido, the founder of Carthage.
more to come, di pa ako tapos.....
"For every great wealth, there is a crime." (from the movie, the Godfather) Ang ganda ng mga BTR mo pero sa kwento nina Jezebel at Ahab, kanino ba napunta ang lupa ni Nabot? Siya sa aking palagay ang mas may sala.
Waiting for more of your blogs.
SILENCED VICTIM HERO
Lany B. Pingo
BRE-CE
Introduction:
This story about Jephthah’s daughter tells a hopeless painful reflection on the fate of a girl in a patriarchal world. It belongs to the “text of terror” (Great Women of the Bible) which men may accept and interpret it in terms of a destiny ordained by God. We all know that the Bible is authored by men and guided by patriarchal values which are still present in our community. And we all know as well that the Bible reads differently through the eyes of women than those of men. There are lots of hidden heroes in the Bible and most if not almost all of them are women. Judges ll shows one of these heroes, victim, nameless and silenced
Before I continue to present my report, I want to give Jepthah’s daughter a name which I believe is fitting for her Hadassah Freya.
BODY:
The Petition
Before the elders even thought about Jepthah, they already agreed in their gathering in Mizpah, that whoever would lead them to fight against the Ammonites they would make him\her their leader. So when the elders petitioned Jephthah to lead them to war, one of their convincing tactics is by telling him that he would be their head over all who leave in Gilead.
The reward to return home, and lead or rule the people who hated and drove him away is so convincing after becoming an outcast so Jephthah clarified this in verse 9 and was assured by the elders in verse l0 even making God their witness. Jephthah agreed, went with them and the people made him their leader or ruler. Jephthah stated his terms in Mizpah in the presence of the Lord in verse ll (GNV). It is not clear whether or not Matinloo Hadassah heard these exchanges of discussion between him and the elders of Israel.
The Vow
Whether Jephthah made his vow in private or in public is not written, or whether he has someone in mind either. But one thing is clear, after the battle is won, he returns home and his daughter, his only child, who is just happy for his return meet him dancing and playing the tambourine (ll:34)
What could have possibly driven Jephthah to make such a vow? I want to present two possible reasons as I see it.
l. As he returns to his hometown to gather and train his troops, the Lord’s Spirit, a sure sign of divine favor, comes upon him (ll:29). Maybe not recognizing, the Spirit’s presence, maybe un- aware about it, maybe not satisfied with its power, or perhaps driven by it, he bargained with God for assured victory. He vowed to God that he would offer or burn as an offering whoever comes first to meet him when he returns home (ll: 29-3l)
2. It could also be that his vow was because of his search for a place where he and his family could call a home, his search for belongingness after being kicked away from his home, the desire to be redeemed from the shame of being a prostitute’s son, to gain back what he owns at the house of his father Gilead, and or because of the reward, to have a name, to become someone in Israel after being exiled.
I haven’t read in the Bible whether Matinloo Hadassah knew about his father’s bitter fate. If these are all in his mind, does she know anything about it? There is a strong possibility that this second reason is known not only by his daughter but by his whole household. Not only that they knew about it, maybe they long for it as well.
My Arguments:
1. Matinloo Hadassah knew nothing about the petition of the elders, the reward, his father’s vow nor his father’s bitter fate.
2. Let’s say Matinloo Hadassah knew everything, his father being an exile, she knew she’s a prostitutes granddaughter, she’s with her father during the exchange of words between the elders and Jephtha, she was with her father in Mizpha, and she heard the vow of his father.
l. Let’s say, his family, the daughter, knew nothing about Jephthah’s reward in winning the battle and his father’s vow or bargain with God. I want to look at her as a mere daughter whose action of meeting his father is a manifestation of a well loved, properly molded and obedient daughter. An innocent child who grew up with the knowledge and fear of God. So she made her father fulfill his vow. She’s a victimized hero with these three reasons;
a. Obedient child. In here she is a model of an obedient child whatever it takes which is expected to every daughter most especially in a community where men rule the house.
b. A role model to the whole Israel. She is an example of the ultimate patriarchal value. That is of women being submissive to men unto death. She is an example to the whole Israel; she embodies what a patriarchal, male dominated community considers as proper and ideal.
As one turn of the century interpreter wrote concerning the young women who yearly mourned Jephthah’s daughter. “They came back to be far better daughters than they went out. They came back softened, and purified, and sobered at heart. They came back ready to die for their fathers, brothers, for their husbands and for their God” (Alexander Whyte, cited in Beal and Gunn). She did what a male dominated community wants, yet her act was not given a special attention by this community of men.
c. She possesses strong faith and value a vow. She pushed her father to fulfill his vow, (ll: 36-3). She knows how to value the worth of a vow not only to God but to anyone as well, her faith gave her enough courage to become a willing sacrifice.
She was able to realize all these things, she must be then a grown up lady and is aware that her family or father could not run away from the vow, this is the belief of Israel that was taught to her, and she must have realized as well that there is a reward for her father’s success. Maybe she’s thinking that someone knows about her father’s vow and non fulfillment of it would forfeit his father’s reward.
2. Let’s say she knew about the exchange of words by her father and the elders who summoned him in ll: 6-ll and she’s aware of her father’s vow in ll: 30-3l. When her father told her about his vow, her answer to him seems to prove that she knew about the vow and what this vow would do to her. She pushed her father for the fulfillment of the vow. Let’s say everything was done in public in Mizpah.
a. Let’s say Jephthah uttered his vow in public with the intention that his vow would be heard by his daughter to warn her. Maybe he has in mind his dog or one of his servant or a guard he left to guard his family. In this situation Matinloo Hadassah intends her greeting. Jephthah says “You are breaking my heart”. He even asked her, “Why must it be you that causes me pain?” I read this as word of blame instead of sorrow for his daughter’s death. She troubles her father because she took the place of someone whom he considers un important. Her act then questions her father’s willingness to kill someone for the sake of glory. What she did questions her father’s priority. She knew the feeling of being an outcast, of being one of the marginalized as we term it today being the daughter of one and living such a life and this is her way of preventing someone in experiencing the same thing.
b. She knew her father’s bitter fate, the truth that she’s a prostitute’s granddaughter, that her father and their family is an exile or an outcast, that the people with them are bands of exiled as well, the shame that all these things entails and the benefit of his father winning the battle. It could be that she’s thinking of redeeming her father and her whole family from it. She knew that if her father would not fulfill his vow which he made in public, the elders of the church will bother them still.
Her willingness to die for her faith, her family, her father, and submit to what the community values is a heroic act. All these things prove that she is a profile of courage and strong faith. She possesses the qualities of a hero but readers or interpreters don’t interpret her as such. This made her a silenced victimized hero. She is a victim who maximixed what is left in her situation.
Other arguments
Jephthah lead Israel for 6 years. A very short span of glory in exchange of her daughter’s life.
I consider this as a Biblical Tragic Fairy Tale, with powerless fairies or godmother, voiceless people and with out angels. The war hero who is seeking for recognition uttered a vow voluntarily not even thinking of its possible negative effects. The elders and the war hero who is the father are the wicked witches in this tragic fairy tale.
In the story of Abraham and Isaac we knew how God delivered Isaac on the last minute. Where then is God or the angel in the story of Matinloo Hadassah? In the story of Saul and his willingness to fulfill his vow and kill Jonathan, the people saved Jonathan. Where then are the people in Judges ll? Where is her mother that could have saved her just like in the story of Moses, King Josiah and baby Jesus?
Isaac, Jonathan, Moses, Josiah, and Jesus all male who were almost killed but someone or something intervened that they were saved from death. Hadassah Freya, a female, no one or nothing intervened to save her from the pain and death just because of a careless utterance of a vow by her father. Could this be considered as a proof of the unfair treatment to women that even God seemed to have His consent on it?
When she went to the mountain, if she ran away at that time, won’t she be hunted down by the people or the elders whose mind was corrupted by this ultimate patriarchal value and whose fear of God gives more important to the vow rather than a life of an innocent child? If not, would she choose to continue living as an exile? Will she be given food by the church just like David? Can she find refuge in the church just like Josiah, or will she be safe with her mothers relatives just like Jacob?
Jephthah won the battle, the elders are the first one who told him that they would make him their leader, in Mizpah, he was made their leader already, does he need to really burn his daughter to death, cant he sacrifice a pet, cant he act otherwise, cant he refuse the reward agreed upon?
A hero who was silenced by a male oriented narrator and interpreter; a priceless payment for a short lived glory; nameless princess, in a tragic fairy tale where the kingdom is guided by the ultimate patriarchal value, and ruled by a belief or culture that turned to loose respect to human worth; and obedience turned to be a damn thing; search for belongingness that became inhumane. All these could be seen in Judges ll.
Matinloo Hadassah of today’s generation;
1. They are the ladies who are victims of arrange marriages or are forced to marry a man chosen by their parents.
a. in the rural areas where strict obedience to culture is a mandate arranged marriage is still being imposed, patriarchy rules, and women are voiceless.
b. in urban areas despite its advancing technology and liberation to women are open issues fixed marriages is still a practice. This is done to preserve the family’s wealth.
2. It is a fact that some poor people marry rich people with the main purpose of getting away from poverty. If the union fails the women and her children are always the victim.
3. They are the wives whose lives were limited by the four corners of their homes after marriage. A wife and a mother, these become their only identity. Intentionally or not these women are left in a box by their husbands. Lots of pastor’s wives are victims of such abuses.
4. They are the children who are forced to take up a college course by their parents. Obedience turns to be their only choice even against their will.
5 All women or children who experiences unfair wage. These happen even inside our churches. Women and children who were abused in whatever way but remained silent due to the threat by their abusers. Some of them have spoken yet left unheard.
My Advocacies:
1. Obedience and submission should know its limits. If these deprive someone of their rights and life, if it turns to be the reason for abuse, I would say obedience and submission then is a sin. We who are expected then to advocate the rights of every person must teach these to everyone. The story of Matinloo Hadassah is an effective tool most especially in the pulpit.
2. I believe that our culture gives us our identity. This shows our uniqueness to others. Our culture made us who we are. But if this culture no longer gives importance to human worth and dignity, then it is but proper to correct these cultures if not better left behind to become just a part of history that’s never to be practiced again.
3. Let’s preach and practice most specially in our own homes the importance of the gift of the free will.
Nene
CHARACTERS:
Nene, Naaman, Naaman’s wife, Naaman’s soldiers, King of Syria, King of Israel, Elisha, Elisha’s servant
2Kings 5: 1-19
Narrator: Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. God had helped him and his troops defeat their enemies, so the king of Syria respected Naaman very much. Naaman was a great soldier, but he had leprosy. One day while the Syrian troops were raiding Israel, they captured a girl, and she became a slave of Naaman’s wife.
Nene (the servant girl talking to Naaman’s wife): If your husband would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy.
Narrator: Naaman’s wife ran to tell Naaman.
Naaman’s wife: Nene says that if you would go to the prophet in Samaria you would be cured of your leprosy.
Naaman: Do you believe on her? She’s only a slave!
Naaman’s wife: It’s been a long time Naaman that you are suffering from leprosy. It’s time that you will do something about it. Let’s talk to her, no matter how mean we are to her. She’s a captive then she works so hard for me and for you. And now she’s concern for your healing. Come, let’s talk to her.
Narrator: Naaman and his wife talk to Nene in the kitchen; she’s preparing her master’s food.
Naaman’s wife: Nene, stop for a while. I want you to discuss again to my husband his healing process. We are mean to you for a long time. And now, you are so good to us. You became my slave.
Naaman: Please tell me what to do. I will give anything what you wished for.
Nene: Go to prophet in Samaria and you will be healed of your leprosy. Just one thing, when you healed, I’ll go back to Israel- my homeland.
Naaman: We will let you go and give your whole salary that you’ve never expected.
Narrator: Naaman ran to the king.
Naaman: Your majesty, I have heard that there is a prophet in Samaria who could cure me of my leprosy.
King of Syria: Go ahead! I will give you a letter to take to the king of Israel. I will say “I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy?
Narrator: Naaman left and took along 30,000 pieces of silver and 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten new outfits, and the letter to the king of Israel. When he got to Israel he gave the king his letter.
Naaman: I have come to you with this letter from my king.
King of Israel (reading the letter): “I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy?” Oh no! The king of Syria believes I can cure him of leprosy/ does he think I’m God with power over life and death? He must be trying to pick a fight with me.
Narrator: But as soon as Elisha the prophet heard what had happened he sent a servant to the Israelite king.
Elisha’s servant: Why are you so afraid? Send the man to me so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel.
Narrator: Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent his servant outside with a message.
Elisha’s servant: Go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then you’ll be completely cured.
Naaman: why I am being treated so rudely? Why couldn’t he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the Lord his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. What about the Abana River or the Pharpha River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured.
Naaman’s soldier: sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Like what Nene said to you. So, why don’t you do what he said? Go wash and be cured.
Narrator: so Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. At once his skin became as smooth as a child’s. naaman went back to Elisha’s house.
Naaman: Now I know that the God of Israel is the only God in the whole world. Sir, I promise to Nene- an Israelite girl who became a slave of my wife to let her go and go back to Israel for making an initiative that I will go with you and be cured. Would you also accept a gift from me?
Elisha: I will not take anything from you except the Israelite girl, permit her to go home and give her the preferred earnings.
Naaman: Sir, from now on, I will offer sacrifices only to the LORD. I hope that the LORD will forgive me and my wife for being harsh to Nene.
Elisha: Go in peace.
Narrator: Naaman and his wife have been thankful to Nene and they allow her to go home with the preferred salary.
Most of the stories, however, are the charming story of Nene. As we can see the characteristics of Nene is very limited but that some degree of identity possibly will bring change in one’s life. Who is that little girl Nene? In one of the raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl named Nene- the main character of the story who became a servant of Naaman’s wife. A little girl belongs to a poor family. At work, she suffers difficult working conditions. She suffers working over eight hours or more, do additional chores like food preparation, decoration, clean-up in the whole corners of Naaman’s house, and even the pedicure and manicure of Naaman’s wife.
Naaman was highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria because through him the LORD had given victory to the Syrian forces. He was a great, but he suffered from dreaded skin disease-leprosy. Naaman has a wife, tons of soldiers and servants but only Nene- a little girl took the initiative. How will Naaman’s leprosy be cured? At verse 3, Nene suggested to her mistress, “I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease.” A move initiated by the slave Nene. She showed her kindness despite the maltreatment from her masters. By showing deep concern and compassion for the pitiful plight of her master and her faith in the power of God to heal. In spite of her marginalized status, she was able to exert influence even over the high and mighty because of her nurturing faith and kindness. Nene plays an important role in Naaman’s life. She becomes a channel in healing Naaman’s leprosy. Same with Naaman and his wife, it became a turning point on their lives the kindheartedness that Nene did.
I can see Nene as one of the millions forced by a very poor economic condition to look for better earnings abroad. More than half of them are women to find work because of what they heard about the wealth of these nations. These Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) gave their skills, their abilities and their sincerity and Filipino warmth. Their economic needs compelled these OFWs to be separated from their beloved families. Many among them are professionals who, for lack of working opportunities and better earnings at this point, opted to work in a foreign land. Nene is in a foreign land and here comes the opportunity that she will go back to her homeland when she became a channel of Naaman’s healing.
It shows here a true story of a woman who fights for her right. She’s no longer a slave until the end. She became a hero. A kind of woman to be proud of. Nene is one of the slaves working for so many hours, maltreated at one end but as she imparts changes to Naaman’s life, her slavery put her to pedestal. She became a hero. She gladly took the task of extending her hand so she can help deprived Naaman. This conviction manifested in an act of compassion and love for others. In her good acts, it pays her a good result.
And as Filipinos, we also experience leprosy in our time; we all bear the burden of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and unemployment. Because of this leprosy, women and children are challenged to do a move in order to heal this kind of dreaded disease. Children are the most affected by the crisis because they are the most vulnerable, helpless and fragile. So, we see children in the streets, working instead of being in school, malnourished, sick and homeless.
Are these realities in our midst, will of God? Never. Our God is a God of love, justice and compassion. As women, it is our task and obligation to see these qualities of God shine and permeate our daily living. God will surely smile to see women and children enjoy freedom, peace and abundance.
Women of faith, let us stand firm as we fight for the rights of women and children. Let us continue to become and instrument in healing the different kinds of dreaded disease in our nations. We can make a difference.
This is my advocacy through prayer. You are the God of all ages, gender and race. You love each one of us. Thank you for the women who are bearers of life and thank you for the children who assure continuity of life. Thank you for the life of Nene who made a difference. A slave who became a hero and a woman to be proud of. Enable us to do everything so that women and children will equally share the bounty of your grace and blessing. Nene as Pinay Idol. Amen.
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