- -, Biblical-studies@yahoogroups.com, [], Female priests in ANE - Lisbeth S. Fried, 21 May 2005; Does anyone have any idea what the women did who served at the Entrance of the Tent of Meeting/Temple at Shiloh (Exod. 38:8; 1 Sam. 2:22)?
- Yigal Levin, 22 May 2005; My impression is that 1 Sam. 2:22 refers to female supplicants, like Hannah of the preceding story, not female temple personnel. As far as Ex. 38:8, the context seems to refer to implements, not people, but I'll admit that it's a tough call.
- Lisbeth S. Fried, 22 May 2005; I'm thinking now that the women serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting did the same thing as the Levites did. The same verb is used (Num 4:23; 8:24). I'm also thinking that there were probably both men and women working at the entrance, but that only the women had the mirrors. I'm wondering if then at some later point these tasks were given to a newly created Levitical
class. I'm wondering too if the benai Aaron in the book of Leviticus includes daughters as well as sons, and that it was the benai Aaron, or rather the benai of the anointed priest who served at the entrance and did the tasks that later become Levitical tasks. Levites are not mentioned in the book of Leviticus except at the end in the discussion of their cities. All the tasks related to the cult are performed by the benai kohen ha mashiah. I'm wondering if this could have included the women as well.
Vertaling Bijbel, Kanttekeningen SV, [], Hij maakte ook het koperen wasvat, met zijn koperen voet, van de spiegels [1]der te hoop komende vrouwen, die te hoop kwamen voor de deur van de tent der samenkomst. 1. Te weten, om die te laten gebruiken in den dienst des tabernakels, gelijk de vrouwen 1 Sam.2:22. Of, die daar bijeen kwamen, om met vasten en bidden zich te oefenen, gelijk de profetes Hanna, Luk.2:37. Doch inzonderheid om haar koperen spiegels tot dit werk te brengen.