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DID ANCIENT ISRAEL HAVE QUEENS?: refuting the misinformation of
modern Israelite Chauvinism
By Panehesi
Hebrew Israelites are well known for standing on corners around
America and countries abroad. Teaching what they consider to be the
truth, according to their interpretation of the biblical
narratives. This understanding is widely gathered from the KJV 1611
( King James Version 1611 edition). This street corner, soap box
style of "teaching" is only afforded to men. Spectators and
acquiring minds often raise the question, why aren't women allowed
to teach on the corners? More than likely the Hebrew will reply
with scriptures which seems to answer the question. There's also a
doctrinal teaching which suggest, Ancient Israelite kingdoms only
had Kings ruling in authority over the nation. Most modern Hebrews
today teach their followers, that only pagan "heathen" nations of
people appointed queens. Within this short article I'll refute such
conjecture, and restore the Royal office of Gebiyrah "Queen Mother"
or "Great Lady". The re-establishing of this office is vital to the
restoration and unification of the Nation of Israel.
The Royal Office of Gebiyrah (The Kings Mother) The Gebirah, the
Queen Mother of the Kingdom of Judah, was an official position held
by the mothers of the Davidic kings. Throughout the whole period of
the monarchy, the influence which the king's mother {gebirah)
wielded in the southern kingdom was considerable in the royal court
and the king's council. The Hebrew word gebirah (Strong's Hebrew:
1377. ) is found 15 times in the Old Testament and can be
translated as "Queen Mother," or "Great Lady" [Genesis 16:4, 8, 9,
1 Kings 11:19 (used for the Egyptian Queen Mother); 15:13; 2 Kings
5:3; 10:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16; Psalm 123:2; Proverbs 30:23; Isaiah
24:2; 47:5, 7; Jeremiah 13:18; 29:2]. In Sacred Scripture the
mother of the Davidic king is listed along with her son in the
books of 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles when he assumes
the throne. The only queen mother not listed are those of King
Jehoram, who married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of
Israel [2 Kings 8:17-18]; King Ahaz [2 Kings 16:2-3]; and King Asa
[1 Kings 15:10]. In the case of Jehoram and Ahaz, their mothers may
have died prior to their sons assuming the throne of David, and in
the case of Asa, his grandmother is named as the Gebirah, his
mother having died or perhaps his grandmother, the former Gebirah,
did not relinquish her power and authority upon the succession of
her grandson.
Power & Authority of the Office of GebirahThe royal kings of
Israel and the House of David had many wives and no single wife of
the king had the influence that his mother enjoyed as the chief
confidant of her son. Scripture indicates that the Gebirah assumed
a throne alongside her son [see 1 Kings 2:19] and exercised her
role as counselor [2 Chronicles 22:3] and intercessor to the king
[1 Kings 2:13-21]. In times of conquest, both the king and his
mother represented royal power [2 Kings 24:12].
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ARTIFACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUEEN MOTHER
PLAQUE OF A ROBED WOMAN IVORY WITH GLASS EYES MEGIDDO (MODERN
ISRAEL) STRATUM VIIA LATE BRONZE IIB 1300-1200 BCE (LEFT) UTRECHT
OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLAR MARJO KORPEL CONCLUDES THE SEAL MUST HAVE
BELONGED TO THE INFAMOUS QUEEN JEZEBEL 9TH CENTURY BCE , BIBLICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY REVIEW (RIGHT)
ANCIENT JEWELRY WORN BY ISRAELITE WOMEN
BRONZE MIRROR AND GOLD JEWELRY, FROM THE CEMETERY OF DEIR
EL-BALLAH. LATE BRONZE/EARLY IRON AGE ISRAEL MUSEUM(IDAM),
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (LEFT)NECKLACES: ONE WITH CARNELIAN BEADS AND
GOLD CAPS; ANOTHER WITH ELONGATED AGATE BEADS AND GOLD CAPS; THE
THIRD A FLAT AGATE PENDANT WITH GOLD CAPS. FROM DEIR EL-BALACH,
LATE BRONZE/EARLY IRON AGE, TIME OF THE JUDGES. INV. H 1459 REUBEN
AND EDITH HECHT COLLECTION - UNIVERSITY, HAIFA, ISRAEL (RIGHT)
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Necklace (44 cm) and two pairs of earrings from a tomb cave
south of Bethlehem. Gold, emeralds, and garnets Necklace (44 cm)
and two pairs of earrings from a tomb cave south of Bethlehem.
Gold, emeralds, and garnets (Left) Huge earrings decorated with
knobs, from Tell el-Ajjul Gold, Late Bronze Age (right) Israel
Museum(IDAM), Jerusalem, Israel *Tell el-'Ajjul (aka Tell Sharuhen;
Ancient Gaza) is a Bronze Age site in Southern Palestine at the
mouth of the Ghazzah Wadi just south of the town of Gaza1. Tell
el-'Ajjul was excavated 1930-1934 by a British team led by Sir
Flinders Petrie.
Necklace of beads of rock crystal, amethyst and gold plaques
decorated with hieroglyphs. From Canaan, Tell el-Ajjul Late Bronze
Age (Left) Gold pendants and a ring, from the rich ancient town at
Tell el-Ajjul Late Bronze Age (RIGHT) Israel Museum(IDAM),
Jerusalem, Israel
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RULER & DATE FATHER & MOTHER BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE REF
1. Rehoboam 930-913 Son of Solomon Mother: Naamah the
Ammonite
1 Kings 11:42-14:312 Chronicles 9:31-12:16
2. Abijam (Abijah) 913-911 Son of RehoboamMother: Maacah
(Micaiah) descendant of David's son Absalom
1 Kings 14:31-15:82 Chronicles 13:1-23
3. Asa 911-870 Son of AbijamGebirah = grandmother Maacah
1 Kings 15:8-242 Chronicles 13:23-16:14
4. Jehoshaphat 870-848 Son of AsaMother: Azubah
1 Kings 15:24 22:41-51 2 Chronicles 17:1-21:1
5. Jehoram 848-841 Son of JehoshaphatMother: ?
2 Kings 8:16-242 Chronicles 21:1-20
6. Ahaziah 841- ? Son of JehoramMother: Athaliah
2 Kings 8:24-29; 9:14-262 Chronicles 22:1-12
7. Athaliah (Queen Mother) 841-835
Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel
2 Kings11 1-202 Chronicles 22:1-15
8. Jehoash 835-796 Grandson of Athaliah and son of Ahaziah;
Mother: Zibiah (Beersheba)
1 Kings 11:1-12:212 Chronicles 22:10-23; 24:27
9. Amaziah 796-781 Son of JehoashMother: Jehoaddan
2 Kings 14:1-222 Chronicles 26:1-23
10. Uzziah 781-740 Son of AmaziahMother: Jecoliah
2 Kings 15:1-72 Chronicles 26:23-27:9
11. Jotham 740-736 Son of UzziahMother: Jerushah
2 Kings 15:32-382 Chronicles 26:9-27:9
12. Ahaz 736-716 Son of JothamMother:?
2 Kings 15:38-16:202 Chronicles 27:9-28:27
13. Hezekiah 716-687 Son of AhazMother: Abijah
2 Kings 16:20; 18:1-20:212 Chronicles 28:27-32:33
14. Manasseh 697-642 Son of HezekiahMother: Hephzibah
2 Kings 21:1-182 Chronicles 32:33-33:
15. Amon 642-640 Son of ManassehMother: Meshullemeth
2 Kings 21:18-262 Chronicles 33:20-25
16. Josiah 640-609 Son of AmonMother: Jedidiah
2 Kings 21:26-23:302 Chronicles 33:25-35:27
17. Eliakim/Jehoahaz 609 Son of JosiahMother: Hamutal
2 Kings 23:30-342 Chronicles 36:5-8
18. Jehoiakim ? Brother of Eliakim Mother: Zebidah
2 Kings 23:34-24:62 Chronicles 36:5-8
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Queen Of Heaven Cult: Divine Counterpart Of The Royal Office of
Queen Mother (Gebirah) According to leading biblical scholars, The
Queen of heaven "Asherah" was seen as the divine counterpart
(Consort) to The Office Gebrih (Queen Mother). In the Southern
Kingdom of Judah, religious tensions emerged at the beginning of
the ninth century BCE. Due to religious reforms ushered in by new
kings, folk religions and practices became outlawed when they were
once tolerated. The Mother Who Held this Office was more than
likely High Priestess of the Queen of Heaven Cult, partaking in
rituals inside of the temple and overseeing temple servants. In the
book of Proverbs there's verses that seems to hint towards rituals
of a High Priestess. The verses read as follow: Proverbs Chapter
8:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven
pillars (Possibly alluding to the construction of a temple): 2 She
hath killed her beasts (Meat offering); she hath mingled her wine
(Drink offering) ; she hath also furnished her table (Offering
table) . 3 She hath sent forth her maidens (Temple servants) : she
crieth upon the highest places of the city (The High Places were
associated with Places of worship) , 4 Whoso is simple, let him
turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to
him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have
mingled. The biblical narrative illustrates this in the case of
King Asa, Who deprived his grandmother Ma`akah of the rank of
Gebirh because she had commissioned cultic statues of Asherah to be
fashioned. It is in this context that the cult of the goddess
experienced great declined. Three Thousand pillar Figurines, that
is, female terracotta, many of them with strong emphasis on the
breast (The divine name of El Shaddai meaning "Self Sufficient one"
the Hebrew noun shad meaning breast) were found in the
archeological strata of the ninth century BCE. Two thousand of
these figurines were found in Jerusalem alone.
ARTIFACTS OF THE QUEEN OF HEAVAN CULT
Figurines Collection of the Mother Goddess 'Asherah' Israel
Museum, Jerusalem (Left) A dove and two bird-like female figures
perch atop this Iron Age house shrine to symbolize Asherah and her
counterparts Astarte and Tanit. Credit: Ardon Bar Hama (RIGHT)
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ANCESTRESS OFFICE: QUEEN MOTHER OFFICE AMONGST THE DIASPORA
After the nation of Israel split into two separate kingdoms
(southern Judah, Northern Israel) the office of Gebirh falls into
obscurity. Most scholars believe after the various Israelite
diasporas, this office was long gone and forgotten. From months of
research, I was able to uncover evidence of the Royal Office of
Gebirh (transliteration miggrh or Magira), still being held by
women amongst the Royal Courts of west Africa. The Ancient Kanem
Empire was located in the present countries of Chad, Nigeria and
Libya. At its height it encompassed an area covering not only much
of Chad, but also parts of southern Libya and eastern Niger,
northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon. The "Mai" (king) was
the highest authority in the kingdom's political structure. His
mother, "Magira" (the queen mother) is a very important and
respected power-wielder. This office of Magira was a very important
institution, so much so it comprised of three women title holders:
Gumsu (The Kings First wife) The Magara (The Kings Senior sister)
and finally The Magira (Queen Mother). The three women performed
important activities in the palace of the Kings Court, they were
charged with the duty of training the princes. The Queen Mother is
known to have presided over the cult of divine patroness (High
Priestess) of the Royal Dynasty. In the pre-Islamic period her
power was so great that she could sanction the king himself and
even depose him. This is illustrated in the case of Mai Biri who
was imprisoned on the Magiras Orders, and Magira Asia controlled
the whole political life of the empire in his untimely absence.
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Seated: The Magira "Queen Mother" Two fully clothed over here
right and left is The Gumsu and Magara 1932 West Africa
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MORE ARTIFACTS OF THE QUEEN MOTHER OF HEAVEN
Four Astarte figurines. Clay (around 1000 BCE) Iron Age II,
Israel Museum (left) The goddess Astarte, from the Hebron area,
Israel. Pottery relief (around 1400 BCE) Late Bronze Age II
(RIGHT)
Openwork plaque with a "woman at the window" METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
Period: Neo-Assyrian Date: ca. 8th century B.C levant .(Right)
elaborate ornament with pendants in her hair. The image fits the
description of Jezebel in 2 Kings 9:30-37. The woman at the window
with her head adorned (above), is a frequent motif in the ancient
near-Eastern world. Jezebel is described like this immediately
before her death (2 Kings 9:30-37).
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FURTHER READING & SOURCES ASCRIBE TO THE LORD: BIBLICAL
& OTHER ESSAYS IN MEMORY OF PETER C. CRAIGIEEDITED BY PETER C.
CRAIGIE, LYLE M. ESLINGER, GLEN TAYLOR PAGE 131-132
LOOKING THROUGH A GLASS BIBLE: POSTDISCIPLINARY BIBLICAL
INTERPRETATIONS ...EDITED BY AKM ADAM, SAMUEL TONGUE PAGE 147
COME AND SEE: THE RISE AND FALL OF ANCIENT ISRAEL BY FR. JOSEPH
PONESSA, LAURIE MANHARDT, SHARON DORAN
DICTIONARY OF THE HOLY BIBLEBY AUGUSTIN CALMET PAGE 595
AMONG THE HOST OF HEAVEN: THE SYRO-PALESTINIAN PANTHEON AS
BUREAUCRACYBY LOWELL K. HANDY PAGE 74
THE ELIJAH ENIGMA: THE PROPHET, KING AHAB AND THE REBIRTH OF
MONOTHEISM IN ...BY HILLEL I. MILLGRAM PAGE 336
AGAPE BIBLE STUDY: RULERS OF JUDAH AND THEIR QUEEN MOTHERS
(GEBIRAH)FROM 930BC'587/6BC: ONE RULING FAMILY = THE HOUSE OF
DAVID(DATES FROM NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE TRANSLATION)
WWW.AGAPEBIBLESTUDY.COM
A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE: ROYAL WOMEN OF JUDAH AND THEIR
INVOLVEMENT INTHE HOUSE OF DAVID
INDIGENOUS AFRICAN INSTITUTIONS, 2ND EDITIONBY GEORGE AYITTEY
PAGE 255
WOMANISM AND AFRICAN CONSCIOUSNESSBY MARY EBUN MODUPE KOLAWOLE
PAGE 45
HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BY KATHLEEN
SHELDON PAGE 207
BIBLICAL PATRIARCHS FROM A PRE-CANONICAL SOURCE MENTIONED IN THE
DWN OF KANEM-BORNU (LAKE CHAD REGION) BY DIERK LANGE
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