Did Huldah live in the second quarter or in the house of instruction?
A brief philological and narrative analysis of 2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22
Keywords:
Prophetism, women prophets, Deuteronomistic history, women in the Old Testament, Jerusalem, King JosiahAbstract
The story of the prophetess Huldah is recounted in both 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. In both cases her description is very similar, and it is stated that she lived, literally, “in Jerusalem, in the second” (בִּירוּשָׁלִַם בַּמִּשְׁנֶה). The interpretation of the term מִּשְׁנֶה has been the subject of debate as it can be understood as the designation of a quarter in Jerusalem or a center of religious instruction. In the latter case, Huldah would not only be a prophetess, but also a religious teacher. This article will conduct a philological and narrative study of the word in question to inquire on Huldah place of residence and its implications for her religious function.
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