MOTHERS IN THE BIBLE

DR. KLUANE SPAKE

“The Lord gives the word (of power): the women who bear and publish(the news) are a great host.” Psalm 68:11 Motherhood "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived." (Genesis 4:1 RSV)

"For Thou didst form my inward parts, Thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13 RSV)

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb." (Luke 1:41 RSV)

"And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7 RSV)

"When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world." (John 16:21 RSV)

"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul." (Psalm 131:2 RSV)

"So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him." (1 Samuel 1:23 RSV)

Motherhood is described as:

Painful, Gen. 3:16; dangerous, Gen. 35:16-20; joyful, Jn. 16:21; prayerful, Gen. 25:21.

Loving, Ex 2:1-10; recalling, Lk. 2:51, grateful, 2 Kng. 4:19-37; weeping, Lk. 7:12-15; idolatrous, Jdg. 17:1-4; concerned, I Kng. 17: 17-24; cruel, 2 Kings 11:1,2; joyful, Ps. 113:9; calculating, Mat. 20:20-23l prayer-like, Acts 12:12.

Duties of mothers: Honor, Eph. 6:2; duty, Deut. 21:18,19, protection, Gen. 2:11; provision, Jn. 19:25-27.Motherhood is Figurative of: Israel, Hos. 2:2,5; Judah, Ezek. 10:2,10; Heavenly Jerusalem, Gal. 4:26. A LIST OF SOME MOTHERS:Motherhood was viewed as the major function for women in the Scriptures. For all of their selfless years of dedication, most mothers receive very little acclaim or appreciation. God honored many mothers with a lasting remembrance by putting their names in the Bible. Only some are mentioned here:

ABIAH (I Chron. 2:24), wife of Hezron (the grandson of Judah and Tamar) and founder of the family of Hezronites. She also was the mother of Ashur and the grandmother of Tekoa. Probably Abiah's name is mentioned because of the importance of the Judah-Tamar line, from which Christ is descended.

Abi (Abijah) was the wife of the godless King Ahaz Her son Hezekiah was a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:1, 26:5 , 2 Kings 18:2

Abighail was the mother of Zuriel, a prince among the families of Merari (Num. 3:35).ABIGAIL 2 (II Sam. 17:25; I Chron. 2:16, 17), sister of David, mother of Amasa, at one time commander in David's army. Her husband was Jether, an Ishmaelite. He also is called Ithra. In I Chronicles 2: 16 she is called David's sister, along with Zeruiah, while in the other passage she is called the daughter of Nahash. ABIHAIL I (I Chron. 2:29), wife of Abishur, descendant of Hezron of Judah, and mother of Ahban and Molid -- a long line of priests. ABIJAH (II Chron. 29:1), same as Abi, mother of Hezekiah.  See Abi. ABISHAG (I Kings 1:3, 15; 2:17, 21, 22), a maid from the of Shunem, obtained to minister to King David in his old age.  A search was made for a woman who was beautiful. Abishag was brought to David to be his nurse and concubine. In his feebleness she gave to him of her warm vitality. In the Septuagint translation we find the phrase, "and let her excite him and lie with him." This was a mode of medical in the East and had been recommended by King David's doctor as a means of increasing his waning vitality.

ABITAL (II Sam. 3:4; I Chron. 3:3), one of King David's wives, and mother of Shephatiah, who was born in Hebron. She is one of the six wives of David listed together in II Samuel 3:3, 4, 5.

ACHSAH (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:12, 13; I Chron. 2:49), daughter of Caleb, prince of the tribe of Judah, who received Hebron as an inheritance for himself and his descendants. He had been one of twelve men sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan and one of two who kept their faith in the Lord. Adah was the mother of Jabal and Jubal. Jabal was a famous shepherd and Jubal was the first to introduce the art of music to the world. She was one of two wifes of Lamech who was in the 7th generation after Adam (Gen. 4:19-23). ADAH 2 (Gen. 36:2, 4, 10, 12, 16), one of the Canaanite wives of Esau and the mother of Eliphaz, Esau's first-born (Gen. 36:15), from whose line came four dukes, Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Kenaz (Gen. 36:15). AGAR (Gal. 4:24-25), the Greek name for Sarah's handmaid Hagar. Ahinoam (#1 ) was daughter of Ahimaaz, the wife of King Saul first King of Israel, and mother of Jonathan who was a close friend of David. 1 Samuel 14:50

Ahinoam (#2 ) a Jezeelitess who was the second of David’s eight wives and the mother of his first son, Amnon (1 Sam. 25:43, 27:3, 30:5 2 Sam. 2:2, 3:2, 1 Chr. 3:1).Abigail, widow of the drunkard Nabal,was captured by the Amalekites at Ziklag, but David and 600 of his men went forth to bring them back. After the death of Saul, David took Ahinoam and Abigail as wives to reside at Hebron. She is the mother of David's son Amnon.

AHLAI (I Chron. 2:31), a daughter of Sheshan, a descendant Pharez, elder son of Judah by Tamar. The text is confused. In 1Chronicles 2:31, she is the only one of Sheshan's children who is named, but verse 34 speaks of Sheshan's daughters.

Ahlai's name has little importance except in relationship to Pharez son of Tamar, who herself appears in Matthew's genealogy of Christ. AHOLAH (Ezek. 23:4, 5, 36, 44), a feminine name used symbolically by Ezekiel to designate Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, larger than the southern kingdom, of which Jerusalem was the capital. Therefore, Aholah is designated as the elder sister. AHOLIBAH (Ezek. 23:4, II, 22, 36, 44), the name of a whore in Ezekiel's allegory of the two kingdoms of Israel, the northern and southern, which had gone "awhoring" (after idols) of their heathen neighbors. Aholibah represents Jerusalem, capital of the southern kingdom. Her evil was like that of her lewd sister, Aholah, representing Samaria. Both had gone awhoring after idols, had defiled God's sanctuary and profaned His sabbaths.

AHOLIBAMAH (Gen. 36:2, 5, 14, 18, 25), one of Esau's wives and often regarded as the same as Judith, mentioned in Genesis 26:34. In this passage she is identified as the daughter of Elon the Hittite, but in Genesis 36:2 she is identified as the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, and again in 36:25 as the daughter of Anah.

Aholibamah (also spelled in some translations as Oholibamah) is not mentioned under either of these names in the earlier texts of Esau's wives (Gen. 26:34 or 28:9). Various explanations have been made regarding this. Authorities who compiled the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia believe there is some error in the text.  The least we can say is that it is most confusing the way it stands. Aholibamah had three children by Esau, namely, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah, who were born in the land of Canaan (Gen. 36:5). All of these children are referred to as dukes in Genesis 36:18. Aholibamab was one of several of Esau's wives. She became a mother of the tribe of Edomites, never a righteous people like Israelites. ANAH (Gen. 36:2, 14, 18, 25), a daughter of Zibeon and mother of Aholibamah (Oholibamah), one of the wives of Esau. She is the only named mother of any of Esau's wives. As the mother of Aholibamah, she was grandmother of Esau's children, Jeush, Jaalam and Korah, born in the land of Canaan ( Gen. 36:2, 18, 25). ANNA, first woman to proclaim Jesus as Christ. Lk. 2:36-38 APPHIA (Philemon, verse 2), a Christian of Colossae, Phrygian City, now a part of Turkey. She is thought to have been stoned to death in the reign of Nero. ASENATH (Gen. 41:45,50; 46:20), wife of Joseph and daughter of Potipherah, a priest of the great national temple of the sun at On or Heliopolis, seven miles northeast of modern Cairo. Asenath bore Joseph two sons before the years of famine in Egypt. He gave to both of them Hebrew, not Egyptian, names. The first was Manasseh, meaning "God hath removed me from all my troubles and from my father's house." The second was Epliraim, meaning "God hat made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." ATARAH (I Chron. 2:26), the second wife of Jerahmeel, grandson of Pharez, also mother of Onam. Though Jerahmeel's first wife had five children, this wife is not named, and Atarah is only among those in a group of introductory genealogies. ATHALIAH, daughter of Jezebel and Ahab and only ruIing queen of Judah. (2Kings:11:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 20;  2 Chron 22:2,10, 11, 12;  23:12, 13; 21: 24:7) AZUBAH I (I Chron. 2:18, 19), first wife of Caleb, one of the descendants of Judah. By him she had three sons, Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. AZUBAH 2 (I Kings 22:42; II Chron. 20:31), daughter Shuhi, wife of King Asa, third king of Judah and mother Jehoshaphat. It is said that “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:42, 2 Chronicles 20:31). BAARA (I Chron. 8:8), one of the wives of Shaharaim BASHEMATH I (Gen. 26:34), the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and the first of two of Esau's wives. In Genesis 36:2 she is called Adah. She became his wife when he was forty years old and turned out to be a "grief of mind" to Esau's parents, Isaac and Rebekah. BASHEMATH 2 (Gen. 36:3, 4, 10, 13, 17), a second wife of Esau bearing the name of Bashemath. She was the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebajoth and in Genesis 28:9 her name is given as Mahalath. Esau probably married her after his marriage to the first two Hittite wives recorded in Genesis 26:34. This second Bashemath or Mahalath was the mother of Reuel. BASMATH (I Kings 4:15), a daughter of Solomon, sometimes called Basemeth. She became the wife of Ahimaaz. BITHIAH (I Chron. 4: 18), daughter of one of the Pharoahs who married Mered, descendant of Judah. DINAH, daughter of Leah and Jacob, who was raped by Sechem. (Gen.30:1, 3, 5, 13, 25, 26; 46:15). *** Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon and last wife of King David (2 Sam. 11:3; 12:24; 1Kings 1:11, 15, 16, 28, 31; 2:13, 18, 19: 1 Chron. 3:5). BILHAH (Gen. 29:29; 30:3, 4, 5, 7; 35:22, 25; 37:2; 46:25; 1 Chron. 7:13), Rachel's handmaid. Rachel gave Bilhah to her husband Jacob for a wife. Bilhah thus became the mother of two of the tribes of Israel – Dan and Naphtali. Among the descendants of Bilhah's first son was Samson, (Judg. 13:2). The tribe which descended from Bilhah's second son Naphtali became very large (53,400 at first census, Num. 2:29, 30). Elizabeth was the mother of John The Baptist. "And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb." (Luke 1:41 RSV). Gabriel said to her, “Blessed (indwelt with God) is she who believed.” Eve, the mother of Cain, Abel, and Seth. Eve is the “mother of all living.”EBLISHEBA (God of an oath) wife of Aaron, first priest of the Levitical priesthood.
Elisheba was the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Naashon, of the tribe of Judah. She bore Aaron four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (ex. 6:23). EPHAH (1 Chron 2:46), one of the concubines of Caleb.  They had three children: Haran, Moza, and Gazez. EUNICE mother of Timothy (2 Tim.1:5). GOMER (Hos. I :3) had three children with Hosea the prophet: a son, Jezreel,  a daughter Lo-ruhamah, and a son, Lo-ammi.

Hagar was the servant or handmaid of Sarah who was childless. She may have been in the lineage of an Egyptian princess. Sarah gave her to Abraham to bear children and she became mother of Ishmael (Gen. 16, 21:9-17, 25:12, Gal. 4:24,25).

Haggith was David’s fifth wife and the mother of his fourth son Adonijah (2 Sam. 13:4,5; 1 Kings 1:5,11; 2:13).

HELAH (I Chron. 4:5, 7), one of two wives of Ashur, father of Tekoa. She had three sons, Zereth, Jezoar, and Ethnan.

HAMMOLEKETH (I Chron. 7:18), mother of Ishod, Abiezer, and Mahalah. From the line of Abiezer came Gideon the judge. HAMUTAL (II Kings 23:31; 24:18; Jer. 52:1), daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, wife of  Josiah, mother of two sons, Jehoahaz and Zedekiah. Hannah was the first wife of Elkanah. She was childless for many years, but eventually became the mother of Samuel the prophet. After Samuel was born, she became mother to three more sons and two daughters (1 Sam. 1; 2:1, 21). Hephzibah was the wife of the good King Hezekiah. Their son was Manasseh, who became an ungodly king and ruled over Judah for fifty-five years (2 Kng. 21:1, Is. 62:4).

Hodiah, the wife of Mered, was the mother of Jered, Heber and Jeduthiel (1 Chron. 4:18,19). HUSHIM one of the two wives of Shaharaim.  She had two sons, Abitub and Elpaal (I Chron. 8:8, 11). Jehoaddan was the mother of Amaziah who succeeded his murdered father to the throne. He started out as a godly king but later faltered. 2 Kings 14:2, 2 Chronicles 25:1

JECHOLIAH (II Kings 15:2; II Chron. 26:3), the wife of Amaziah, king of Judah. Her son was Azariah (or UZZIAH) king of Judah. JEHUDIJAH (I Chron. 4:18), , mother of Jered, the father of Gedor, Heber, the father of Socho, Jekothiel,the father of Zanoah. JERUSHA was the daughter of Zadok, priest during the time of David, the wife of Uzziah, a leper, and the mother of King Jotham (2 Kings 15:33, 1 Chronicles 6:12, 2 Chronicles 27:1-6). JOCHEBED mother of Moses, Miriam, and Aaron (Exod.6:20: Num, 26:59). JUDAH (Jer. 3:7, 8, 10), an allegorical reference to the country of Judah. Three times Jeremiah refers to "her treacherous sister Judah." Keturah became Abraham’s third wife (counting Hagar) after the death of Sarah. She was the mother of six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Isbak and Shuah. These six sons fathered the six Arabian tribes of Southern and Eastern Palestine (Gen. 25:1-6, 1 Chr. 1:32,33).Leah was Jacob’s first wife and mother to six sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulan and a daughter, Dinah (Gen. 29;30; 49:31; Ruth 4:11). LOIS (2Tim.1:5) was the grandmother and mentor of Timothy. Miriam. In the wilderness, we see the effectiveness of Miriam (Ex. 15:20-21). Although the children of Israel tumbled into the water of the Red Sea confused and afraid, Miriam let the way as they came out the other side rejoicing and marching in rank and file according to tribes. Exodus 15:20 says that Miriam “the prophetess” led the praises in song and dance after escaping the Egyptians. What we don’t always realize is that she was 92 at the time! Her poem is left as one of the oldest in the world. Miriam was designated as a leader with her brothers, Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4).The oral tradition of the Jews elevates and greatly eulogize her position beyond that of the Scriptures. Josephus records that Miriam became the wife of Hur, one of the judges appointed when Moses was on Sinai (Ex. 24:14), which would make her the mother of Bezaleel, the skilled artist of the Tabernacle (Ex. 31:2).[i]

MAACHAH I (Gen. 22:24) was the daughter of Abraham's brother Nahor by his concubine Reumah. She was one of the first-named woman in the Bible.
Young's Concordance identifies this Maachah as a son, but International Standard Bible Encyclopedia refers to the name as that of a daughter.

MAACHAH 2 (II Sam. 3:3; I Chron. 3:2), a daughter of  Talmai, king of Geshur, and one of David's eight wives.   She was the mother of son, Absalom, born when David was at Hebron, and of  daughter, Tamar. MAACHAH 3 (I Kings 15:2; II Chron. 11:20, 21, 22) was the daughter or granddaughter of Absalom. She was also the favorite wife of King Rehoboam (successor to King Solomon who was his father). Rehoboam had 28 sons and 60 daughters by his 78 wives and concubines but he made her son, Abijah his successor. MAACHAH 4 (I Kings 15:10, 13; II Chron. 15:16) was the mother of Asa.MAACHAH 5 (I Chron. 2:48) was one of Caleb's concubines.  Her children were Sheber, Tirhanah, Shaaph and Sheva. She may have been the mother of Caleb's daughter Achsah.  MAACHAH 6 (I Chron. 7:15, 16), the wife of Machir and  mother of Peresh and Sheresh. She was a daughter-in-law Manasseh, son of Joseph MAACHAH 7 (I Chron. 8:29; 9:35), wife of Jehiel and mother of Gibeon. MAHALAH (I Chron. 7:18), daughter of Hammoleketh She is a granddaughter of Manasseh, Joseph's oldest child Mary the mother of Jesus, James (the apostle), and Joses ( Mat,1:16-20; 2:11,13:55, 27:55-61; Mark 6:3; Lu 1:27, 30, 34, 38, 39, 41, 46, 56; 2:5, 16,19, 34; Acts 1:14). MARY the wife of Cleopas is mentioned (John 19:25) as standing at the cross in company with Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Jesus. She was one of those who went early in the morning of the first day of the week to anoint the body, and thus became one of the first witnesses of the resurrection (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1). Mother of James and Joses( Matt. 27:56, 61:28:1; Mk 15:40, 47; 16:1; Lk 24:10; Jn 19:25),. MARY OF BETHANY 3 ( Lk. 10:39-42; Jn. 11:1, 2, 19, 20, 28, 31, 32, 45; Mk. 14:3-9), sister of Martha and Lazarus. MARY the mother of John Mark was one of the earliest of our Lord's disciples. She may have been the wife of Peter and the sister of Barnabas (Col. 4:10, Acts 4:37; 12:12). Her house in Jerusalem was the common meeting-place for the disciples there.

MARY MAGDALENE ( Mat 27:56-61; 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1, 9; Lk 8:2, 24:10; Jn. 20:1,11,16,18), She told the apostles if the Resurrection. MARY OF BETHANY ( Lk. 10:39-42; Jn. 11:1, 2, 19, 20, 28, 31, 32, 45; Mk. 14:3-9), sister of Martha and Lazarus. MARY 5 ( Acts 12:12), mother of John Mark. Matred (thrusting, forward or expulsive) was the mother of Mehetabel who’s daughter eventually married the last king of Edom (Gen. 36:39, 1 Chr. 1:50).MEHETABEL (Gen. 36:39; I Chron. 1:50), daughter of Matred and wife of Hadar or Hadad. MERAB (I Sam. 14:49; 18:17, '9), King Saul's eldest daughter that he promised  to David.  Merab  was given to Adriel. She had five sons.  It is  assumed that Merab died  young and  her five sons were cared for by her sister Michal. Meshullemeth (repay or retribution) was the wife of Manaseh, son of Hesekiah. She was the mother of Amon the evil king of Judah (II Kings 21:19). MILCAH I (Gen. 11:29; 22:20, 23; 24:15, 24, 47), daughter of Haran and wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham. She had eight sons, Huz, Buz, Kemuel, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel. Bethal was the father of Rebekah, which means that this Milcah was Rebekah's grandmother. MIRIAM I( Ex. 15:20-21; Num. 12:1, 4-5, 10, 15; 20:1, 26:59; Deut. 24:9; 1 Chron 6:3; Mic6:4),  sister of Moses MAACHAH - Her name means oppression or depression. She was the daughter-in-law of Manasseh, son of Joseph. She was the mother or Peresh and Sheresh (1 Chronicles 8:29; 9:35)

MAACHAH was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. She became one of David's 8 wives and mother of Absalom (1 Chronicles 3:2, 2 Samuel 3:3)

MAACHAH was the granddaughter of Absalom and mother of King Abijah of Judah (1 Kings 15:1,2 and 2 Chronicles 11:20-22)

MEHETABEL was daughter of Matred, the wife of Hadar, and the mother of Delaiah (Gen. 36:39).MERAB - Her name means 'increase or multiplication.' She was Saul's daughter, promised to David for his victory over Goliath but was given to Adried, the Meholathite She had five sons. Sadly, all of whom were hanged by the Gibeonites as a revenge against Saul (2Samuel 21:8).

NAAMAH was one of Solomon's many wives. She was the mother of Rehoboam. (1Kings 14:21, 31; 2 Chronicles 12:13).

NAARAH (I Chron. 4:5, 6), one of two wives of Ashur, mother of four sons, Ahuzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari NAOMI (Ruth 1:2, 3, 8, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22; also Ruth 2:1, 2, 20, 22; 3:1; 4:3, 5, 9, 14, 16, 17), wife of Elimelech and mother of Mahlon and Chilion. One of her daughters-in-law was Ruth

NEHUSHTA - Her name means 'a peice of brass.' She was the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoiakim and went into captivity in Babylon with him. (2Kings 24:8)

PENINNAH ('coral') was the second wife of Elkanah. When Penennah’s children were born, she was unkind to barren Hannah (1Samuel 1:2,6). PHANUEL (Luke 2:36). Young's Concordance calls her the mother of Anna.RACHEL wife of Jacob and sister of Leah( Gen. 29:6-31; 30:1-2, 6-8, 14-15, 22,25; 31:4, 14,19, 32-3;33:1-2, 7; 35:16-25).

Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel lamented over her children (Jer. 31:15),

RAHAB lied to her own people in order to protect the Israelite army, yet James 2:25 tells us she was “justified” in doing that. Somehow, God looked on this particular action of not telling the truth as one of bravery and valor, and she becomes one of the people in Hebrews who lived by faith (Heb. 11:31). Rahab married the spy named Simon and she portrays a type of the Gentile Bride. She became the mother of Boaz and the Great grandmother of King David (Josh. 2:1:2, 6:17-25). In spite of her sordid past, Rahab was adopted into the covenant community and included in the direct ancestry of Jesus Christ (Mt. 1:5). Real and the false mother in Solomon's famous test (I Kings 3:16)REBEKAH was the mother of Esau and Jacob/Israel who were twin boys REUMAH (exalted) was the first woman in the Bible to be called a concubine. As the secondary wife of Nahor, she was the mother of Tebah, Gaham, Thahash and Maachah (Gen. 22:24). RHODA (Acts 12:13), a maidservant in the Jerusalem house Mary, mother of Mark, who was the first to hear Peter knock at gate after his miraculous escape from prison. RIZPAH (hot or baking stone) was one of Saul’s concubines. She had four sons, three of which were named Armoni, Megphibosheth and Ishbosheth (2 Sam. 3:7, 21:8-14). Rizpah mourned over her dead sons (II Sam. 21).

RUTH ( Ruth),  daughter-in-law of Naomi and married first to her son, Mahlon and afterwards to the landowner Boaz, in Bethlehem. Through Boaz, Ruth became the mother of Obed, ancestor of Christ.

SARAH wife of Abraham (Gen.11:29-3; 12:5, 11,17; 16:2-8; 17:15-21; 18:6-15; 20:2, 14-18, 21:1-12). Abraham treated Sarah as a queen who ruled in many ways. (Her new name Sarah implied “chieftainess or mother of nations.” God said, “Rulers of people shall be of her.” Finally, at ninety, she was ready for motherhood! She was the mother of Isaac.

SALOME was the mother of Zebedee's children. Her sons were James and John (Matthew 20:20-24; 27:56). Jesus had told the twelve how He would be betrayed and rise again on the third day. Upon hearing this statement, Salome worshipped Jesus, acknowledging that HE was God. Then, she requested that her two sons sit at His right and left in His Kingdom (Mk. 15:40, Mt. 13:55, Mt. 20:17). Notice that Jesus didn’t rebuke Salome, but explained that she didn’t understand. He asked if SHE were able to drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism He was baptized with? This is the same Salome that later stood at the cross – watching Jesus drink the cup. Following Jesus at this crucial time wasn’t easy, but she stayed until the end – and her son John also remained at the cross, while the other disciples watched from a distance. SHELOMITH 3 (2 Chron. 11:20), probably a daughter of Maachah and King Rehoboam. Shelomith is named with three other children, Abijah, Attal, Ziza, and is not referred to as a daughter. SHIPHRAH and PUAH (Exodus 1:15-22) are two Egyptian midwives who refused to kill the sons of the Hebrew slaves, “feared God” more than the highest law of the land. Because of their bravery, God rewarded them with children of their own. SISERA’S mother experienced premonitions of his disaster and death (Judg.5:28,30), TAHPENES (I Kings 11:1 9, 20),a queen of Pharaoh of the time of David and foster-mother of Genubath, son of her sister and Hadad. TAMAR disguised herself as a harlot and became pregnant with his child Pharez. Matthew mentions this illegitimate birth of Pharez as being in the lineage of the Messiah. (Gen. 38:6, 11, 13, 24; Ruth 4:12; 1Chron. 2:4), and ancestor of King David TAMAR 2 (II Sam. 13:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 19, 20, 22, Chron. 3:9) was a daughter of David and Maacah and full sister of  Absalom. The affluent woman of Shunem grieving for her dying child (II Kings 4:18-20). The widow at Nain: (Luke 7:11-17). Jesus and the disciples encountered the large burial party carrying a young man’s body out of the city on a bier. The mourners cried over the death of the only son of a widow woman. Jesus cared about a woman’s sorrow when He told this despairing mother, “Weep not.” Upon touching the coffin (NIV) the young man arose, and “Jesus gave the young man back to his mother.” Timothy's mother and grandmother taught him.ZEBUDAH (II Kings 23:36), daughter of  Rumah, mother of Jehoiakirn

ZERUAH (I Kings 11:26), wife of Nebat,  mother of Jeroboam ZERUIAH (I Sam. 26:6; II Sam. 2:13,18; 3:39; 8:i6; 14:1; 16:9, 10; 17:25; 18:2; 19:21, 22; 21:17; 23:18, 37; I Kings 1:7; 2:5, 22; I Chron. 2:16; ii:6, 39; 18:12, is; 26:28; 27:24). She was a half-sister of David and a sister of Abigail 2. Her husband, according to 2 Sam. 2:32, was buried in a sepulcher at Bethlehem.  She had three sons, Joab,  Abishai and Asahel. ZIBIAH (II Kings 12:1; II Chron. 24:1), wife of Ahaziah and mother of Jehoash or Joash. ZILLAH (Gen. 4:19, 22, 23), one of two wives of Lamech (the other was Adah). Zillah is the mother of Naamah, the first daughter mentioned in the Scriptures and she was also the mother of Tubal-cain. ZILPAH (Gen. 29:24; 30:9, 10; 35:26; 37:2; 46:18), Leah's handmaid.  Zilpah had two sons, Gad and Asher ZIPPORAH was one of the seven daughters of Jethro. She was the wife of Moses and the mother of two sons, Gersham and Eliezer (Exod. 2:21; 4:25; 18:2).  

SCRIPTURES ABOUT MOTHERS:Exodus 20:12, Lev. 19:3; Deut. 5:16, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which The Lord your God gives you" Gen 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. Prov. 6:20, "My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching." Prov 10:1, “The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” Isa 66:13, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Ezek 16:44, "'Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter." Luke 1:43, “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 2:51, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” John 19:26-27 tells us that when Jesus saw his mother standing at the cross, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to John the disciple whom He loved, "Here is your mother." From that time on, John took care of Mary. Allegorical mothers:For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise." "Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married." "Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise." (Galatians 4:22-28 RSV)A great apostate church, the "mother" of more apostate churches: "And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names [see Who Is The Woman Riding The Beast?], and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth's abominations." "And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints [see What Is A Saint?] and the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus." (Revelation 17:3-6 RSV)

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