@article{ART003251612},
author={Eun-Ae Lee},
title={A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2025},
volume={31},
number={4},
pages={372-398}
TY - JOUR
AU - Eun-Ae Lee
TI - A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2025
VL - 31
IS - 4
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 372
EP - 398
SN - 1229-0521
AB - Changes in the form of women's rituals regarding the fate of the country and the king, which can be found in the Old Testament, are closely linked to changes in the social structure and power system of ancient Israel. A medium in Endor (1Sam. 28:3-25), the most representative female spirituality, show the female-led religious sphere and rituals of early Israeli society. She summoned the soul of the dead Samuel to prophesy the fate of the king and the nation, and she presided over an apparent religious ceremony that killed the beast and shared it with the participants. These religious activities were prohibited in the centralization of the Jahwe religion along with the centralization of power attempted in the Saul’s kingdom. However, there were still various ways to meet gods in the provinces and within the form of family religion, and there were spirit mediums that mediated the realm of gods, and it can be assumed that the role was mainly women. In the early days of the Israeli monarchy, a decentralized society in which charismatic religious leaders in various forms could operate was premised, so it would have been relatively more possible for women to engage in religious activities.
The prophecy of the prophet Huldah (2Kings 22; 2Chr. 34:22-28) as a collaborator to the Jahwe religion’s Reformation of the King Josiah of the kingdom of Judah was based on a document called the Book of Laws found in the Temple in Jerusalem and was significant in that it showed the legitimate religious practices and authority of a female prophet in the official Jahwe religion by predicting using the typical the messenger form of the prophet. Although the role of the prophet during this period was limited to a declarative function separate from the function of the king or priest, the prophecy of the prophet Huldah can be seen as having a social meaning that enabled the existence and maintenance of the state and the monarchy within the scope of public and national religion.
In the process of political and religious centralization, the religious practices of female mediums and prophets were gradually separated and reduced, remaining in a limited form of religious ritual called the word of prophecy.
KW - A medium in Endor;Saul;Samuel;Joshia;Prophetess Huldah;reform of religion
DO -
UR -
ER -
Eun-Ae Lee. (2025). A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 31(4), 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. 2025, "A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.31, no.4 pp.372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee "A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 31.4 pp.372-398 (2025) : 372.
Eun-Ae Lee. A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals. 2025; 31(4), 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. "A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 31, no.4 (2025) : 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 31(4), 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2025; 31(4) 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals. 2025; 31(4), 372-398.
Eun-Ae Lee. "A medium in Endor and the prophetess Huldah : sociocultural implications of women’s religious rituals" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 31, no.4 (2025) : 372-398.
