Merry Christ-Myths: The Reality of the Nativity
Session Two: Are Angels Winged Scandinavian Women?
I. What does a donkey know that we don’t? Numbers 22:23-33
II. How do the Gospels describe angels? Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:5, Luke 24:4, Acts 10:30
III. What do we know about the two angels named in Scripture?
Gabriel—Daniel 8:15-18, 9:21-23, Luke 1:11-12, 19-20, 26-30
Michael—Daniel 10:12-13, 20-21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7
III. What else does Scripture tell us about the angels?
Malachim—Genesis 18:1-2, 19:1-11
Cherubim—Genesis 3:24, Ezekiel 10:1-14
Seraphim—Isaiah 6:2-6, Revelation 4:6-8
Matthew 18:10
Matthew 24:36
Luke 20:34-36
1 Corinthians 4:9
Hebrews 1:14
1 Peter 1:12
2 Peter 2:4,10-11
Jude 1:6
IV. Does Zechariah 5:9-11 indicate female angels? Popular answers and their plausibility:
Good: The two women mentioned in this passage are not specifically called angels, but they are clearly agents of God or, as some believe, forces of Satan, like angels, good or evil. The fate of the woman (wickedness) is portrayed: She is to be removed from the land. Although some regard the two women as agents of evil (partly because the stork is an unclean bird, Lev 11:19), it seems preferable to regard them as divinely chosen agents. They, along with the wind (also an instrument of God, Ps 104:3-4), would thus demonstrate that the removal was the work of God alone. The simile “wings like those of a stork” is evidently intended to show that the winged women—carried along by the wind—were capable of supporting the woman in the basket over a great distance. The main point is that Scripture does not identify them as angels and we would be hard pressed to prove that angels sometimes appear as women from this passage. (bible.org)
Good: So then who or what are these women? Perhaps the clue lies in finding out just what the word 'stork' means. The answer may, or may not shock you. Stork - chaciydah (Female Noun) from the word Chaciyd - 1) faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious, a) kind, b) pious, godly, c) faithful ones (subst) Just as a spiritual serpent is a practicer of divination, and an enchanter; a spiritual stork is a holy, Godly, faithful being. Therefore as Satan the spiritual serpent was, and is always evil; it would only make sense that these women are holy ones of God doing the will of the LORD. But does that mean then that there are indeed female angels? Much as I loathe to say it, no it doesn't. (sanctusvesania.hubpages.com)
Better: The Targum explains these "two women" by two provinces; and Kimchi interprets them of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who had been carried captive into Babylon; and others of the two kings, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who were the cause of the captivity; but Jarchi understands by them the Babylonians and Chaldeans, two nations as one, joined in Nebuchadnezzar's armies, which carried them captive: others think the two reformers, Ezra and Nehemiah, are meant, who were instruments of purging the Jews, returned from captivity, though but weak ones, and therefore are compared to "women"; yet what they did they did swiftly, and therefore are said to have "wings", and under the influence of the Spirit of God; hence the "wind", or "spirit", is said to be in their wings; and they acted from a tender regard to the glory of God and the good of their country; and therefore their wings were like the "wings of a stork”…. which, being a creature kind and tender, show that there is no cruelty in the displays of the power and justice of God in punishing sinners (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible)
Best: Zechariah would have expected that the reference to winged women would immediately call to the minds of contemporary readers the winged women of Babylon - winged women being completely absent from the remainder of the Old Testament. (Zechariah wrote soon after the return from Babylonian exile). It is possible that the woman in the basket is "Ishtar", the Babylonian goddess, and that Zechariah was describing the "removal" of goddess worship from Judea - the goddess, in a sense, returned to Babylon. Regardless of the basket-woman's identity, it seems certain that the winged women were symbolic of Babylonian (i.e. evil) beliefs, not servants of God. (www.BibleSelector.com)