Berniece and Drusilla Might Be Called Bad Girls of the Bible

Sharing a few biofacts from a non-historian about 2 sisters ~ Berniece and Drusilla, both Jewish princesses. The Jewish historian, Josephus, says the two (2) sisters hated each other. That's probably why there is not much mention of them in history crossing each other. It's likely they just stayed out of each other's way. OR … Big sister was so busy bed-hopping, she didn't have time for her little sister.

Who was Berniece?

After learning a little about a woman named Berniece, I concluded that she was clearly ambitious and her bedroom moves, simply put, were … “power grabs”.

She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I who was the ruler of Palestine (AD 37-44). (“Political Rulers of Palestine in the New Testament Era”.)

• First, she married an insignificant guy named Marcus. Not sure of the reason why the marriage ended, but she moved on and married her uncle, whose name was Herod. He died shortly thereafter. By the way, her uncle was a king.
• Since she had already married one king, might as well keep the momentum going. She married King Polemo and deserted him shortly after their wedding.
• She moved to Jerusalem and hooked up with Agrippa II, a great-grandson of Herod the Great. He was also her brother, which meant they had an incestuous relationship. (It seems her aim was a little bit higher, so you could call this marriage “a stepping stone”. Just me thinking.)
• Ultimately, she made her way to the bed of two (2) Roman emperors. Some records indicate that she was not only the mistress of Emperor Vespasian but also his son Titus. She became the lover of Titus when he was a general and he continued their relationship when he became emperor.

After her relationship with Titus, she seems to have faded from history.

♦ Who was Drusilla?

Berniece had a little sister and her name was Drusilla, a feminine derivative of the Roman family name Drusus.

Berniece and Drusilla are both mentioned in the New Testament Book of Acts.

Drusilla was the wife of Felix, a Roman governor of Judea, who sent for Paul to hear about Jesus. Before she married Felix, she was married to some guy named Gaius Julius Azizus, who was a priest-king of Emesa.

Drusilla didn't bed-hop as much as her big sister, Berniece; but she did sort of follow her big sister's example. Even though she went backward. Instead of going from governor to king, she went from a king to a governor.

Historical records indicate that she perished in Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

♦♦♦

P.S. I am not a qualified historian, so if you see anything incorrect in this short post, feel free to call me out on it.

♦♦♦ ADDITIONAL READING

Berenice | Jewish Women's Archive

A descendant of Herod the Great, Berenice was queen of Chalcis and Cicilia and opposed the Jewish Revolt in 66 CE. She eventually became the lover of Titus, the Roman general (and later emperor) who destroyed Jerusalem.

https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berenice

Drusilla

Acts 24: 24 Background: After returning to Jerusalem after years of missionary travel Paul was persecuted by  Jewish leaders and accused of sedition (Acts 21- 23). He was taken into custody and taken to the Caesarea to be brought before Felix, the Roman Governor. Felix agreed to listen to Paul and listened as he defended himself against the Jewish accusations (Acts 24: 1-20).  After hearing Paul Felix was interested in him and kept him under his protection for several more days. Then… “After certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” (Acts 24:24) Facts About Her: Usually I only post facts that can be found in the scriptures, but Drusilla is a well documented historical figure and so I am including those in the facts even though they are not stated in the scripture. She was the wife of Felix, the Roman governor of Judea (Acts 24:24); She was a Jewess (Acts 24:24); She was with Felix when he sent for Paul and “heard him concerning the faith in Christ” but (Acts 24:24); She was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa and the granddaughter of Herod the Great; She had two older sisters, Mariamne and Bernice. Bernice also listened to Paul and rejected his teachings (Acts 25: 13-14, 23). Speculations About Her: She was only 6-years-old when her father, Herod Agrippa died. Before he died he betrothed her to to Gaius  Epiphanes, heir of Commagene, on the condition that he embrace the Jewish faith and be circumcised. This marriage did not take place because the groom wouldn’t consent to circumcision and so when she was about 14 or 15 Drusilla was married Gaius Aziz, the king of Emessa.  Who, in order to obtain her hand, was circumcised. ( Source ) According to the Jewish historian Josephus not long after her marriage  Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, saw Druislla and, being attracted by her famed beauty, convinced her to leave her husband for him. Josephus wrote: “While Felix was procurator of Judea, he saw this Drusilla, and fell in love with her; for she did indeed exceed all other women in beauty; and he sent to her a person whose name was Simon, a Jewish friend of his, by birth a Cypriot, who pretended to be a magician. Simon endeavored to persuade her to forsake her present husband, and marry Felix; and promised, that if she would not refuse Felix, he would make her a happy woman. Accordingly she acted unwisely and, because she longed to avoid her sister Berenice’s envy (for Drusilla was very ill-treated by Berenice because of Drusilla’s beauty) was prevailed upon to transgress the laws of her forefathers, and to marry Felix. ”  ( Josephus, Jewish Antiquities , xx.7.2) Drusilla left her first husband, to whom she was never legally divorced from, and went to live as Felix’s wife. She was probably around 20 years of age when she accompanied Felix to listen to Paul’s testimony. She and Felix had a son named Marcus Antonius Agrippa and a daughter Antonia Clem

https://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2013/03/drusilla.html

Bernice And Drusilla: 2 Wicked Sisters

Bernice and Drusilla were two evil sisters who took part in Paul's trial.

https://sharonwilharm.com/bernice-and-drusilla/

Original Source

Women of the Bible: Rahab - The Noble Harlot

In the History of the Jews, Rahab was a Canaanite Harlot Who Believed.  The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew mentions five women. One of them is Rahab.

{Before you read this I have a couple of questions that are not answered in the Bible about Rahab, but it would be interesting to know the answers. QUESTION:  When the spies entered Rahab’s house or “business”, she told them she believed the account of an incident that had occurred 40 years ago.  It was not breaking news on CNN.  So … how old was Rahab?  Was she about 50 years old?  Was she older than 50?  Older than 50 and turning tricks?  (“Turning tricks” means still servicing customers.) ANOTHER QUESTION:  Because of her actions in hiding the spies, she saved her father, her mother and her brothers.  Would you not say her family was incredibly trusting and really had a lot of confidence in her?  But she was a whore!  Hoes get no respect!  Her family put their lives in her hands? To think of it, the story of Rahab is a remarkable story!]
 

* * *

(Image credit: Tissot_The_Harlot_of_Jericho_and_the_Two_Spies.jpg )


Rahab (alternately spelled Rachab) was a Canaanite harlot who lived in Jericho . Her house was on the city wall. Though forty years has passed and Moses, the great Jewish leader and prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt had died, Rahab spoke to the Jewish spies who came to her house, about the parting of the Red Sea as if it were a current event. (The writers impression.) She mentioned the event along with another happening, the destruction of Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites and informed the spies that the people of Jericho were afraid for their lives, as was she.

Unlike the inhabitants of the land of Jericho, Rahab's heart did not melt. Rahab had decided (because she believed the reports about Jehovah, God of the children of Israel) that since the destruction of Jericho was as certain to become an historical event as had the other two events she referenced, she could only bargain for her life and those with her, and hope that the Israelites would honor the agreement. The Jewish spies promised her protection. They agreed that when they attacked the city of Jericho, she and whoever was in her house with her their lives would be spared. This they promised because Rahab had risked her life by hiding them from the kings messengers and helped them to escape. When the Israelites captured Jericho they kept their promise to Rahab.

Indeed Rahab was afraid but her survival instinct seems to have overruled her fear. Or was it her faith? The kings messengers could have discovered her secret and what would have been her end? The Jewish spies could have just as easily broken their promise and what would have been her end? Why did she do what she did? Was it fear? Or was it faith? Faith in a God she had only heard reports of, about incidents she had not witnessed. No scriptures for her to read. No prophet to guide her. No one to teach her the difference between the gods she likely had been taught to worship versus Jehovah.

In Christian (New Testament) scriptures, Rahab is listed as one of the heroes of faith (Heb 11: 31) and commended for her example of faith (James 2: 25). Rahab was accepted as a proselyte (convert) to the Judaism and became an ancestor of King David, the beloved second monarch who ruled over the united kingdom of Israel. Though Matthew the Apostle and Saint Luke both trace the lineage of Jesus, only Matthew mentions Rahab a prostitute who became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz, the grandmother of Obed, the great grandmother of Jesse, who was the father of David, King of Israel. (Matt 1: 5, 6) 



References:

• The scriptural references provided can be used to piece together Rahab's real life story. JOSH 2: 1; 6:17, 25; MATT 1: 5; HEB 11: 31; JMS 2: 25

• "Seekers of the Promised Land." Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1974.

• Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995. 

glitter-graphics.com

glitter-graphics.com

Rahab’s Story: A Novel (Women of the Bible)

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter

Women of the Bible: Tamar - The Noble Harlot

In the History of the Jews, Tamar was a dutiful widow who played the harlot.  The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew mentions five women. One of them is Tamar.

* * *

(Image credit: Gelder, Aert de - Tamar and Judah; Public Domain)

Tamar (alternately spelled Thamar) was the wife of Er, the firstborn of Judah, who was the fourth son of Jacob. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. Jacob fathered twelve sons who became the twelve tribes which comprise the nation of Israel. Er died and according to the Law of Moses regarding marriage, a man was required to marry the widow of his brother, if the brother dies with no male heir. (Note 1) This was to be done to preserve the name and estate of the deceased. Therefore, Onan, Ers brother married Tamar. But Onan also died. 

Judah, the father-in-law had a third son, Shelah. At the time of Onans death, Shelah was too young to marry. Being fully aware of the law and its requirements, Judah promised Tamar that when Shelah was old enough, he would give her to him in marriage. But when the time came, Judah did not honor his word and obey the law. In desperation to conceive a son who would preserve her late husbands name and estate, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot (a prostitute) and offered her services to Judah. She became pregnant with twin sons. Months later, when Judah was informed of Tamars pregnancy, he demanded that she brought out publicly and put to death; the penalty for whoredom. IT WAS THE LAW!!! 

When Tamar proved that Judah, her father-in-law, was the father of her unborn, Judah publicly acknowledged his own guilt. Because he had not allowed Shelah to marry Tamar, he was the outlaw. Tamar was fully vindicated. She had obeyed the law and was judged as not having committed any act deserving of punishment; particularly punishment by death. Tamar was acknowledged as being righteous, because she was determined to preserve her late husbands family line. The names of the twin sons were Perez (or Phares) and Zerah (or Zara) recorded in the Gospel of Matthew as follows: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar (Matt 1: 3) 

Tamar understood her duty, and she also knew her rights and the rights of the dead. The scriptures do not indicate that she conspired or consulted with anyone for advice. She determined what needed to be done in order to right a wrong and had the courage to follow through. 

Note 1: Among the Hebrews marriage with a brother's widow was forbidden as a general rule (Lev. xviii. 16, xx. 21), but was regarded as obligatory (Deut. xxv. 56) when there was no male issue, and when the two brothers had been dwelling on the same family. 


References:

• The scriptural references provided can be used to piece together Tamar's real life story. GEN 38: 6, 24; RUTH 4: 12; 1 CHRON 2: 4; MATT 1: 3

• "Seekers of the Promised Land." Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1974.

• Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995. 

glitter-graphics.com

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter

Related articles

• Bible Herbs

Quotes and Notes : Women in History: Countess of Blessington

Quotes found at Thoughtful Mind that may provide a peek into this gentle lady’s true nature:

• “Prejudices are the chains forged by ignorance to keep men apart.”

• “Superstition is only the fear of belief, while religion is the confidence.”

If you like to collect quotes or short biographical notes about women throughout history in various walks of life, please add this post to your collection.

Margaret, Countess of Blessington (1789 – 1849); Artist: Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 – 1830); Wikimedia Commons

Marguerite (Power) Gardiner, Countess of Blessington was an Irish novelist.  A woman of high society, she was well known, particularly among literary circles as she had a literary salon at Gore House, Kensington.  One might think from the portrait she led a protected and cherished life, but a quick review of a few biographical facts will reveal much that can not be seen just looking at pretty face.  Deemed a woman of “rare beauty, generosity, and wit”, she wrote essays and sketches of London life.  She and the Romantic English poet, Lord Byron, appear to have been very close friends.  Her husband introduced them.  She wrote a book about their conversations.  There was at least the “appearance” of a friendship, however, some say she lived in her own world of make-believe when it came to their relationship.

To know more about the Countess here are a few suggested bio links:

• Wikipedia;
• Encyclopedia Brittanica;
• The Wallace Collection;
• HistoryToday.com;
• Famous Affinities of History.

A Journal Of The Conversations Of Lord Byron With The Countess Of Blessington (1893)

(NOTE:  Blog post first appeared at Dispensable Thoughts, Fri, 7 Mar 2014.) 

Related articles

• Top Ten Male Authors(thetoptens.com)

  ---

• Famed phrases were wrongly credited to William Shakespeare by Oxford English Dictionary(dailymail.co.uk)

  ---

Five Reasons Louisa Catherine Adams Should Make the Top First Ladies List | Yale Press Log

Introducing Louisa Catherine Adams.
No doubt the reader is thinking: Louisa WHO?? 
That's what I thought!

Anyway, sharing this post because I have a fascination with women who stand beside their man. I mean if they were so awesome why weren't they out front where everybody could see 'em??
(It's humor folks. Work with me!)

Five Reasons Louisa Catherine Adams Should Make the Top First Ladies List | Yale Press Log

Related articles

• First Ladies: Elizabeth Monroe & Louisa Catherine Adams
• First Ladies of the United States of America
• Book Review: Ladies of Liberty
• The Adams Family
• Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What Your Teachers Never Told You, by Cormac O'Brien

Interesting People: Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari was born September 12, 1966, Mashhad, Iran. Her life story could be titled: Dots on the Map from Iran to Texas to Space. She displayed both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Anousheh Ansari’s family is originally from Iran but they transplanted themselves in America after the Islamic Revolution; and guess where they chose to settle? Yup! Texas!

She had a childhood dream. Going into space.

Did she realize that dream? Yes she did!

Did she have to overcome prejudices and obstacles? Uuuhhh … hmmm?

A female, an American of Iranian descent who wanted to display both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Was she insane? NO! She was a dreamer and her dreams came true!

Anouseh Ansari’s story is your typical American success story. Or at least, all of US would like to believe that her story is “typical” because it feels good to be able to boast to others that this kind of dream realization happens only in America. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball” likes to call these kinds of typical fairy tales “American exceptionalism”.

• Books Worth Reading: “My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer” by Anousheh Ansari and Homer Hickam

I was lucky. So many didn’t get a chance to live their life to their full potential https://t.co/jJYiIcqwUD

— Anousheh Ansari (@AnoushehAnsari) September 26, 2022

Women in History : The Story of Santa Lucia

Awesome find resulting from my “one thing leads to another” Internet travels. Searching for HUBs written by fellow freelance writer and blogger, Susan Duffy on HUBPages, and clicked the link on her profile which led me to her website, Senior at Large In a Sicilian Kitchen (published at susanduffy.com).  Her writings are impressive.  And … she’s from  Australia!  Never been there.  It’s on my bucket list.  But have crossed paths online with some really cool people who live there.

Image credit:  Lucy Before the Judge By Lorenzo Lotto, 1523–32 - Self-scanned, Public Domain, Link


Have you ever heard performers sing the song "Santa Lucia"?  I have heard it performed but never knew who the woman or that she was, in fact, a real person.  Just read a horrific story about a woman who is now honored as Santa Lucia.  Her remains were finally laid to rest in Siracusa (Syracuse).  “Venice was home to her for so long that the gondoliers’ song “Santa Lucia”, originally from Naples, has become part of that city’s identity.”

Incanto Andrea Bocelli

* * *

Book Recommendation : Women in History : Razia Sultana of India (Reblog)

EXCERPT:  " ...Razia ascended the throne of Delhi at the age of 31. During her four-year reign from 1236, silver coins issued in her name bore her official title "Jalauddin" but she referred to herself as "lmadatun Niwan", which meant the Great Woman. Razia Sultana dressed like a man and rode an elephant through Delhi with her face unveiled....

Legends surrounding Razia have made her popular in Indian culture; the 1983 Urdu film Razia Sultan is a fictionalized account of her life, as is Rafiq Zakaria's novel, Razia: Queen "

Women Who Ruled: Razia Sultana of India 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

**COMMENT: If you want to learn about women in history, this is the best blog ever!! Not only is it visually attractive and appealing, but the posts - so informative, intriguing and fascinating - will never disappoint you.

Book below not mentioned at the blog post, but suggested if interested in other women like Razia, the Queen of India.  It's a picture book suggested for ages 5 and up.  I'm older than 5 which puts me in the "and up" group of readers.  Picture books are wonderful quick reads and are just like a primer on a particular topic.  They usually have great illustrations and the non-fiction books present the info like a quick summary.  It whets your appetite and if you choose to do further research, you can search for books in the Juvenile/Young Adults section of the library for a more mature advanced reading level.
 

Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World

 

Women in Science : Give Credit When Due

Celebrating Women's History Month.


There's a scripture that says we should "give credit where credit is due, and give honor to whom honor is due".  Don't know why, but it's easy to laud this principle and very difficult to apply it to real life situations. Anyway ... I don't think any of these women are bitter.  They probably consider that they were blessed to have the avenues and opportunities to use their talents and gifts for the greater good.  Women are like that.  Yeah they are!

Ever heard of any of these women? I hadn't until I came across these interesting BIO snapshots. 

* * *

- Lise Meitner, Physicist

- Émilie du Châtelet, Mathematician

- Julia Morgan, Architect

- Rosalind Franklin, Biophysicist

♦ ♦ ♦

Interesting tidbit:

• Emilie du Chatelet was named Gabrielle-Emilie; however, friends in her circle which included Voltaire {Francois-Marie Arouet (1694 - 1778), who later took the name of Voltaire} dropped Gabrielle and just called her Emilie. Her husband's name was the Marquis du Chastellet. But because Voltaire called her du Chatelet, everyone else did too!  [Click the embedded link her name above to read more.]

Gabrielle Emilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil du Chatelet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* * *

Related articles

• Women's History Month: Exploring the role of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)(blogher.com)

  ---

• Historic photos of female scientists at work(boingboing.net)

  ---

• UNESCO awards Israeli biologist prestigious prize, but neglects promised update of 2010 Science Report(timesofisrael.com)

  ---

• Women scientists shafted on research prizes - USA TODAY(content.usatoday.com)

  ---

 Lise Meitner around 1900 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rosalind Franklin used X-ray crystallography

 to help visualize the structure of DNA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Julia Morgan; localwiki.org

SPOTLIGHT ON Edith Hamilton, American Educator

"Shining a spotlight on Edith Hamilton, honorary citizen of Athens, Greece, classical scholar and American educator. ..."

Hello! Thanks for visiting this blog. This content has been republished elsewhere on the web. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the replacement link and also please come back and visit here. You're welcome!

Content moved to Medium.com

*

Follow Cmoneyspinner's HomeBiz Projects's board Legends, Myths, Fables, Folklore, Culture on Pinterest.

MAYA ANGELOU - STILL I RISE

Honoring Dr. Maya Angelou, 
American Author & Poet (1928 - 2014).  

“I speak to the black experience, but I am always talking about the human condition -- about what we can endure, dream, fail at, and still survive.” ― Maya Angelou (Quote Source)

Celebrating Ms. Angelou's contributions to literature.  She has earned her rightful place among the great poets and writers, not just in American literature, but in world literature.  He writings speak to the soul and heart of every individual and about the life of every human being, not just to the African-American experience.

Image credit: President Barack Obama presenting Maya Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom : Wikipedia; Public Domain

• Maya Angelou - her life and poetry

• Maya Angelou: The Poetry and Life of Reinvention

• Dr. Maya Angelou: BLACK IN TIME: A Moment In OUR History

Cartoon quotes from famous folks who inspire us - Presented to you by ZenPencils.com. 

Discovered this site because it showed up in the post stream via Tumblr.com. This artist has taken one of Maya Angelou's well-known poems - “Phenomenal Woman” - and presented it in comic strip format. Their artistic endeavor was … in a word … phenomenal!  ~  View the entire comic strip.

I Was Here! - Women's History Month

The lyrics to this song are so profound. Sure! Everybody loves Beyoncé! But this particular song which she did in response to an invitation by the United Nations who asked her to use her celebrity status to help people in need around the world will always be one of her songs that should be remembered.
 

Beyoncé© Knowles performing "Listen" during "The Beyoncé© Experience" in Munich, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

March is Women's History Month.

"Our History is Our Strength!"

 The National Women's History Project

 

glitter-graphics.com

Related articles

• Pictures:Miss United Nations 2014 At Briefing To Flag Off 2015 Edition