So far, we have looked at two unnamed women in the Bible—Lot’s wife and the woman who was bent over. In the next two blogs, we will explore a woman who had an ongoing issue of blood, better known as “the woman who touched the hem of his garment”.

You know me, though we don’t know her name, let’s call her Shulah. Perhaps her story began like many young girls nine years of age.

Shulah had two older sisters. Much to her father’s chagrin, no brothers had come along. Shulah’s older sister Abby, didn’t play with her much anymore. Abby was busy with housework and had her eye on the young fellow across the stream.

However, sister Miriam, just a year older, was her best buddy. They always played and giggled together, ran errands together, and learned to work in the garden side by side. But last year, Miriam began to have her “monthly” like Abby. They tried to be discreet about it, but Shulah saw them going to the stream to wash the blood out of the rags. The rags always remain stained. The whole thing just seemed terrible!

Miriam had to stay in the room attached to the back of their house for the week just like older sister Abby always did.

Shulah pouted as she said to herself. To make things worse, now Miriam seems to pay more attention to Abby than me. Shulah finally decided that, bad as it was, she couldn’t wait to have her period, too. Then, maybe they will include me, she thought nodding her head in defiance.

Months later, the magical day came. She become a woman! Well, maybe ten years old wasn’t quite a woman, but at least she would fit in now. Both sisters gathered around her to advise. At last, she was included.

Her flow had subsided after several days. Thankfully, that was over and now she was one with them in sisterhood.

But two days later, the flow began again. Miriam told her, “You probably just didn’t finish with the first time.” But seven days later, when she still had flow, Shulah saw the sisters whispering. Shulah felt like she had done something wrong.

When the flow contiued for another seven days, they decided it was time to talk to their mother. Shulah’s mother tried to ease her anxiety about it, but Shulah could tell that her mother was also worried about her condition. When another week passed, Shulah felt weak.

Her father noticed her fraility. When he found out that this had gone on for a month, he decided she needed a separate room away from the house. “She must not stay in this house or sit down with us.” He quickly began building a small room near the garden. Eventually, Shulah was relegated there for the days ahead.

More next time. Meanwhile, you might find a passage in Leviticus helpful in understanding her father’s haste. (Leviticus 15:19-27)

~ Joyce ~