Sitting at the feet.

[visionary]

I recently read an article called The Role of Woman in the Church by Frank Daniels. It can be found at

www.churchhistory.net/articles/women.html

This author makes a statement that immediately rang true to me, although I was blind to it up to that moment. The author states: "In Lk 10:38-42, Mary is described as "sitting at Jesus' feet", an expression used for "studying under" someone."

I’ve always seen this as a very literal explanation of where Mary was sitting with unspoken ramifications such as her love and adoration of him. But the phrase “sitting at the feet of” is apparently a Hebraism for “studying under.”

Is it right to think that in Mary and Martha's story where Mary is found "sitting at the feet of Jesus" communicates that she was studying under him (rather than merely where she physically placed herself in the room)?

[visionary]

From the entry on The Talmid Hakam (wise student) in the Jewish Encyclopedia:

The principles in accordance with which the talmid Hakam must live are enumerated in the first chapter of Derek Eretz Zuta, opening with the following sentence: "The way of the wise is to be modest, humble, alert, and intelligent; to endure injustice; to make himself beloved of men; to be gracious in his intercourse even with subordinates; to avoid wrong-doing; to judge each man according to his deeds; to act according to the motto 'I take no pleasure in the good things of this world, seeing that life here below is not my portion.' Wrapped in his mantle, he sits at the feet of the wise; no one can detect anything unseemly in him; he puts pertinent questions, and gives suitable answers."

[A_Pioneer]

I recently read an article called The Role of Woman in the Church by Frank Daniels. It can be found at

www.churchhistory.net/articles/women.html (http://www.churchhistory.net/articles/women.html)

This author makes a statement that immediately rang true to me, although I was blind to it up to that moment. The author states: "In Lk 10:38-42, Mary is described as "sitting at Jesus' feet", an expression used for "studying under" someone (see Swidler)."

I’ve always seen this as a very literal explanation of where Mary was sitting with unspoken ramifications such as her love and adoration of him. But the phrase “sitting at the feet of” is apparently a Hebraism for “studying under.”

Is it right to think that in Mary and Martha's story where Mary is found "sitting at the feet of Jesus" communicates that she was studying under him (rather than merely where she physically placed herself in the room)?That rendering is consistant with Sha'ul at the feet of Gammallel! and since you would not have a KJV under your arm, taking note of every word Yeshua spoke, would have been a form of study. So I have no doubt this is refering to her learning from the Rabbi Yeshua.

Shalom

[visionary]

What struck me, was the ramifications of the thought.... because as far as I understood women did not go to school, it was the education for men... and for Mary to be a student rathering than the adoring girl, gives a whole new dimension to the picture and why Martha was so animate.

[A_Pioneer]

What struck me, was the ramifications of the thought.... because as far as I understood women did not go to school, it was the education for men... and for Mary to be a student rathering than the adoring girl, gives a whole new dimension to the picture and why Martha was so animate.
My friend Sam Peak who has space on Universal Torah Network, speaks about the reverence toward women by Jews, not the warmed over Christian view that is read into Sha'uls writings.

Male chauvinist pigs can be found everywhere, but are most likely to be Pauline Christian.

All my training was from women, until I went to the Army. Most of it was good, I wish I had developed a little wisdom to accept the 'unconditional love' of a woman.
'Most' men do not posess this attribute. :sigh:

Shalom