Chuldah the Prophetess: A Voice of Truth in Ancient Jerusalem

A Rare Female Prophet in a Pivotal Era

Chuldah was one of only seven women in Jewish tradition who served as prophets. This group includes Sarah, Miriam, Devorah, Chanah, Avigayil, Esther, and Chuldah (Megillah 14a). Her spiritual greatness is further affirmed in Midrash Tadshe (chapter 21), which lists her among 23 righteous and saintly women in Jewish history.

Chuldah lived and prophesied during the time of the First Temple in Jerusalem, in the days of King Yoshiyahu, one of the last righteous kings of Yehudah. Her name appears only twice in the text, once in Melachim II and once in Divrei HaYamim II, though she is mentioned a few more times in the Talmud.

A Prophetic Gift Rooted in Kindness

According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 33), Chuldah merited the gift of prophecy on account of her husband, Shallum ben Tikvah. Shallum was known for his acts of kindness and generosity. He would fill a jug with water and sit at the city gate, offering water to weary travelers and reviving their spirits. The Midrash teaches: “Because of the righteous deeds that Shallum performed, the Divine spirit rested upon his wife.”

This act of quiet kindness, an expression of hospitality and compassion, laid the spiritual foundation for Chuldah’s prophetic mission.

Confronting a Nation’s Sin with Courage

Chuldah’s most famous moment comes during a national crisis. In Melachim II, King Yoshiyahu initiates repairs to the Temple and, in the process, a long-lost orah scroll is discovered. When Shafan the scribe reads its ominous warnings aloud to the king, Yoshiyahu tears his garments in distress and urgently seeks Divine guidance. He sends a delegation to Chuldah the prophetess.

Chuldah receives the royal emissaries and delivers a powerful message: the words of the scroll are true. Disaster will befall the people of Israel because they abandoned God and served foreign entities. However, she adds vital reassurance: the punishment will not come in Yoshiyahu’s lifetime. Her words are recorded in full:

“Thus said God: I am bringing calamity upon this place and upon its inhabitants… because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods… But to the king of Yehudah… Because your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before God… I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace; your eyes will not see all the misfortune that I am bringing upon this place” (Melachim II 22:16–20).

Chuldah’s words had a profound impact. King Yoshiyahu gathered the people and publicly read the Torah. He made a covenant to follow God and rid the land of idolatry.

Final Resting Place

According to Masechet Semachot, Chuldah and the kings of the House of David were buried within the walls of Jerusalem. Today, a site traditionally associated with Chuldah’s grave is located on the Mount of Olives.

Chuldah’s legacy lives on as a woman of moral clarity, courage, and spiritual strength whose voice helped guide a nation back to its core mission.