Is there any evidence to indicate an instance where G-d speaks directly to women in the Torah?

This is an interesting question, because it made me aware of something I had not previously thought of—namely, that there is no verse which explicitly says, “And G-d spoke to so and so” where He directly addresses a woman. However, there are many verses which indirectly speak of such communication, and Jewish tradition states that many women were prophets, which by definition means that they received communications from G-d.

Certainly there are many prophecies in which women are the subject. For example, G-d tells Avraham that he will have a son FROM SARAH and that only SARAH’s son will be his heir in founding the Jewish people (not his son from another wife). Also when Sarah sees that Ishmael is behaving improperly and endangering her son’s life, she wants Avraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away and Hashem tells Avraham “Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her.” Our Sages state that indeed Sarah had a higher level of prophecy than Avraham.

Another case in which G-d speaks directly about women is when the daughters of Zelaphchad request the right to inherit land in Eretz Yisrael (Israel), since their father had no sons, and Hashem tells Moshe, “Yes, the daughters of Zelaphchad speak correctly.”

Other women who come to mind are:

1. Miriam, who led the women in dancing while Moshe led the men in dancing after crossing the Red Sea. Her Song of the Sea was prophetically inspired as was Moshe’s.

2. Devorah the Judge who sang a prophetically inspired song of thanks after leading her people to victory against a terrifying foe.

3. Chana (Hannah) who wept and prayed for a son and whose prayers were answered by G-d, with the birth of a son who grew up to be the great prophet Samuel.

Toby Katz