Warrior women: What does the Bible say?

David Instone-Brewer explores what scripture teaches about women in wartime

One of the fiercest warrior-leaders in history, who stopped a huge Roman army invading her land and lost an eye doing so, was Amanirenas, the Kandake (ie queen) of the Ethiopians. 

There’s a queen of the Ethiopians mentioned in the New Testament too. Acts 8:27 tells us that Philip was instrumental in converting an “Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake.” This verse is referencing Amanirenas’ daughter, Amanishakheto. She was certainly rich – some of her crown jewels are today on display in German museums.