Two Women/Two Covenants

Galatians 4:24-26 NASB
This is allegorically speaking:

Paul is telling us what's coming next--an allegory. Paul doesn't use many allegories in his letters. This is the only one in Galatians.

So, what's an allegory? A simple definition is that it's an extended metaphor? From English class you might remember that a metaphor is a comparison between two things where you don't use "like" or "as" in the comparison. "God is a rock" would be a metaphor. The writer would be comparing qualities of God to the qualities of a rock. The writer doesn't want you literally thinking that God is actually a rock, otherwise you might start worshiping stone idols! Since an allegory is an extended metaphor, that means that you will find more than one metaphor in it.

As you read Paul's allegory, be thinking: what are the metaphors? We'll discuss these metaphors in a future blog.

This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalmen, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

Who are the two women? One is named by Paul in this allegory; the other is mentioned, but not named. From what you previously read, who would she be?

What metaphors can you find? Why do you think Paul is making these comparisons?