Huldah-One of the most important prophets you never heard of TB Pesakhim 9

To appreciate Rava's play on words we have to begin with the Mishnah on the top of today's daf TB Pesakhim 9. Because of the prohibition of hametz is so severe, one might be mistakenly caught in a never ending loop of searching for the hametz. Consequently the Mishnah teaches,“After conducting the search, one need not be concerned that perhaps a marten (חוּלְדָּה) dragged leaven from house to house, or from place to place, placing leaven in a house that was already searched...” (Sefaria.org translation) A marten is in the weasel family and is larger than a common weasel.

“The Gemara proceeds to analyze a more fundamental aspect of the mishna: And do we say that one need not be concerned that perhaps a marten dragged the leaven? But isn’t it taught in the last clause, in the next mishna: With regard to the leaven that one leaves after the search, he should place it in a concealed location, so that it will not require searching after it. Apparently, there is concern lest a marten take some of the remaining leaven.

“Abaye said: This is not difficult; this ruling is referring to the fourteenth of Nisan, whereas that ruling is referring to the thirteenth. The Gemara elaborates: On the thirteenth of Nisan, when bread is still found in every house, the marten does not conceal the leaven, and therefore there is no concern that perhaps the marten dragged the leaven elsewhere and concealed it. However, on the fourteenth of Nisan, when bread is not found in any of the houses, the marten hides the leaven.

“Rava said in surprise: And is the marten a prophetess that knows that now is the fourteenth of Nisan and no one will bake until the evening, and it leaves over bread and conceals it in its hole? Rather, Rava rejected Abaye’s answer and said: With regard to the leaven that one leaves after the search, he should place it in a concealed location, lest a marten take it before us and it will require searching after it. Only if one actually sees the marten take the leaven, is he required to search after it.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rava makes fun of Abaye's answer by asking is the Huldah (חוּלְדָּה), marten, a prophetess? And the answer is yes she is! If it wasn't for Huldah the prophetess, the book of Deuteronomy would never have rounded out the Torah as we know it today.

The Temple was in need of repairs so King Josiah ordered the priest to hire the workmen and oversee the restoration project. While repairing the Temple the scroll of Deuteronomy was found and the King wanted to know whether it was authentic or not. If it was authentic then the Israelites had not been observing God's laws correctly. The priests sought out Huldah a prophetess living in Jerusalem. She verified that the scroll was indeed the word of the Lord.

On her orders King Josiah removed every vestige of idolatry both inside the holy Temple in Jerusalem and everywhere in the countryside. He celebrated Passover correctly for the first time since the period of the Judges. To read the entire story follow this link to II Kings 22-23: https://www.sefaria.org/II_Kings.22?lang=bi

Huldah is one of the seven prophetesses listed in TB massekhet Megillah. They are: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther.