The woman who at first mocked Jesus for not even having a bucket as he proclaimed to her the value of living water (John 4.11), left her own water jar to tell others of the waters of life (4.28).
Category Archives: Women in the Bible
Subverting Commands and Expectations: Racism and Womanhood in Ruth 3
Antiquity was super racist. Or, as I’ve talked about before, antiquity was super “proto-racist.” Geography was destiny and where you were from told everyone everything they wanted to know about who you were and what your character was like. As horrible as that is—and let’s be clear, whether we want to call this proto-racism, racism,Continue reading “Subverting Commands and Expectations: Racism and Womanhood in Ruth 3”
Dismembering the Body, Disbanding the People: Judges 1
Every other Fall at Florida College, I get the chance to teach a one-credit hour class covering Judges and Ruth. It’s a blast. It’s usually populated with Juniors and Seniors, most of whom I’ve had for other (sometimes numerous other) courses, so I know most of them and they know me. Because it’s a one-hourContinue reading “Dismembering the Body, Disbanding the People: Judges 1”
Ruth the Moabitess: Proto-Racism, Literary Criticism, and Ruth 3
Antiquity was super racist. Well, that’s not quitetrue. To use the term that Benjamin H. Isaac uses in The Invention of Racism in Classical Antiquity (2004), antiquity was super “proto-racist.” Peoples in antiquity always had very strong perception of what other peoples were like. Isaac illustrates this through the Roman views of others: the EasternContinue reading “Ruth the Moabitess: Proto-Racism, Literary Criticism, and Ruth 3”
Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 2
Genesis 19 is one of the most famous episodes (involving minor characters!) in the Old Testament for numerous reasons. Well, the first half of the text is. The second half of the text tends to get skipped over in most children’s bible class curricula! We talked last time about the first half of Genesis 19,Continue reading “Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 2”
Justice: Daughters, Inheritances, and Changing Laws
When we treat a text as two-dimensional we read it as a flat text. One of the greatest dangers in studying the Scriptures, but perhaps especially the Law of Moses, is that we tend to read it like a flat text. (I think we’ll understand better what this means by the end of the blog,Continue reading “Justice: Daughters, Inheritances, and Changing Laws”
Rape in the Ancient World (Slaves)
Genesis 37 is one of the most famous texts in the Hebrew Bible. In this narrative we read that Joseph—having been sold as a slave to the Egyptians due to jealousy by his brothers—is very beautiful. Beautiful enough that his master’s wife lusted after him and wanted to sate his lust. Repeatedly she commands, “LieContinue reading “Rape in the Ancient World (Slaves)”
The Bible and Rape
2 Samuel 13 is one of the most disturbing and tragic texts in the Bible. In this text we read that King David’s daughter, Tamar, was very beautiful. Beautiful enough that her half-brother Amnon lusted after her and wanted to sate his lust, but he couldn’t because it wasn’t lawful. After fixating on it forContinue reading “The Bible and Rape”
Ben Neviim 