All the Women of the Bible
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Have you ever asked yourself these questions in relation to biblical women? Many times we recognize their names - Naomi, Ruth, Sara, Delilah, Jezebel, to name a few - but we can't quite recall their story. And the thought of trying to pinpoint one name out of the many in the Bible, with not a clue where to look, well, it can be quite daunting. All the Women of the Bible can answer all of your questions with the simple turn of a page. It is not only comprehensive and in-depth, but also easy to follow and truly entertaining. All the Women of the Bible is divided into two sections: "The Book of Names" and "The Book of Stories." "The Book of Names" opens the book and contains over 400 entries. It is a biographical dictionary and thesaurus of sorts, listing each woman - whether named, unnamed, or allegorical - along with a short description of her life, alternate spellings, biblical citations where her story can be found and cross references to other dictionary entries. It also points out related entries in the "Book of Stories." This single, alphabetical dictionary is well researched, easy to follow, and overflowing with answers to your each and every question. "The Book of Stories" makes up the second half of the book and takes quite a different tone than that of the dictionary. Here, retold in rich detail, are the stories of fifty-six very important women - women whose lives were changed by crisis and challenge; women who learned, shared, or shunned faith in the Lord. Many of these stories, when read in the Bible, provide only a bare-bones structure that leaves the reader wondering about the woman's character and choices. What prompted her actions? How heavy was the influence of her culture? In "The Book of Stories," the women are fleshed out and given words and thoughts and ideas to share with the reader. Their stories are true to the original texts, but are infused with life and emotion. They are written in such a way to not only retell the story, but to humanize their characters and provide a basis for moral instruction. And the entertainment - let's not forget that! You can shout with joy as Elizabeth is granted her longed for child, weep with sorrow as Eve remembers the death of Abel, feel the bond of kinship when Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, and experience the piercing sword of revenge as Salome dances for the head of John the Baptizer. They're all here, all real women and all willing to pay whatever price asked to gain their heart's desire. Their struggles, successes and failures still resonate within us today.
Introduction9The Book of Names19The Book of Stories145Abigail and the Sudden Smile147Anna and the Homecoming150Athaliah and the Almost-Perfect Plan154Bathsheba and the Rising of the Spring157Deborah and the Cautious Commander162Delilah and the Deadly Lure167Dinah and the Impetuous Brothers175Elizabeth and the Longed-for Child180The Ephraimite Levite's Concubine and the Price of Honor184Esther and the Balance of Power192Eve and the Charms of the Plausible Stranger199Eve and the First Fruits207Hagar and the Impatient Wife216Hannah and the Excellent Bargain220Herodias and the Inconvenient Prophet223Jael and the Desperate General226Jehosheba and the Vanishing King230Jephthah's Daughter and the Cost of Victory236Jezebel and the Stubborn Prophet239Judith and the Edge of the Blade247Lot's Daughters and the Wasted Life255Mahlah and the Challenged Inheritance259Manoah's Wife and the Wonder-Son265Martha and the War for Order268Mary and the Costly Nard271Mary and the Mothering of God275Mary and the Quiet Time Between282Mary and the Sword of Sorrow294Mary Magdalene and the Questing Heart307Michal and the Dancing King312Miriam and the Younger Brothers316The Patriot Woman of Thebez and the Grasping General320Potiphar's Wife and the Respectful Slave322Puah, Shiphrah and the Thwarting of the Pharaoh325Rachel, Leah and the Duping of the Bridegroom328Rahab and the Scarlet Cord334Rebekah and the Camels of Courtship338Rebekah and the Golden Opportunity344Rhoda and the Knock at the Door352Rizpah and the Bones355Ruth and the Unexpected Gleaning359Salome and the Silken Snare363The Samaritan Woman and the Meeting at the Well368Samson's Wife and the Coils of Betrayal371Sapphira and the Better Bargain374Sarah and the Bridal-Night Demon377Sarah and the End of Patience381The Shunammite Mother and the Promise Kept387The Sidonian Widow and the Last Meal-Cake390Susanna and the Weighty Word393Tabitha and the Other Side of the Journey397Tamar and the Long Way Around402Tamar and the Broken Bread405The Wise Woman from Abel and the Obvious Solution408The Woman and the Shattered Jar411The Woman and the Stone Unthrown417Bibliography421
