Mothers of Promise: Women in the Book of Genesis - Softcover

Schneider, Tammi J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080102949X ISBN 13: 9780801029493

Publisher: Baker Academic, 2008

Synopsis

Eve, Noah's wife, Sarah, Tamar, Asenath, and others played a critical role in shaping the nation and faith of Israel. But we need to look closely at their stories to fully understand their impact. Respected Hebrew scholar and archaeologist Tammi Schneider takes us into the biblical account by carefully reading the stories of all the women in Genesis and illuminating the text with cultural background and archaeological insights. Her careful and creative approach challenges traditional ways of seeing these women and gives a fresh perspective on familiar stories. The result is a readable, thoughtful, and biblically grounded look at the roles and functions of Genesis women and a solid resource for studies of Genesis, women in the Bible, and women's issues.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The women in Genesis played a vital part in shaping Israel's foundation, growth, and development, but most exegetes have not given the women adequate attention--until now. Through a fresh, close reading, respected Hebrew scholar Tammi Schneider examines the roles and functions of these women who, with the men, form the basis for the future of Israel.

Schneider looks at each woman's story from various angles and within the context of her relationships and the message of Genesis as a whole. Allowing the details of the text to challenge traditional readings, Schneider also includes ancient Near Eastern background material and archaeological insights for a fresh reading of familiar stories. The result is a creative and reliable discussion to supplement studies of Genesis and the roles and importance of women in the Bible.

"You might be tempted to think that over the past couple of decades everything that could be said about the women in Genesis has been said. Tammi Schneider shows that this is not so, bringing a whole new set of questions and making it possible for us to see some quite new things."--John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary

"With remarkable clarity, precise detail, lucid thought, comprehensive research, and careful attention to text and translation, Tammi Schneider offers scholars and students a marvelous and intriguing volume that brings to life the women of Genesis. This beautifully crafted text raises new questions and presents new insights, especially with regard to the male characters in Genesis. Schneider's work makes a brilliant contribution to the field of biblical and gender studies."--Carol J. Dempsey, associate professor of theology, University of Portland

"Tammi Schneider has marshaled impressive amounts of raw data to re-examine two dozen female characters in the book of Genesis. Using an innovative method that focuses primary attention on the precise wording of each woman's appearance(s) in Genesis, Schneider investigates each character with both passion and rigor. Readers who have grown too complacent in their putative understandings of these literary figures will find fresh breezes rustling every page of this study."--R. Christopher Heard, associate professor of religion, Pepperdine University

About the Author

Tammi J. Schneider (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania) is professor of religion at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. She is the author of Sarah: Mother of Nations and a commentary on Judges in the Berit Olam series.

Edition details

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 080102949X
• ISBN 13: 9780801029493
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240