Good Girls, Bad Girls The Enduring Lessons of Twelve Women of the Old Testament

by Wray, T. J.

• ISBN13: 9780742562523
• ISBN10: 0742562522
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-12
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

The few popular Bible stories about women are often presented in black and white-the women were good or bad, Ruth or Jezebel. But most of us fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Good Girls, Bad Girls invites readers to take a more nuanced look at 12 women in the Old Testament, to explore their lives more deeply in historical context, and to grasp what these stories might mean to women today. T. J. Wray, a biblical scholar, asks readers to consider whether Jezebel was really as bad as generally believed, and includes women ranging from the infamous Delilah to the mysterious Witch of Endor. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, Good Girls, Bad Girls will appeal to both individual readers and groups interested in learning what the Bible really has to say about these twelve important women.

Author Biography

T.J. Wray is associate professor of religious studies at Salve Regina University. She is the author of several books, including What the Bible Really Tells Us and Surviving the Death of a Sibling.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Life for Women during Biblical Times	p. 7
Liars, Lawbreakers, and Lovers
A Woman with a Plan: Rebekah: Lover and Liar	p. 27
The Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Rahab: Lover, Liar and Lawbreaker	p. 43
Tricks or Tryst?: Delilah: Lover	p. 55
The Girls Next Door: Ruth: Lover	p. 67
Not a Chost of a Chance: The Witch of Endor: Lawbreaker	p. 79
The Menace Beneath the Mascara: Jezebel: Liar and Lawbreaker	p. 89
Victims, Volunteers, and Vindicators
Baby, You Owe Me: The Widow Tamar: Victim and Vindicator	p. 101
Big Sister Is Watching: Miriam: Volunteer	p. 113
No Man's Lamb: Bathsheba: Victim and Vindicator	p. 125
One Sick Brother: Tamar, Sister of Absalom: Victim	p. 137
A Womb with a View: The Shunammite Woman: Volunteer	p. 149
Dirty Old Men: Susanna: Victim	p. 161
Concluding Thoughts	p. 171
Resources	p. 185
Recommended Reading	p. 189
Index	p. 191
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