| Description |
1 online resource (xvii, 276 pages) |
| Series |
Library of Second Temple studies ; 96 |
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Library of Second Temple studies ; 96.
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| Summary |
"Katie J. Woolstenhulme considers the pertinent question: Who were 'the matriarchs', and what did the rabbis think about them? Whilst scholarship on the role of women in the Bible and rabbinic Judaism has greatly increased, the authoritative group of women known as 'the matriarchs' has been neglected. This volume consequently focuses on the role and status of the biblical matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah, the fifth century CE rabbinic Jewish commentary on Genesis. Woolstenhulme begins by exploring definitions in Genesis Rabbah, such as the nature of midrash, the nature of the term 'matriarchs', the development of the term throughout early exegetical literature, and the two definitions that have emerged - the legitimate wives of Israel's patriarchs, and a reference to Jacob's four wives, who bore Israel's tribal ancestors. She then moves to discuss 'the matriarchal cycle' in Genesis Rabbah, and its three stages: barrenness; motherhood; and succession. Finally Woolstenhulme considers Genesis Rabbah's portrayal of the matriarchs as representatives of the female sex, exploring the positive and negative rabbinic attitudes towards women such as piety, prayer, praise, beauty and sexuality, and how the matriarchs occasionally exemplify stereotypical, negative female traits. This volume concludes that for the ancient rabbis, the matriarchs were the historical mothers of Israel, bearing covenant sons, but also the present mothers of Israel, continuing to influence Jewish identity"-- Provided by publisher |
| Notes |
Revised version of the author's doctoral dissertation submitted to Durham University, Durham, England, 2017 |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and indexes |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on May 25, 2021) |
| SUBJECT |
Midrash rabbah. Genesis -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
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Bible. Genesis -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
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Bible. Genesis fast |
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Midrash rabbah. Genesis fast |
| Subject |
Women in rabbinical literature.
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Matriarchs (Bible)
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Women in the Bible.
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Matriarchs (Bible)
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Women in rabbinical literature
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Women in the Bible
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| Genre/Form |
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| LC no. |
2020033870 |
| ISBN |
9780567695765 |
|
056769576X |
|
9780567695741 |
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0567695743 |
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9780567695758 |
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0567695751 |
|
