The Bible is filled with women of faith, bravery, and cunning. Here is one woman’s tale—as it might have happened . . . “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.” Judges 5:24” Like many a bride-to-be, Jael looks forward to a long, loving marriage. But when her husband, Heber, takes her home to live in the company of his other wife and concubine, Jael’s dreams begin to crumble. The women in her tent warn Jael that, to bear Heber the sons he demands, she will have to risk shame, betrayal of her vows, even possible execution. But in the darkest moment of her life, there sparks a flame: a young warrior named Levi enters her life—and Jael is presented with a life-changing decision, one that will affect the fate of all the people of Israel. Now there’s no turning back on the path that will lead her to change history—by doing the unthinkable. “Terrific biblical biographical fiction, the genesis of a new series.”—Midwest Book Review

"This book traces the retelling of the biblical story from Judges 4-5 in ancient retellings of the Bible, visual art, poems, plays, and novels. The books shows how these cultural productions of an old biblical story intersect with broader conversations about the often conflicted, and sometimes violent, relationship between women and men"--

For too long the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are "bad girls," such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored. However, the women of the Bible are complex, multidimensional individuals whose lives are inspiring, funny, and tragic in ways too many of us never hear. In this first of two volumes, Lynn Japinga acquaints us with the women of the Old Testament. From flawed heroes like Ruth and Rahab to fierce fighters like Deborah and Jael to tragic characters like Jephthah's daughter and the unnamed concubine of the book of Judges, readers will encounter a wealth of foremothers in the faith in all their messy, yet redeemable, humanity. This Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more Old Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman's story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.

How does God really feel about women? Listen to some people in church. Watch what they do. Study their attitudes. It may cause you to assume God views women as second class. Far from it. The truth is, the Bible has story after story about how fascinating women are. They're more nuanced than men, have profound insights people often overlook, and can teach wisdom that everyone needs to hear. In Women of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD., author and lifetime student of the Bible, digs deep into these Bible stories to uncover how 135 women-yes, 135 amazing women-rise above their circumstances in a society that pushes them down. He explores the women who exercised whatever influence they had-often in creative ways-and what we can learn from them. Each woman's story ends with thought-provoking questions for personal introspection or group discussion. Then, if you wish to dig deeper, explore related Bible passages. In this book, you'll discover how to ?celebrate your victories?embrace your virtue?have more compassion for our world's victims ?avoid the errors of the vicious?and be inspired to pursue a more meaningful life It's time for a change. It's time for a fresh perspective. It's time for every woman-and man-to discover powerful, life-changing truths from the Women of the Bible. Buy Women of the Bible today to spark a personal transformation.

Focus on 52 female heroes in Scripture, and you’ll discover yourself in the process. Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups is designed especially for those who want to delve more deeply, either alone or in a group, into the lives of women like Ruth, Anna, Esther, Leah, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, and other women who encountered the living God. This study edition of the bestseller, Women of the Bible, includes an introduction to each woman, major Scripture passages, study materials, and cultural backgrounds. There are 52 studies, one for each week of the year. Newly gathered study aids include helpful charts as well as a complete listing of all women of the Bible, with Scripture references. Space is included to record your thoughts and insights. Each timeless biblical story mirrors the challenges and changes today’s women face. Through understanding these women’s lives, this easy-to-use study resource will help you discover God in their stories–and yours.

"Freed from contemporary theological categories that have been informed by ideological and psychological issues, but ever mindful of the social location of gender analysis, these essays provide fresh and exciting looks at otherwise unfamiliar texts. They jar our minds and our biases.... This book is a valuable contribution to gender-oriented biblical scholarship. Its content is accessible to both the scholarly and the less technically trained reader. All will be well served by this important collection of essays."? Naomi Steinberg, DePaul University"This book is a credit to the quality and breadth of feminine biblical scholarship and presents some creative interpretations of the texts and a wealth of Ancient Near Eastern material."? J. Massyngbaerde Ford, University of Notre Dame

SHEroes of the Bible awakens girls to the reality that God can use them to radically change the world.

“This splendid reference describes every woman in Jewish and Christian scripture . . . monumental” (Library Journal). In recent decades, many biblical scholars have studied the holy text with a new focus on gender. Women in Scripture is a groundbreaking work that provides Jews, Christians, or anyone fascinated by a body of literature that has exerted a singular influence on Western civilization a thorough look at every woman and group of women mentioned in the Bible, whether named or unnamed, well known or heretofore not known at all. They are remarkably varied—from prophets to prostitutes, military heroines to musicians, deacons to dancers, widows to wet nurses, rulers to slaves. There are familiar faces, such as Eve, Judith, and Mary, seen anew with the full benefit of the most up-to-date results of biblical scholarship. But the most innovative aspect of this book is the section devoted to the many females who in the scriptures do not even have names. Combining rigorous research with engaging prose, these articles on women in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, and the New Testament will inform, delight, and challenge readers interested in the Bible, scholars and laypeople alike. Together, these collected histories create a volume that takes the study of women in the Bible to a new level.

Christianity Today 5-Star Review Publishers Weekly Review Foreword Reviews Indie Awards Finalist Gain a greater understanding of gender in the Bible through the eyes of a diverse group of evangelical scholars who assert that Christians have missed the point of some scriptural stories by assuming the women in them were "bad girls." Did the Samaritan woman really divorce five husbands in a world where women rarely divorced even one? Did Bathsheba seduce King David by bathing in the nude? Was Mary Magdalene really a reformed prostitute? While many have written studies of the women in the Bible, this is a new kind of book--one in which an international team of male and female scholars look afresh at vilified and neglected women in the Bible. The result is a new glimpse into God's heart for anyone, male or female, who has limited social power.