Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook: Unit: Bible Women

Showing posts with label Unit: Bible Women. Show all posts

Myth-Folklore Unit: Bible Women

Overview. This unit focuses on the stories of Bible women in both the Hebrew Bible and also in the Christian New Testament. The first cycle of stories is about women associated with the Jewish patriarchs of the Book of Genesis: Adam and Eve; Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar; Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah; and also Joseph and Potiphar's wife. The next series of stories is about remarkable women from later books of the Hebrew Bible: Jephthah's daughter, Delilah, Hannah (mother of Samuel), the witch of Endor, Bathsheba, and Esther. I've also included the famous story of Susanna as told in the apocryphal chapters of the Book of Daniel. Then, the final stories come from the New Testament Gospels, with accounts of Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Herodias, Martha, and her sister Mary. Some of these stories are very well known, others less so, but when taken all together they show you the great range of roles that women play in the Bible's stories.

Language. The stories here come from the King James Version of the Bible. So, if you find the King James Bible hard to read, this is not a good unit to pick. Because the stories of these women are often scattered in pieces throughout a given chapter of the Bible which I have pulled together in a continuous narrative here, it would not be easy to follow along using a different translation.

Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Bible Women. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page.

Notes. This unit has notes from me on each page, but please feel free to ask questions, too! You can leave comments here just like at any other blog. You can also rate each page with the star ratings checkbox at the bottom of each post. Your feedback and questions are much appreciated!

Connecting Units. If you are interested in Bible topics, I strongly recommend the Folklore of the Holy Land unit coming up in the Middle East module, which features Jewish, Christian and Islamic folklore, centered on the city of Jerusalem.

Read More. In this unit, you read only about a few of the many women whose stories are found in the Bible. If you want to read more, here is a very long list of Bible women, with links to the Wikipedia articles about them, which in turn provide Bible citations and other references. It's a great topic to explore!

Free audiobook available!

READING A

READING B

(Rebecca at the Well, by Murillo)

Bible Women: Eve

You are probably familiar with the story of Eve, and for that reason I would urge you to read this story out loud, slowly, so that you can see just what the Bible tells us about the story, and also what it does not tell us. See if there are things here you had never noticed or thought about before!

For more about Eve, see the detailed article in Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 2 and Genesis 3 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Garden of Eden, by Lucas Cranach)

Eve

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

And the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

(Creation of Eve, by Michelangelo)

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, "Yea, hath God said, 'Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

And the woman said unto the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.'"

And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

(Adam, Eve, and the Serpent)

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, "Where art thou?"

And he said, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

And he said, "Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?"

And the man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."

And the LORD God said unto the woman, "What is this that thou hast done?"

And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, "Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Unto the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

And unto Adam he said, "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, 'Thou shalt not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Next: Sarah

(1000 words)

Bible Women: Sarah

While the story of Eve was probably familiar to you in detail, the story of Sarah might be less familiar. There is actually much more to Sarah's story than the incidents included below which focus on the birth of her son Isaac late in life. For more about Sarah's younger life, see the article in Wikipedia. You will also find out more about Sarah in the story of her servant Hagar which you will read next.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 18 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

Sarah

(Abraham and Sarah at Mamre)

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant."

And they said, "So do, as thou hast said."

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth."

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

And they said unto him, "Where is Sarah thy wife?"

And he said, "Behold, in the tent."

And he said, "I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son."

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

And the LORD said unto Abraham, "Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?' Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Then Sarah denied, saying, "I laughed not;" for she was afraid.

And he said, "Nay; but thou didst laugh."

(Abraham, Sarah, and the Angel, by Jan Provoost)

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

And Sarah said, "God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me."

And she said, "Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age."

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

Next: Hagar

(500 words)

Bible Women: Hagar

In the previous story, you read about how Sarah gave birth to Abraham's son Isaac when she and Abraham were already very old. Prior to that event, she had urged Abraham to conceive a child by her own handmaid, the Egyptian woman Hagar. In the story below, you will read about that incident (which is prior in time to the story you just read), and then you will see what happened to Hagar and her son after Isaac's birth.

For more about Hagar, see the article in Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 16 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Abraham and Hagar, by Guercino)

Hagar

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

And Sarai said unto Abram, "Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her."

And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

And Sarai said unto Abram, "My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee."

But Abram said unto Sarai, "Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee."

And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

And he said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?"

And she said, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai."

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude."

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

(Hagar and the Angel, by Montelatici)

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, "Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"

Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

[Later, Sarah gives birth to Isaac; see previous story.]

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

And God said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, "Let me not see the death of the child."

And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

(Hagar in the Wilderness, by Tiepolo)

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, "What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation."

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Next: Rebekah

(Hagar and Ishmael, by Jean-Charles Cazin)

(800 words)

Bible Women: Rebekah

As this story begins, the aged Abraham has sent a servant away to find a wife for his son Isaac, whose birth you read about in the preceding two stories. At the end of this story, you will meet Rebecca's twin sons Jacob and Esau; you will hear more about Jacob in the next story, and you will also see her brother Laban appear in that story also.

There is more to Rebecca's story than just the portion I have included here; you can find out more in the article in Wikipedia, and you can also read Genesis 26 and Genesis 27 for more details.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 24 and Genesis 25 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Rebecca at the Well, by Cabanel)

Rebekah

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

And he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, 'Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink;' and she shall say, 'Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also,' let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master."

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher."

And she said, "Drink, my lord," and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking." And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; And said, "Whose daughter art thou? Tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?"

And she said unto him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor." She said moreover unto him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."

And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "Thus spake the man unto me;" that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

And he said, "Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."

(Rebecca at the Well, by Murillo)

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?"

And she said, "I will go."

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, "Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them."

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

For she had said unto the servant, "What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?"

And the servant had said, "It is my master;" therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

(19th-century Bible illustration)

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it be so, why am I thus?" And she went to inquire of the LORD.

And the LORD said unto her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Next: Rachel

(Rebecca, stained glass window in Jersey)

(1100 words)

Bible Women: Rachel

This story is about the quest of Jacob, the son of Rebecca and Sarah, to find a wife of his own. His father Isaac had told him not to a take wife "of the daughters of Canaan," but instead sent him to Bethuel, to the house of his mother's brother Laban (whom you met briefly in the previous story), in order to seek a wife among the daughters of Laban. This story ends with the marriage of Jacob to Rachel, but in the process he has also acquired Leah as his first wife; you will read more about Leah in the next story.

Jacob is one of the most important characters among the patriarchs of the Hebrew Bible; you can read more about him in the article at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 29 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Jacob and Rachel at the Well, by Tissot)

Rachel

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

And Jacob said unto them, "My brethren, whence be ye?"

And they said, "Of Haran are we."

And he said unto them, "Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?"

And they said, "We know him."

And he said unto them, "Is he well?"

And they said, "He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep."

And he said, "Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them."

And they said, "We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep."

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house.

And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, "Surely thou art my bone and my flesh." And he abode with him the space of a month.

And Laban said unto Jacob, "Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?"

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."

And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me."

(Jacob and Laban, 19th-century Bible illustration)

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

And Jacob said unto Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her."

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, "What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?"

And Laban said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Next: Leah

(Jacob and Rachel, by Ephraim Moshe Lilien)

(700 words)

Bible Women: Leah

In the previous story, you read about how Jacob married two of the daughters of Laban: Leah and Rachel, and you also briefly met their handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah (recall how Hagar was the handmaiden of Sarah). Now you will learn about how the sons of Jacob were born through his relations with these four different women.

Meanwhile, for more about Leah, see the article at Wikipedia.

Note the reference to the mandrake roots here as a fertility charm. The mandrake is a plant that is rich in folkloric associations; you can read more about mandrakes at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 29 and Genesis 30 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO], and Genesis 35 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

Leah and Rachel

(Leah, by Michelangelo)

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, "Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me."

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, "Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons." Therefore was his name called Levi.

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, "Now will I praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die."

And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, "Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?"

And she said, "Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees that I may also have children by her." And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

And Rachel said, "God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." Therefore called she his name Dan.

And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, "With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed." And she called his name Naphtali.

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, "A troop cometh." And she called his name Gad.

And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed." And she called his name Asher.

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah.

Then Rachel said to Leah, "Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes."

And she said unto her, "Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also?"

And Rachel said, "Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes."

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, "Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes." And he lay with her that night.

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, "God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband." And she called his name Issachar.

And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, "God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons." And she called his name Zebulun.

And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, "God hath taken away my reproach." And she called his name Joseph; and said, "The LORD shall add to me another son."

[Eventually, Jacob takes his family and leaves Laban's land.]

(Jacob's Flight, by von Carolsfeld)

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, "Fear not; thou shalt have this son also."

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

Next: Potiphar's Wife

(Rachel's Tomb)

(700 words)

Bible Women: Potiphar's Wife

Now you will move on to an episode in the life of Joseph, Rachel's first-born son. The adventures of Joseph in Egypt are one of the most memorable story cycles in the Book of Genesis; you can read more about Joseph at Wikipedia. The story ends here with Joseph in prison; you can find out what happens next in Genesis 40.

As the story below begins, Joseph has been sold into Egypt as a slave by his jealous brothers, the sons of Leah. He is in the service of an Egyptian named Potiphar, and the woman in the story is known in the Bible only as the wife of Potiphar; we do not know her given name. In later storytelling traditions, though, she does have a name: Zuleikha. Storytellers were understandably fascinated by this woman and, especially in the Islamic tradition, they developed her story in much greater detail. You can read more about the legend of Joseph and Zuleikha at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Genesis 39 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

Potiphar's Wife

(Potiphar's Wife, by Orazio Gentileschi)

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat.

And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me."

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, "Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

And she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

(Joseph and Potiphar's wife, by Guido Reni)

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, "See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out."

And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out."

And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, "After this manner did thy servant to me," that his wrath was kindled.

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Next: Jephthah's Daughter

(Joseph Accused, by Rembrandt)

(600 words)

Bible Women: Jephthah's Daughter

So far all the stories you have read have come from the Book of Genesis, recounting the lives of the wives (and concubines and would-be concubines) of the men of Genesis: Eve (and Adam), Sarah (and Abraham) plus Hagar, Rebecca (and Isaac), Rachel and Leah (and Jacob) plus Zilpah and Bilhah, and finally Potiphar's wife (and Joseph). Now you move into another book of the Bible, the Book of Judges, and one of the most remarkable stories in that book: the story of Jephthah's daughter.

Jephthah was a judge in Israel and he led the people of Israel in a war against the Ammonites. As the story begins, Jephthah makes a vow to God in order to win a victory in that war, and that vow will, much to Jephthah's surprise, involve his daughter. We do not know her name, but her story, if you have not read it before, is one you will surely not forget. For some comparative materials, take a look at Dan Ashliman's story collection: Human Sacrifice in Legends and Myths.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Judges 11 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Jephthah and His Daughter, by Millais)

Jephthah's Daughter

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, "If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

(The Meeting of Jephthah and his Daughter)

And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back."

And she said unto him, "My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon."

And she said unto her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows."

And he said, "Go."

And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man.

And it was a custom in Israel: That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Next: Delilah

(The Daughter of Jephthah, by Debat-Ponsan)

(400 words)

Bible Women: Delilah

The story of Delilah is also found in the Book of Judges, and it is a much more famous story than the story of Jephthah's daughter. Just like with the story of Eve, the story of Delilah may already be very familiar to you, so I would recommend that you read the story slowly, out loud, just to see what the Bible says, and does not say, about Delilah and her lover Samson!

Meanwhile, you can also read more about Samson and about Delilah at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): Judges 16 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Delilah and Samson, by Lucas Cranach)

Delilah

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, "Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver."

And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee."

And Samson said unto her, "If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man."

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber.

And she said unto him, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."

And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

And Delilah said unto Samson, "Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound."

And he said unto her, "If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man."

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."

And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

And Delilah said unto Samson, "Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound."

And he said unto her, "If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web."

And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."

And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.

And she said unto him, "How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth."

And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death, that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, "There hath not come a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man."

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart."

Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

(15th-century illustration)

And she said, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."

And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself."

And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Next: Hannah

(14th-century Bible illustration)

(700 words)

Bible Women: Hannah

The woman whose story you are about to read, Hannah, is the mother of Samuel who will be a central figure in the Book of Samuel (obviously!). You can read more about Hannah at Wikipedia. You will see that this story has some themes in common with the stories of the women you have read so far in this unit, but it also has some distinctive characteristics of its own. My own favorite part is Hannah's rebuke of the priest Eli, so definitely keep an eye out for that moment!

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): 1 Samuel 1 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Elkanah, Hannah, and His Other Wife)

Hannah

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, "Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?"

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk.

Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head."

(19th-century Bible illustration)

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, "How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee."

And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."

Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him."

And she said, "Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight."

So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD."

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband," I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever."

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, "Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word."

So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

(Hannah Presents Her Son,

by van den Eeckhout)

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

And she said, "Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD."

And he worshipped the LORD there.

Next: The Witch of Endor

(800 words)

Bible Women: The Witch of Endor

In the last story, you read about the birth of Samuel; in this story, you will see Samuel again, but this time as a ghost, appearing after his death to King Saul after having been summoned by the Witch of Endor. To understand these events, here is some background:

The prophet Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Saul, however, lost God's favor, and Samuel anointed David to be king in Saul's place. At the time that this story takes place, Samuel has died and Saul is still king, while David has made an alliance with the Philistines. King Saul is about to lead the army of Israel in a battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, and he is worried about the outcome. In desperation, he decides to consult a witch, even though he has outlawed witchcraft. So, Saul decides to put on a disguise to try to allay the witch's fears. The story you are about to read tells what happens when Saul goes to consult the witch in Endor. You can read more about the Witch of Endor at Wikipedia. And yes, Saul does die in the battle to come; you can read more about Saul's death at Wikipedia also.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Bible Women unit. Story source: King James Bible (1611): 1 Samuel 28 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(15th-century Bible illustration)

The Witch of Endor

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her."

And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, "I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee."

And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing."

Then said the woman, "Whom shall I bring up unto thee?"

And he said, "Bring me up Samuel."

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, "Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul."

And the king said unto her, "Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?"

And the woman said unto Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth."

And he said unto her, "What form is he of?"

And she said, "An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle."

(The Witch of Endor, by Martynov)

And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?"

And Saul answered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do."

Then said Samuel, "Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David. Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, "Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way."

But he refused, and said, "I will not eat."

But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof. And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat.

Then they rose up, and went away that night.

Next: Bathsheba

(The Witch of Endor, by William Blake)

(700 words)

Pages