Every Woman in
the Bible
By Sue and Larry Richards
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999, 302 pages
Reviewed by Shirley McDonald
July 1, 2002
This comprehensive reference book on the women of the Bible
answers many questions not only about individual women, but also about what life
was like for the women who lived in biblical times.
With charts, illustrations, topical and scriptural indexes, biographical
entries, and chapters on the culture of the different eras represented, Every
Woman in the Bible makes for fascinating reading, as well as an
indispensable reference tool for Sunday School teachers and ministers.
The book is divided into chronological sections.
Each section includes an introductory chapter about the life and
significance of women of that time period, as well as individual entries on the
women who lived during that time. The
first chapter is titled “Women in Creation and the Fall.”
The chapter on “Women’s Rights in the Ancient World” establishes
that while this was a patriarchal society and a woman’s legal status was
determined by the relationship to either her father or husband, the Law did not
depersonalize women.
The entries for each woman in the Bible examines her role
in the Bible, a close-up view of her character, and concludes with ways in which
each serves as an example for us today.
Both named and unnamed women are included; both the famous
and those of whom you have never heard are discussed. Even small Sunday School children know of Queen Esther and
her bravery. But how many of us
know that some Jewish rabbis resented Huldah’s role as the prophetess who was
consulted during Josiah’s reign? Or
that the daughters of Zelophehad went before Moses to ask that they receive
their father’s portion of land since they had no brothers to inherit it? (Their request was granted.)
An easy-to-read book, Every
Woman in the Bible is an excellent source when you just need to identify a
woman of the Bible. Yet the book is
far more than that. It also
provides insight into the way women lived in biblical times and thoughtful
lessons about each woman that we would do well to study.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2002, Shirley McDonald
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Shirley McDonald
lives in Denham Springs, Louisiana.
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