All the Women of the Bible » (Special Value)

Have you ever asked yourself these questions in relation to biblical women? Many times we recognize their names - Naomi, Ruth, Sara, Delilah, Jezebel, to name a few - but we can't quite recall their story. And the thought of trying to pinpoint one name out of the many in the Bible, with not a clue where to look, well, it can be quite daunting. All the Women of the Bible can answer all of your questions with the simple turn of a page. It is not only comprehensive and in-depth, but also easy to follow and truly entertaining. All the Women of the Bible is divided into two sections: "The Book of Names" and "The Book of Stories." "The Book of Names" opens the book and contains over 400 entries. It is a biographical dictionary and thesaurus of sorts, listing each woman - whether named, unnamed, or allegorical - along with a short description of her life, alternate spellings, biblical citations where her story can be found and cross references to other dictionary entries. It also points out related entries in the "Book of Stories." This single, alphabetical dictionary is well researched, easy to follow, and overflowing with answers to your each and every question.

"The Book of Stories" makes up the second half of the book and takes quite a different tone than that of the dictionary. Here, retold in rich detail, are the stories of fifty-six very important women - women whose lives were changed by crisis and challenge; women who learned, shared, or shunned faith in the Lord. Many of these stories, when read in the Bible, provide only a bare-bones structure that leaves the reader wondering about the woman's character and choices. What prompted her actions? How heavy was the influence of her culture? In "The Book of Stories," the women are fleshed out and given words and thoughts and ideas to share with the reader. Their stories are true to the original texts, but are infused with life and emotion. They are written in such a way to not only retell the story, but to humanize their characters and provide a basis for moral instruction. And the entertainment - let's not forget that! You can shout with joy as Elizabeth is granted her longed for child, weep with sorrow as Eve remembers the death of Abel, feel the bond of kinship when Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, and experience the piercing sword of revenge as Salome dances for the head of John the Baptizer. They're all here, all real women and all willing to pay whatever price asked to gain their heart's desire. Their struggles, successes and failures still resonate within us today.