Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel
A synthetic reconstruction of women’s religious engagement and experiences in preexilic Israel
 
“This monumental book examines a wealth of data from the Bible, archaeology, and ancient Near Eastern texts and iconography to provide a clear, comprehensive, and compelling analysis of women’s religious lives in preexilic times.”—Carol Meyers, Duke University
 
Throughout the biblical narrative, ancient Israelite religious life is dominated by male actors. When women appear, they are often seen only on the periphery: as tangential, accidental, or passive participants. However, despite their absence from the written record, they were often deeply involved in religious practice and ritual observance.
 
In this new volume, Susan Ackerman presents a comprehensive account of ancient Israelite women’s religious lives and experiences. She examines the various sites of their practice, including household shrines, regional sanctuaries, and national temples; the calendar of religious rituals that women observed on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis; and their special roles in religious settings. Drawing on texts, archaeology, and material culture, and documenting the distinctions between Israelite women’s experiences and those of their male counterparts, Ackerman reconstructs an essential picture of women’s lived religion in ancient Israelite culture.
1139862318
Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel
A synthetic reconstruction of women’s religious engagement and experiences in preexilic Israel
 
“This monumental book examines a wealth of data from the Bible, archaeology, and ancient Near Eastern texts and iconography to provide a clear, comprehensive, and compelling analysis of women’s religious lives in preexilic times.”—Carol Meyers, Duke University
 
Throughout the biblical narrative, ancient Israelite religious life is dominated by male actors. When women appear, they are often seen only on the periphery: as tangential, accidental, or passive participants. However, despite their absence from the written record, they were often deeply involved in religious practice and ritual observance.
 
In this new volume, Susan Ackerman presents a comprehensive account of ancient Israelite women’s religious lives and experiences. She examines the various sites of their practice, including household shrines, regional sanctuaries, and national temples; the calendar of religious rituals that women observed on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis; and their special roles in religious settings. Drawing on texts, archaeology, and material culture, and documenting the distinctions between Israelite women’s experiences and those of their male counterparts, Ackerman reconstructs an essential picture of women’s lived religion in ancient Israelite culture.
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Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel

Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel

by Susan Ackerman
Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel

Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel

by Susan Ackerman

eBook

$50.00 

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Overview

A synthetic reconstruction of women’s religious engagement and experiences in preexilic Israel
 
“This monumental book examines a wealth of data from the Bible, archaeology, and ancient Near Eastern texts and iconography to provide a clear, comprehensive, and compelling analysis of women’s religious lives in preexilic times.”—Carol Meyers, Duke University
 
Throughout the biblical narrative, ancient Israelite religious life is dominated by male actors. When women appear, they are often seen only on the periphery: as tangential, accidental, or passive participants. However, despite their absence from the written record, they were often deeply involved in religious practice and ritual observance.
 
In this new volume, Susan Ackerman presents a comprehensive account of ancient Israelite women’s religious lives and experiences. She examines the various sites of their practice, including household shrines, regional sanctuaries, and national temples; the calendar of religious rituals that women observed on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis; and their special roles in religious settings. Drawing on texts, archaeology, and material culture, and documenting the distinctions between Israelite women’s experiences and those of their male counterparts, Ackerman reconstructs an essential picture of women’s lived religion in ancient Israelite culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780300264883
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication date: 02/22/2022
Series: The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 512
File size: 28 MB
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About the Author

Susan Ackerman is the Preston H. Kelsey Professor of Religion at Dartmouth College, where she has taught since 1990. She is the author of several books, including Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical Israel. She lives in Lebanon, NH.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Acknowledgments xi

List of Abbreviations xv

Introduction 1

Part 1 Where? the Sites of Women's Religious Practice

1 "Micah's Mother Had Made a Cast-Metal Figurine": Women and Ancient Israelite Household Religion, I 33

2 "The Women Knead Dough": Women and Ancient Israelite Household Religion, II 59

3 "She Went Up with Her Husband to Offer the Annual Sacrifice": Women and Ancient Israel's Regional Sanctuaries, I 82

4 "She Prayed to Yahweh, She Wept … and She Made a Vow' Women and Ancient Israel's Regional Sanctuaries, II 109

5 "This Is the King's Sanctuary and a Temple of the Kingdom' Women and Ancient Israel's State Temples, I 126

6 "At the Time of Her Menstruation, She Shall Be Unclean": Women and Ancient Israel's State Temples, II 145

Part 2 When? the Calendar of Women's Religious Lives

7 "There Is a Yearly Sacrifice … for All the Family": The Israelite Woman's Ritual Year, I 181

8 "You Will Make Three Pilgrimage Journeys to Me": The Israelite Woman's Ritual Year, II 204

Part 3 Who? Women Religious Functionaries

9 "When the Young Women of Shiloh Come Out to Dance in the Dances": Women Ritual Musicians in Ancient Israel 231

10 "The Daughters of Your People Who Prophesy": Ancient Israel's Women Prophets 252

11 "Find Me a Woman Who Is a Medium": Ancient Israel's Women Magicians 282

12 "The Sobe'ôt Who Served at the Entrance to the Tent of Meeting": Determining Their Religious Role 311

13 "The Qedešâ Among the Daughters of Israel": Defining Her Identity Within the Israelite Cult 334

Epilogue 347

Notes 355

Bibliography 447

Index of Subjects 505

Index of Modern Authors 528

Index of Ancient Sources 540

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