Women's Lives in Biblical Times [Paperback]

This volume describes the lifecycle events and daily life activities experienced by girls and women in ancient Israel examining recent biblical scholarship and other textual evidence from the ancient Near East and Egypt including archaeological, iconographic and ethnographic data. From this Ebeling creates a detailed, accessible description of the lives of women living in the central highland villages of Iron Age I (ca. 1200-1000 BCE) Israel.

The book opens with an introduction that provides a brief historical survey of Iron Age (ca. 1200-586 BCE) Israel, a discussion of the problems involved in using the Hebrew Bible as a source, a rationale for the project and a brief narrative of one woman's life in ancient Israel to put the events described in the book into context. It continues with seven thematic chapters that chronicle her life, focusing on the specific events, customs, crafts, technologies and other activities in which an Israelite female would have participated on a daily basis.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Birth and Background
Bet 'Av and Bet 'Em
Four-Room House and Women's Space
Diet and Economy
Agricultural Cycle

Chapter 2: Childhood
Baking and Brewing
Pottery Production
Spinning and Weaving
Education and Literacy

Chapter 3: Womanhood
Grape Harvest and Wine Making
Menstruation and Purity
Incense and Perfume
Household Religion

Chapter 4: Marriage
Marriage Arrangements
Wedding Customs
Music and Dancing
Clothing

Chapter 5: Childbirth
Midwifery
Childbirth
Amulets and Jewelry
Basketry

Chapter 6: Motherhood
Breastfeeding and Weaning
Olive Harvest and Olive Oil Production
Hide Working
Pilgrimage to Shiloh

Chapter 7: Old Age and Death
Widowhood
Health and Medicine
Funerary Rituals
Mortuary Cult

Conclusion