The Matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah - (Library of Second Temple Studies) by Katie J Woolstenhulme (Paperback)

About the Book

"Katie J. Woolstenhulme considers the pertinent question: Who were 'the matriarchs', and what did the rabbis think about them? Whilst scholarship on the role of women in the Bible and rabbinic Judaism has greatly increased, the authoritative group of women known as 'the matriarchs' has been neglected. This volume consequently focuses on the role and status of the biblical matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah, the fifth century CE rabbinic Jewish commentary on Genesis. Woolstenhulme begins by exploring definitions in Genesis Rabbah, such as the nature of midrash, the nature of the term 'matriarchs', the development of the term throughout early exegetical literature, and the two definitions that have emerged - the legitimate wives of Israel's patriarchs, and a reference to Jacob's four wives, who bore Israel's tribal ancestors. She then moves to discuss 'the matriarchal cycle' in Genesis Rabbah, and its three stages: barrenness; motherhood; and succession. Finally Woolstenhulme considers Genesis Rabbah's portrayal of the matriarchs as representatives of the female sex, exploring the positive and negative rabbinic attitudes towards women such as piety, prayer, praise, beauty and sexuality, and how the matriarchs occasionally exemplify stereotypical, negative female traits. This volume concludes that for the ancient rabbis, the matriarchs were the historical mothers of Israel, bearing covenant sons, but also the present mothers of Israel, continuing to influence Jewish identity"--

Book Synopsis

Katie J. Woolstenhulme considers the pertinent questions: Who were 'the matriarchs', and what did the rabbis think about them? Whilst scholarship on the role of women in the Bible and Rabbinic Judaism has increased, the authoritative group of women known as 'the matriarchs' has been neglected. This volume consequently focuses on the role and status of the biblical matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah, the fifth century CE rabbinic commentary on Genesis.

Woolstenhulme begins by discussing the nature of midrash and introducing Genesis Rabbah; before exploring the term 'the matriarchs' and its development through early exegetical literature, culminating in the emergence of two definitions of the term in Genesis Rabbah - 'the matriarchs' as the legitimate wives of Israel's patriarchs, and 'the matriarchs' as a reference to Jacob's four wives, who bore Israel's tribal ancestors. She then moves to discuss 'the matriarchal cycle' in Genesis Rabbah with its three stages of barrenness; motherhood; and succession. Finally, Woolstenhulme considers Genesis Rabbah's portrayal of the matriarchs as representatives of the female sex, exploring positive and negative rabbinic attitudes towards women with a focus on piety, prayer, praise, beauty and sexuality, and the matriarchs' exemplification of stereotypical, negative female traits. This volume concludes that for the ancient rabbis, the matriarchs were the historical mothers of Israel, bearing covenant sons, but also the present mothers of Israel, continuing to influence Jewish identity.

Review Quotes

"[The author] has achieved an analogous raising of the profile of 'the matriarchs' by this fine study of their role and status within Genesis Rabbah." - Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

About the Author

Katie J. Woolstenhulme completed her PhD thesis at Durham University, UK. Now, she teaches.