Good Girls, Bad Girls: The Enduring Lessons of Twelve Women of the Old Testament

by T. J. Wray

Publisher:

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

, 2008

Overview

The few popular Bible stories about women are often presented in black and white—the women were good or bad, Ruth or Jezebel. But most of us fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Good Girls, Bad Girls invites readers to take a more nuanced look at 12 women in the Old Testament, to explore their lives more deeply in historical context, and to grasp what these stories might mean to women today. T. J. Wray, a biblical scholar, asks readers to consider whether Jezebel was really as bad as generally believed, and includes women ranging from the infamous Delilah to the mysterious Witch of Endor. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, Good Girls, Bad Girls will appeal to both individual readers and groups interested in learning what the Bible really has to say about these twelve important women.

Contents

Introduction
Section One: Liars, Lawbreakers, and Lovers
Chapter 1: A Woman with a Plan: Rebekah
Chapter 2: The Hooker With a Heart of Gold: Rahab
Chapter 3: Tricks and Tryst: Delilah
Chapter 4: The Girl Next Door: Ruth
Chapter 5: Not a Ghost of a Chance: The Witch of Endor
Chapter 6: The Menace Beneath the Mascara: Jezebel
Section Two: Victims, Volunteers, and Vindicators
Chapter 7 Baby, You Owe Me: The Widow Tamar
Chapter 8 Big Sister is Watching: Miriam
Chapter 9 The Lamb With A Plan: Bathsheba
Chapter 10 One Sick Brother: Tamar, Sister of Absalom
Chapter 11 A Womb With a View: The Shunammite
Chapter 12 Dirty Old Men: Susanna
Conclusion
Resources

Product Details

• Title : Good Girls, Bad Girls: The Enduring Lessons of Twelve Women of the Old Testament
• Author: Wray, T. J.
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication Date: 2008
• ISBN: 9780742565579

About T. J. Wray

T. J. Wray is the author of several books, including Surviving the Death of a Sibling, What the Bible Really Tells Us: The Essential Guide to Biblical Literacy, and Good Girls, Bad Girls: The Enduring Lessons of Twelve Women of the Old Testament. She is associate professor of religious studies at Salve Regina University. She has appeared on the History Channel and NPR.