Women in the Bible

Question 1

Expectation of women in Roman times

Answer 1

modest, beautiful, faithful, pure, mothers, subservient…

Question 2

Josephus

Answer 2

wanted to paint Jews in positive light for for the Romans, also rewrote the stories of women in the Bible.

Question 3

Josephus’ translation of Genesis 29: Rachel the matriarch

Answer 3

• she is presented as more emotional yet it is Jacob who weeps in the story told in the Bible. Assumes that women crying is more acceptable than the opposite case?
• diminishes the strength of Rachel - depicts her as childlike
• her lineage, good breeding and attractiveness are all highlighted in Josephus’ translation, yet these points are not mentioned in the KJV.

– could be considered midrashic?

Question 4

Rachel in the KJV

Answer 4

youngest daughter of Laban, second wife to Jacob (but betrothed first). Initially barren while her sister Leah has no trouble conceiving. In Jewish literature, Rachel is presented as a paragon of sexual continence as she only desires sex for conception, whereas Leah wants it for pleasure.

Question 5

Rachel in the Handmaid’s Tale

Answer 5

In the Handmaid’s Tale, Rachel is reflected in the character of Serena Joy, the Commander’s Wife, with the main character Offred being equated to the surrogate Bilhah.

“give me children or else I die” - Genesis 32
(needs of the state compared to the needs of Rachel - intense desire for survival)

The novel has sympathy for the character of Offred who is judged for her role in society.