Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library)

By: Susan Ackerman

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Synopsis: 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.