They chose to marry the same man, now they are locked in marriage with each other for life, for better and for worse. Two sisters: Leah and Rachel both wanted a part of Israel, the man of God, Israel the nation, and Israel the state of mind. They wanted to be part of Israel, and they got there, but only after they left the cheating ways in which they were raised. They faced adversity and trouble of their own making, before they became mighty women, which was when they answered Israel and said: Now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. (Gen:31-16) It was only then, that Israel: the man, the nation, and the state of mind rose up (Gen:31-17) and was met by the angels of God on his way (Gen:32:1). Leah and Rachel, they became the Matriarchs of Israel by choice. Maybe you can see part of yourself in them? The Biblical facts are presented as they provide the foundation for the practical lessons to our daily life. The fictional tales are added for you to relax, to quiet yourself, and enjoy. They are a picture of words of life in Biblical times. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

The Lost Matriarch offers a unique response to the sparse and puzzling biblical treatment of the matriarch Leah. Although Leah is a major figure in the book of Genesis, the biblical text allows her only a single word of physical description and two lines of direct dialogue. The Bible tells us little about the effects of her lifelong struggles in an apparently loveless marriage to Jacob, the husband she shares with three other wives, including her beautiful younger sister, Rachel. Fortunately, two thousand years of traditional and modern commentators have produced many fascinating interpretations (midrash) that reveal the far richer story of Leah hidden within the text. Through Jerry Rabow’s weaving of biblical text and midrash, readers learn the lessons of the remarkable Leah, who triumphed over adversity and hardship by living a life of moral heroism. The Lost Matriarch reveals Leah’s full story and invites readers into the delightful, provocative world of creative rabbinic and literary commentary. By experiencing these midrashic insights and techniques for reading “between the lines,” readers are introduced to what for many will be an exciting new method of personal Bible interpretation.

Sarah. Hagar. Rebekah. Leah. Rachel. Bilhah. Zilpah. These are the Matriarchs of Genesis. A people's self-understanding is fashioned on their heroes and heroines. Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel--the traditional four Matriarchs--are important and powerful people in the book of Genesis. Each woman plays her part in her generation. She interacts with and advises her husband, seeking to achieve both present and future successes for her family. These women act decisively at crucial points; through their actions and words, their family dynamics change irrevocably. Unlike their husbands, we know little of their unspoken thoughts or actions. What the text in Genesis does share shows that these women are perceptive and judicious, often seeing the grand scheme with clarity. While their stories are told in Genesis, in the post-biblical world of the Pseudepigrapha, their stories are retold in new ways. The rabbis also speak of these women, and contemporary scholars and feminists continue to explore the Matriarchs in Genesis and later literature. Using extensive quotations, we present these women through five lenses: the Bible, Early Extra-Biblical Literature, Rabbinic Literature, Contemporary Scholarship, and Feminist Thought. In addition, we consider Hagar, Abraham's second wife and the mother of Ishmael, as well as Bilhah and Zilpah, Jacob's third and fourth wives.

A prominent scholar of the Hebrew Bible offers a close reading of the women in Genesis to discover their roles in shaping ancient Israel.

The Bible has had a profound influence on the diverse cultures of Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Africa, and it has left an imprint on Asia. "The Bible: A History" tells the story of this remarkable book from its making to its emergence as the bestselling book in history.

Based on the Book of Genesis, Dinah shares her perspective on religious practices and sexul politics.