Women's Divination in Biblical Literature: Prophecy, Necromancy, and Other Arts of Knowledge (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library)

Synopsis

Divination, The Use Of Special Talents And Techniques To Gain Divine Knowledge, Was Practiced In Many Different Forms In Ancient Israel And Throughout The Ancient World. The Hebrew Bible Reveals A Variety Of Traditions Of Women Associated With Divination. This Sensitive And Incisive Book By Respected Scholar Esther J. Hamori Examines The Wide Scope Of Women's Divinatory Activities As Portrayed In The Hebrew Texts, Offering Readers A New Appreciation Of The Surprising Breadth Of Women's Arts Of Knowledge In Biblical Times. Unlike Earlier Approaches To The Subject That Have Viewed Prophecy Separately From Other Forms Of Divination, Hamori's Study Encompasses The Full Range Of Divinatory Practices And The Personages Who Performed Them, From The Female Prophets And The Medium Of En-dor To The Matriarch Who Interprets A Birth Omen And The Wise Women Of Tekoa And Abel And More. In Doing So, The Author Brings Into Clearer Focus The Complex, Rich, And Diverse World Of Ancient Israelite Divination. Part I. Women's Divination And The Arts Of Knowledge : -- 1. Access To Divine Knowledge -- 2. Setting The Stage -- Part Ii. Biblical Perspectives On Women's Divination : -- 3. Rebekah The Aramean -- 4. Miriam -- 5. Deborah -- 6. Hannah -- 7. The Necromancer Of En-dor -- 8. The Wise Women Of 2 Samuel -- 9. Huldah -- 10. The Prophet Who Conceived And Gave Birth To A Son -- 11. The Daughters Of Your People Who Prophesy -- 12. The Women Of Joel's Radical Vision -- 13. Noadiah -- 14. Rachel, The Mother Of Michah, And The Teraphim -- 15. What A Witch : Divination Imagery And Metaphor -- Concluding Reflections. Esther J. Hamori. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.