Biblical Women Speak

Rabbi Marla J. Feldman is executive director emerita of Women of Reform Judaism. She has published numerous articles about the role of women in Jewish life and social justice issues, and her modern midrashim have appeared in several collections. She is the author of Reform Movement action manuals, including Speak Truth to Power.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
 
1. Keturah: Abraham’s Last Wife
            Biblical Text: Genesis 25:1–6
            Modern Midrash: Keturah, The Great Mother of Many Generations
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Devoted Wife or Concubine?
            Author’s Commentary: Keturah’s Missing Story—Filling in the Blanks
 
2. Leah and Rachel: Devoted Sisters and Bitter Rivals
            Biblical Text: Genesis 35:16–21
            Modern Midrash: Leah’s Eulogy
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Sisters, Wives, Rivals, and Matriarchs
            Author’s Commentary: A Tale of Two Sisters
 
3.  Bat Shua: Judah’s Unnamed Wife
            Biblical Text: Genesis 38:1–12
            Modern Midrash: The Woman Who Mourns
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Judah’s Family Misfortune
            Author’s Commentary: Bat Shua’s Tragic Tale of Lust and Loss
 
4. Bilhah: The Loving Handmaid
            Biblical Text: Genesis 50:15–17
            Modern Midrash: A Letter to My Beloved Son Joseph
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Bilhah the Servant, Sister, Surrogate, Spouse
            Author’s Commentary: Emissary of Forgiveness
 
5. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 1: Potiphar’s Unnamed Wife
            Biblical Text: Genesis 39:1–19
            Modern Midrash: Zuleikha, the Prison Mistress
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Potiphar’s Wife in the Joseph Narrative
            Author’s Commentary: A Name and Narrative for Potiphar’s Wife
 
6. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 2: Puah, Shiphrah, and the Sacred Sisterhood
            Biblical Text: Exodus 1:8–22
            Modern Midrash: The Sacred Sisterhood
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: The Subversive Midwives
            Author’s Commentary: The Midwives’ Tale
 
7. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 3: The Princess and the Slave Girl Who Rescue Moses
            Biblical Text: Exodus 2:1–9
            Modern Midrash: Amat-Bat-Ra, the Servant Savior
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Princess, Protector, Prophet
            Author’s Commentary: A Conspiracy of Women
 
8. Shelomith Bat Dibri: The Blasphemer’s Mother
            Biblical Text: Leviticus 24:10–14
            Modern Midrash: Testament of Shelomith
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: The Biblical Tale of the Blasphemer
            Author’s Commentary: A Mother’s Anguish
 
9. Miriam: Exiled by God, Dwelling beyond the Camp
            Biblical Text: Numbers 12:1–16
            Modern Midrash: Miriam’s Fringes
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Crime and Punishment
            Author’s Commentary: Outcasts and Angels
 
10. Noah: Daughter of Zelophehad
            Biblical Text: Numbers 27:1–8, 36:1–12
            Modern Midrash: Noah and Elishama—A Love Story
            Classical Commentary and Midrash: Five Righteous Women
            Author’s Commentary: Rights Given and Taken Away
 
Appendix: Overview of Midrash
Glossary of Classical Sources
Notes
Bibliography