Leslie G. Virnelson

Fruit of Her Hands considers how specialized roles for women are reflected in the texts of the Hebrew Bible, with a focus on four--midwives, diviners, weavers, and sex workers. Virnelson investigates the practice of each role in the ancient world and its corresponding portrayal in biblical texts, incorporating linguistics, material culture, comparative literature, and ethnography. Feminist theories situate the investigation...