{"product_id":"fruit-of-her-hands-leslie-g-virnelson-9780197810811","title":"Fruit of Her Hands: Women, Work, and Society in the Hebrew Bible","description":"\u003cem\u003eFruit of Her Hands \u003c\/em\u003econsiders 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 of individual roles in a broader discussion of gendered roles in ancient texts. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe study of weavers considers paradigms of skill and craft for the manual expertise that women weavers developed. The study of midwives considers recognition in the absence of centralized credentialing and training as well as the latitude afforded to midwives as ritual and medical experts. The study of diviners considers how intersecting factors might create gendered opportunities and obstacles for women in divinatory roles. The study of sex workers reveals the ambivalent place of sex workers in society and the patrimonial household, and how sex work reveals broader paradigms of women's sexuality and work. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cem\u003eFruit of Her Hands\u003c\/em\u003e sheds light on the nature of specialized work in ancient society and the social roles of women in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient world. Virnelson offers feminist historiographical approaches to the study of the Hebrew Bible and considers how modern ideas and debates about \"women's work\" influence our understanding of the past. \u003cem\u003eFruit of Her Hands\u003c\/em\u003e ultimately emphasizes the need to explore gaps in biblical texts and scholarly knowledge, the paradoxes of women's inclusion and exclusion, and the need to disambiguate the category of \"women\" in biblical texts and historical reconstructions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Leslie G. Virnelson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0197810810\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780197810811\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/11\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 248\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.16lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.69d","brand":"Leslie G. Virnelson","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47637412610303,"sku":"9780197810811","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_dfefc4ac-5fad-409d-9424-eae027a15da7.jpg?v=1765116044","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/fruit-of-her-hands-leslie-g-virnelson-9780197810811","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}