Daughters of Eve

Martyn Whittock graduated in Politics from Bristol University and is the author or co-author of fifty-two books, including school history textbooks and adult history books. He taught history for thirty-five years and latterly, was curriculum leader for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education at a Wiltshire secondary school. He is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. He has acted as an historical consultant to the National Trust and English Heritage. He retired from teaching in July 2016 to devote more time to writing. His Lion books include: The Vikings: from Odin to Christ, Christ: The First 2000 Years, Daughters of Eve, Jesus: The Unauthorized Biography, and The Story of the Cross. Esther Whittock is a religious studies teacher and author living in England. She is a University of Cambridge graduate in Theology and Religious studies. Martyn Whittock is her father.

• ContentsPreface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06Chapter 1 Eve: “Fall-girl”? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08Chapter 2 Sarah: Mother of Nations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Chapter 3 Rebekah: Controversial Mother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Chapter 4 Tamar: Table-turner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Chapter 5 Rahab: A Conspiracy of Prostitutes and Spies. . . . . . . . .66Chapter 6 Deborah: Prophet, Judge, and a Sisterhood of Liberation. . 79Chapter 7 Naomi and Ruth: Sisterhood in Adversity . . . . . . . . . . .91Chapter 8 Hannah: The Woman Who Gave Away Her Son. . . . . .103Chapter 9 Esther: The Right Woman, in the Right Place, at the Right Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118Chapter 10 Mary: Revolutionary Mother of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . .132Chapter 11 The Woman at the Well: Breaking Conventions. . . . . .148Chapter 12 The Woman with the Issue of Blood: From “Woman’s . . . .Problem” to Public Miracle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Chapter 13 Martha and Mary: Conflicting Models of Service? . . . .173Chapter 14 Mary Magdalene: A Much Misrepresented Woman. . . .186Chapter 15 “Nympha and the Church in Her House…”. . . . . . . . .208Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221About the Authors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224