Bible and Midrash

The Story of "The Wooing of Rebekah" (Gen. 24)

• Author(s): Lieve M. Teugels,
• Publisher: Peeters Publishers
• Pages: 246
• ISBN_10: 9042914262
  ISBN_13: 9789042914261
  
• Language: en
• Categories: Religion / General , Religion / Biblical Commentary / Old Testament / General , Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / General , Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament , Religion / Biblical Studies / Old Testament / General , Religion / Christian Theology / General , Religion / Theology ,

Description:... This two-part book traces the literary and historic study of the story of the 'Wooing of Rebekah' in the Hebrew Bible and its creative interpretations in Rabbinic Midrash. Part 1 treats such issues as the characterization of the narrative agents in the biblical story, the use of repetition as a narrative structuring device, and the question as to the roles of Rebekah and Isaac in this story as well as in the broader Isaac-Rebekah narratives. Part 2 follows several rabbinic interpretations of this story, dealing with, among other topics, the development of the motif of Rebekah's virginity in rabbinic aggadah and halakha as well as the reception of this theme in modern feminist studies of midrash. While treating these topics, this is at the same time a methodological inquiry into the dynamics of midrashic interpretation, treating rabbinic techniques such as 'gap-filling' and 'linkage', and its differences from modern biblical exegesis.