“Claude Mariottini’s Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith reminds of us the importance of the many and often overlooked women of the Old Testament, both their significance within Israel’s story and as models of faith for believers today. Drawing on his own careful study of the relevant biblical texts and the scholarship on those texts and on the larger ancient Near Eastern world, Mariottini brings to life the women of the Old Testament for modern readers, allowing them to experience both the challenges facing these women and the ways they served God and Israel in their contexts. One cannot fully appreciate the work of God through Israel without knowing the stories of these women of God, and Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith provides a wonderful entry into the study of these important characters.” -- Professor of Bible, Hazelip School of Theology, Lipscomb University
“For those who desire to go beyond the frequently mentioned heroes of the Old Testament, and meet extraordinary women who are frequently overlooked, Dr. Mariottini is a valuable and able guide. Sympathy and admiration will be felt for these new friends as your understanding of their story deepens by way of Mariottini’s analysis of Hebrew terms and cultural context. May the faith of these heroes of old inspire new heroes today.” -- Senior Pastor of The Compass Church
“The Old Testament features more than one hundred named women within its pages, as well as countless unnamed women. Many were Israelite, a number non-Israelite. Some were mothers, others prophets. Several were abused, while a few attained great distinction. Most of these women, however, have remained virtually unknown to even the most devoted Bible readers, not only in the pew but even in the seminary. In Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith: A Survey of the Heroines of the Old Testament, Claude Mariottini presents the stories of many of these remarkable women and also deals with some of the issues they faced. With the clarity and accessibility that are so characteristic of his writing, he explores the ways in which God’s plans were accomplished in the world through their lives. In reading Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith, I have no doubt that contemporary women (and men) will discover new ways that they too can be part of the realization of God’s plans today. -- Professor of Religion at Averett University
“If a woman asks, “Can God use me?” “Do I have a role to play in His kingdom?” point them towards this book! “Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith” is a solid scholarly work that focuses on Biblical history, uncovering insights that are often overlooked by casual readers of the Bible. Pragmatically, this text will encourage woman who may have wrestled with their roles in God’s Kingdom while challenging others who have failed to affirm a woman’s calling. This text might focus on the “ancient” but it has implications that remain powerful today!” -- Former Pastor and President, Northern Theological Seminary
“The inclusion of women in the Old Testament has long been taught as a rarity, sometimes causing us to miss the audacity of an ancient religious text from a patriarchal time to include such amazing narratives of women. Mariottini’s Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith captures a fresh look at how often powerful men in the ancient text encounter equally powerful women. Together, all have a role in God’s faithful plans to set the world right again. This book invites us to tell the whole story of God’s people, named and unnamed.” -- President, Professor of Homiletics, Northern Seminary
