In much of Western literature and Greek mythology, women have an evident lack of purpose; woman needs to either enter or leave a relationship in order to find herself and her own identity. Matthew Schwartz and Kalman Kaplan set out to prove that the converse is true in the biblical text.
Examining the stories of women in Scripture---Rebecca, Miriam, Gomer, Ruth and Naomi, Lot's wife, Zipporah, and dozens more---The Fruit of Her Hands illustrates the strong feminine sense of being crucial to God's plan for the world and for history. The biblical woman is portrayed as a "helpmeet-opposite," or one who can courageously seek the greatest good for herself and others whatever the circumstances. She does not have to choose between self and relationship, unlike classical Greek and Western woman.
Empowering, illuminating, and fascinating, The Fruit of Her Hands makes a singular contribution to the fields of women's studies and feminist theology.
Matthew B. Schwartz teaches ancient history and literature in the Departments of History and Near East at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Kalman J. Kaplan is professor of psychology at Wayne State University and clinical professor of psychology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
