Guide
Ancient Jewish Literary Depictions of Women
4th Century BCE–6th Century CE
Restricted
By Carol Bakhos
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Judith
Now in those days Judith heard about these things. [ . . . ] Her husband Manasseh, who belonged to her tribe and family, had died during…
Primary Source
Susanna
There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were righteous, and had…
Primary Source
Sarah of Ecbatana
On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by one of her father’s maids. Fo…
Primary Source
The Conception of Noah
And then I thought to myself, “The pregnancy is from the Watchers, and the seed is from the Holy Ones and of the Nephilin,”a and my mind was greatly disturbed on account of this child. [blank] Then…
Primary Source
Sarai and Pharaoh
How splendid and beautiful is the form of her face, and how . . . and fine is the hair of her head, how lovely are her eyes, how delightful is her nose, and all the radiance of her face . . . How…
Primary Source
Matrona
4:6. Matrona asked Rabbi Yose: Why is it not written “that it was good” for the second day? He said to her: Nevertheless, in the end he . . . included them all, for it is said: And God saw everything…