About the Reading Scripture Together: Subversive Salvation – Women Pushing Sexual Boundaries in the Hebrew Bible course
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, we find certain women who are recognised, if not celebrated, for transgressing sexual boundaries; Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Lot’s daughters are all lauded for choices that they make which on the surface seem morally dubious. But it is exactly those choices which ensure the continuity of the Covenant and the Messianic lineage.
In both the Jewish and Christian traditions, these female characters are heralded as courageous women of faith and, because of their actions, their people are saved. These are subversive salvation stories; we think we know what the right thing to do is and then stories like these come along that complicate and subvert that narrative.
So, what does this mean for us? What is the Bible saying about these women and how we should understand and take inspiration from their actions?
On this in-person study day, we will be looking at these narratives and focusing on the characters of Tamar and Lot’s daughters in Genesis, Rahab in Joshua, and the Book of Ruth, looking at how the text tells their story and imagines the various reasons and consequences for their actions.
