A Reinterpretation Of The Images Of Women In The Old Testament

As a religious canon,the Bible has not only influenced Christian theology and the patterns of Christians’ life,but also provided continuous inspirations for world literature,especially Western literature.The literary value of the Bible,especially the Old Testament,has always been the subject of discussion among scholars.There are many characters with distinctive personalities in the Old Testament,which has attracted many scholars.With the emergence of feminism in the secular world in the 20 th century,the studies on specific images of women in the Old Testament have been increasing.Feminists interpreted the images of women in the Old Testament from the feminist perspective.However,feminist interpretations isolated the women figures from the essential ideology characterized by theocracy in the Bible and the whole narrative framework of the Bible for their interpretations took the patriarchal system of the Bible as their theoretical presupposition and binary opposition as their analytic methodology so as to deconstruct the patriarchal system of the Bible.Moreover,only a few studies were made on the images of women in the Old Testament with the application of biblical narrative criticism,but they lacked in-depth analysis and systematic theological considerations.This thesis attempts to reinterpret the images of women in the Old Testament based on Sternberg’s biblical narrative criticism and some theological notions in Christianity.This thesis consists of six chapters.Chapter 1 is the introduction.In Chapter 2,the author reinterprets the image of the “helper”,taking the example of Eve and Esther.The author claims that both of them are important roles in God’s plan.As the “helper”,Eve has the same status as Adam in managing the world as well as the value of being created.Furthermore,she is the crown of God’s creation for she is the metaphor of the Church in Jesus Christ.Esther,as a Jewish woman,saves her nation when she has become the queen of Persia so as to make her a heroine in the history of Israel.Most importantly,she plays a vital part in God’s redemption plan which must be fulfilled through the race of Jews.Chapter 3 mainly reconstructs the image of “procreation instrument” through explaining the story of Ruth and Sarah.Specifically,Ruth is an ancestor of Christ,becoming a part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ because she has unique understandings of God of Israel and commits herself to God thoroughly.Sarah is the mother of the promised son Isaac and a vital instrument in God’s redemption plan,even though her faith has experienced many trials before the fulfillment of God’s promise.Chapter 4 discusses the image of the “adulteresses” represented by Potiphar’s wife and Delilah.The author holds that the presence of these images is not to defame the image of women nor despise their value but to reflect God’s tests of spiritual qualities within the chosen.Potiphar’s wife is a tester of Joseph’s righteousness and reveals the holiness of God positively.Delilah is a mirror of Samson’s dishonorable passions and failures through which God’s justice can be delivered indirectly.The emphasis of Chapter 5 falls upon the reinterpretation of the image of “the insulted” women,taking Hagar and Tamar as examples.Opposing the feminist view that they are products of a patriarchal culture of the Bible,the author contends that they are victims of sin.Hagar is a victim of Sarah and Abraham’s sin,but she is not forsaken by God and even has an unexpected encounter with God.The tragedy of Tamar is clearly caused by Amnon’s sin and also results from David’s sin.As a victim of men’s sin,Tamar also gets vindication from God in the Scripture.Amnon who ravished Tamar is slayed by Absolom.David suffered the distress of losing his sons as the result of his own iniquities.The last chapter is conclusion.Namely,the image of woman in the Old Testament is neither subordinate “helper” nor “the instrument of procreation” nor adulteress nor the insulted woman.All the narratives of women,like men’s narratives,in the Old Testament have the intervention of God and reflect the eternal plan and purpose of God.With the application of Sternberg’s biblical narrative criticism to reinterpreting the four types of women images which are misinterpreted based on feminist interpretations,this thesis contributes to new understandings of women in the Old Testament in a wider context and framework as well as deepening a comprehension of biblical theocratic ideology and biblical narrative characteristics.