A Womanist Reading of Hebrew Bible Narratives as the Politics of Belonging from an Outsider Within

A Womanist Reading of Hebrew Bible Narratives as the Politics of Belonging is a vital contribution to biblical studies. Thoroughly researched, carefully argued, and lucidly written, the book adeptly moves between biblical texts and their tangled histories of interpretation, with particular attention to race, gender, and power. Lovelace shows us why these biblical stories matter now, more than ever. A necessary read, not just for womanists and feminists, but for all biblical readers interested in justice, interpretation, and the politics of meaning. --Rhiannon Graybill, Weinstein & Rosenthal Chair of Jewish Studies, University of Richmond Mothers and motherhood have always been political issues, and in this clearly argued book, Lovelace raises up known and little known biblical mothers and their voices. She pushes us to listen to these biblical women and their modern generation by making real world connections. Centered in an intersectional womanist theory of theology, ethics, sociology, and critical race theories, along with womanist lived experiences, Lovelace invites the reader to do a deep dive into often murky waters, and she serves as a competent navigator. Her command of the politics of race in the biblical pasts and the present provides a necessary resource for biblical scholarship and teaching. --Tina Pippin, Wallace M. Alston Professor of Bible and Religion, Agnes Scott College