Households and Holiness

For too long, some scholars have overlooked women's role in the Israelite religion. Others have treated it as part of "non-orthodox" religion. Carol Meyers identifies this problem and seeks to correct narratives about Israelite women and religion in scholarship. Households and Holiness provides a clear and succinct overview of the religious lives of Israelite women. Meyers stresses the diversity of religious practices in ancient Israel, including "magic" as an important avenue of inquiry. She argues we must examine practices as well as beliefs. The book explores anthropology, archaeological evidence, ethnographic data, and textual sources. Meyers focuses not on women's religion but rather on women's religious culture.