Though the Hebrew Bible tends to focus on its male heroes – Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David – four smaller books are distinctly female-oriented. In this study we will explore the books of Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther. Each brings a unique perspective to the question of gender and gender roles in the Bible and in ancient Israel. From the pastoral setting of Ruth to the trauma of Lamentations, from the love poetry of Song of Songs to the court intrigue of Esther, where do these writings come from, and how might we read them today?
