Marla J. Feldman

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. Keturah: Abraham’s Last Wife
Biblical Text: Genesis 25:1–6
Modern Midrash: Keturah, The Great Mother of Many Generations
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Devoted Wife or Concubine?
Author’s Commentary: Keturah’s Missing Story—Filling in the Blanks

2. Leah and Rachel: Devoted Sisters and Bitter Rivals
Biblical Text: Genesis 35:16–21
Modern Midrash: Leah’s Eulogy
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Sisters, Wives, Rivals, and Matriarchs
Author’s Commentary: A Tale of Two Sisters

3. Bat Shua: Judah’s Unnamed Wife
Biblical Text: Genesis 38:1–12
Modern Midrash: The Woman Who Mourns
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Judah’s Family Misfortune
Author’s Commentary: Bat Shua’s Tragic Tale of Lust and Loss

4. Bilhah: The Loving Handmaid
Biblical Text: Genesis 50:15–17
Modern Midrash: A Letter to My Beloved Son Joseph
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Bilhah the Servant, Sister, Surrogate, Spouse
Author’s Commentary: Emissary of Forgiveness

5. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 1: Potiphar’s Unnamed Wife
Biblical Text: Genesis 39:1–19
Modern Midrash: Zuleikha, the Prison Mistress
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Potiphar’s Wife in the Joseph Narrative
Author’s Commentary: A Name and Narrative for Potiphar’s Wife

6. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 2: Puah, Shiphrah, and the Sacred Sisterhood
Biblical Text: Exodus 1:8–22
Modern Midrash: The Sacred Sisterhood
Classical Commentary and Midrash: The Subversive Midwives
Author’s Commentary: The Midwives’ Tale

7. Pharaoh’s Daughters, Part 3: The Princess and the Slave Girl Who Rescue Moses
Biblical Text: Exodus 2:1–9
Modern Midrash: Amat-Bat-Ra, the Servant Savior
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Princess, Protector, Prophet
Author’s Commentary: A Conspiracy of Women

8. Shelomith Bat Dibri: The Blasphemer’s Mother
Biblical Text: Leviticus 24:10–14
Modern Midrash: Testament of Shelomith
Classical Commentary and Midrash: The Biblical Tale of the Blasphemer
Author’s Commentary: A Mother’s Anguish

9. Miriam: Exiled by God, Dwelling beyond the Camp
Biblical Text: Numbers 12:1–16
Modern Midrash: Miriam’s Fringes
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Crime and Punishment
Author’s Commentary: Outcasts and Angels

10. Noah: Daughter of Zelophehad
Biblical Text: Numbers 27:1–8, 36:1–12
Modern Midrash: Noah and Elishama—A Love Story
Classical Commentary and Midrash: Five Righteous Women
Author’s Commentary: Rights Given and Taken Away

Appendix: Overview of Midrash
Glossary of Classical Sources
Notes
Bibliography