Consider the Women: A Provocative Guide to Three Matriarchs of the Bible

Blue (Consider the Birds), founding minister of House of Mercy in St. Paul, Minn., examines the biblical stories of Esther, Hagar, and Mary to highlight how underrepresented they are in contemporary Christian scholarship. A beautiful aspect of the biblical canon, writes Blue, is that one can look back on an endless matrix of interpretation written over thousands of years. Subversive rather than subservient, Blue’s book directly disrupts male narratives and interpretations. She offers fresh insights on her heroines: Esther is presented as a pioneering “young, clever, and Jewish” girl who opportunistically seizes her chance for a better life; Hagar is the first person in the Bible to weep; and Mary, Blue reminds readers, “breastfeeds God”—an aspect of Mary’s story that she feels is often conveniently overlooked. Blue also relates instances when her female subjects are celebrated enthusiastically, including at Purim parties and in modern Aztec dances. Her writing is clear, engaging, and funny but also maintains seriousness: “It’s not just women who will suffer if white men remain in their place of historic supremacy; it’s anyone who is not a wealthy, healthy, white male.” Blue’s message of a female-centric rereading of scripture will resonate with academics and any general reader of Christian theology. [em](Mar.) [/em]