The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies

Julia M. O'Brien is the Paul H. and Grace L. Stern Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary. She is the co-editor (with Chris Franke) of Aesthetics of Violence in the Prophets (T & T Clark, 2010), and the author of Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets (Westminster John Knox, 2008); Nahum through Malachi in the Abingdon Old Testament Commentary Series (Abingdon, 2004); and Nahum (Sheffield Academic Press, 2001; second edition Sheffield Phoenix, 2009). She has been a contributor to various Oxford reference works (two editions of the New Oxford Annotated Bible; Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East; and the Oxford Bible Commentary), as well as other reference volumes including Theological Bible Commentary; New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible.

• Editorial Board ; Editorial and Production Staff ; List of Articles ; Series Introduction ; Preface ; Abbreviations Used in This Work ; A-Z Entries ; Topical Outline of Contents ; Directory of Contributors ; Index

"A significant contribution to the field of biblical studies...The work as a whole is an exceptional achievement that will not only serve newcomers to gender criticism but also foster the opportunity for dialogue among scholars who are more seasoned in this work. In particular, the breadth in both methodological approaches and historical/geographic categories provides an opportunity for fruitful interdisciplinary efforts. In addition, the thoughtful discussionof future research directions by a number of authors in the volume may well serve to challenge and energize future research endeavors."--Review of Biblical Literature"[T]he average user will find a perfect balance between information overload and underload. There is easily enough content and data to satisfy academics doing research but not so much to overwhelm the casual reader." --Wade Osburn, Booklist"Compiled by editor O'Brien (Lancaster Theological Seminary), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies--one of eight completed or projected two-volume titles in the 'Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible' series--is, to this reviewer's knowledge, the first reference work of its kind. Though one can readily find resources that cover feminist interpretations of the Bible or queer theology, there has not been anything that aims to provide acomprehensive critique of biblical literature through the lens of gender. This truly interdisciplinary work presents international scholarship by ancient historians, archaeologists, gender theorists, biblicalscholars, and classicists... Highly recommended." --CHOICE