I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

Author Shelly Eshkoli shares the stories of strong and remarkable women who had an impact on the memorable moments of the bible in the book “Unveiled: Women Erased from the Bible.”

The Synopsis

The Bible remembers their names, but not always their voices.

The women of the Bible shaped kingdoms, families, faith, and history, yet many of their stories survive only in fragments.

In Unveiled, biblical scholar and lecturer Shelly Eshkoli returns to the women of the Bible whose lives changed the course of Scripture, yet whose stories were often preserved only in brief, scattered verses. These were women who challenged kings, crossed boundaries, shaped dynasties, defied power, and stood at the center of the biblical drama, even when tradition left them at the margins.

Very little was written about many of the women who shaped the Hebrew Bible. Of their intelligence, courage, faith, leadership, desire, political power, and spiritual force, only traces remain. But those traces are not silent.

With a fresh and penetrating eye, Eshkoli reads between the lines of the biblical text, listening to the words that were preserved, the silences surrounding them, and the hints of what may have been lost through editing, interpretation, tradition, and time. She uncovers the hidden storms inside familiar stories and brings overlooked biblical women into vivid new focus.

Through ten women, and one man, Unveiled invites readers to encounter the Bible’s forgotten heroines with new depth and immediacy: Zipporah, Jephthah’s daughter, Hagar, Lot’s wife, Yael, Tamar, Athaliah, Esther, the Queen of Sheba, and the Medium of Endor, whose story is woven into the final night of King Saul.

Blending biblical history, ancient Near Eastern culture, literary insight, and bold interpretation, Unveiled is written in clear, fluent prose for readers interested in women of the Bible, Old Testament women, biblical women’s stories, feminist biblical interpretation, Jewish and Christian Scripture, and the hidden voices of women pushed to the margins.

For anyone drawn to powerful ancient stories, women in Scripture, biblical history, and the question of what we can still learn today from the Bible’s forgotten women, Unveiled opens the text again and asks us to see what has been there all along.

THE REVIEW

This was such an insightful, engaging non-fiction read. Whether it is in history or in literature, or even in our religions, men are often far more likely to be remembered and seen or acknowledged for their contributions more so than women are, and in this book, the author does a fantastic job of allowing readers to fully immerse themselves into the lives of these women and feel the impact of their actions on the Christian faith and stories found within.

The author writes in a personal yet educational way, allowing the reader to connect with these historical and religious figures that have gone hidden over the years. The book does a wonderful job of showcasing the strength and resilience of these biblical women, as well as their thoughtful, kind-hearted nature. One such example is my personal favorite, the Witch of Endor. A simple act of kindness turns into an introspective look at how we treat others and what it means to face death with dignity.

THE VERDICT

An insightful, authentic, and engaging read, “Unveiled: Women Erased from the Bible” by author Shelly Eshkoli is a must-read non-fiction book on religion, history, and the roles gender plays in society as a whole. Readers, both those with a religious background and those without, will be able to find many aspects of this book to delve into and connect with. The rich insights and the level of knowledge readers gain from understanding these important figures throughout the Bible provide a valuable resource that will allow readers to understand the struggles so many women throughout history have endured and better appreciate the accomplishments women bring to the table in our modern world. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Shelly Eshkoli holds an MA in Biblical Studies and brings to her work a rich background in the life and culture of the ancient Near East. A lecturer and teacher in a wide range of settings, Shelly is also a highly regarded tour guide and group leader in Jerusalem and across the landscapes of the biblical text.