After the death of Sarah, her widower, Avraham, secured a wife for their son, Yitzhak—an early indication of patrilocal marriage. The bride, Rivkah, was the granddaughter of Sarah’s sister, Milkah, setting in motion yet another biblical “family wreath.” Milkah’s husband, Nahor (who was Avraham’s brother) provides us the first biblical instance of concubinage, foreshadowing Yaakov’s wives, Leah and Rachel, and their slave girls and half-sisters, Bilhah and Zilpah, who became Yaakov’s concubines. Like mother, like son: Rivkah and Yaakov were tremendous cooks and connivers, depriving Yaakov’s older brother—the namesake of the Edomites—of his birthright and providing an example for Jewish men. In this episode, Father Jayme explores the misogyny against the women and goddesses of the neighboring Hittites, the shrunken-head idols of ancient peoples, and the ancient practices of castration and human sacrifice. He concludes with the story of the rape of Dinah, an act blamed on her by the misogynistic, patriarchal society that we pray might soon be buried in the past. 

Have you seen the latest issue of Extraordinary Catholics magazine?
Check out other podcasts by and for Inclusive Catholics!
Support Extraordinary Catholics podcast!