Matriarchs of the Messiah

by Jo Ann Skousen

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also the God of Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. In this fascinating book, renowned scholar Jo Ann Skousen shines light on Christ's maternal ancestors, including the reformed harlot Rahab, the kind and loyal Moabite Ruth, and the beautiful Bathsheba. Filled with insights that still apply today, this is a must-read for followers of the Holy Bible.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Historical

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

Jo Ann Skousen has taught English Literature and Writing at Rollins College in Florida, Mercy College in New York, Chapman University in California, and Sing Sing Correctional Facility “up the river” in New York. She holds a B. A. in American Literature from Rollins College and an M.A. from the University of Florida. An avid traveler, she has led groups through the Mediterranean from Athens to Rome, relating the myths and Bible stories that took place in each location.

For over twenty years Jo Ann taught Scripture study classes at church while also teaching Classic Mythology and Bible Literature in her Honors English courses. Both of these teaching experiences, one focusing on religion and the other on literary archetypes, have given her great insights into the hearts and lives of the people who inhabit the scriptures. She has come to know and love the women of the Bible.

Jo Ann has been married to her husband, financial economist Mark Skousen, for over 40 years. They have lived in Washington DC, the Bahamas, London, Florida, New York and California. In addition to collaborating on 25 books, two investment newsletters, and a large conference business, they are the parents of five children who genuinely like each other. Jo Ann is never happier than when reading aloud to her grandchildren or teaching them to catch a wave at the beach.

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Reviews

[Lindsey Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I’ve gone back and forth as to whether I feel this deserves a 2 or 3 star rating. So, I’ve settled on a 3 just because I feel I did gain some new and valuable insights.

What I liked:
The book covers a fair amount of ancient Jewish law, culture, and Hebrew language, that sheds a lot of light on these scriptural stories. Especially the Old Testament women. Her explanation of “ezer kenegdo” was enlightening and empowering. I feel I understand these women and their stories much more deeply now.

What I didn’t like:

Pure speculation is rarely called out as such. She will move from pure fictional writing into analysis and back again without noting what is actually based in scripture. This is a personal pet peeve, but I also think it would be difficult for someone less familiar with the scriptures to pick up on.

Her chapter on Bathsheba should have been titled “David” as he was the main focus of the chapter. I felt a lot of her analysis fell into faulty and speculative ideas about her being complicit in the adultery. At one point Skousen flirts dangerously close with the idea that David couldn’t help himself. Spare me. The entire Bathsheba chapter was rather disappointing and frustrating to get through.

Finally, her writing style was repetitive, a bit corny, and bland. Which is probably why it took me forever to get through it.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me. Solid 2.5.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Insightful, thought-provoking and quick read. I'll forever remember this as the book I was reading when I went into labor.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses on ten women in Christ's lineage (plus Mary Magdalene and the speculation that she is the same woman as Martha's sister). Narrating their stories and drawing out lessons for today, it is a nice resource with some new scriptural insights. It would benefit from listing Matthew's genealogy and pointing out that only half of these women are actually named in that list: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary--and that Matthew's specific reason for naming them to his Jewish audience was to demonstrate that despite the elements of sexual impropriety and marital irregularity in their history, they were chosen of God for a divine purpose (and thus, so was Mary). The author engages in speculative fiction at the beginning of each women's story that is not supported by scholarship (for instance, Jeff Chadwick's Stone Manger would have illuminated archaeological details about the nativity story that did not include a wood shop, hay, and so on). The cover is very similar to the artwork on Heather Farrell's Walking with the Women of the New Testament, but the two volumes do not appear to be companion works.

[Kerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it a 3 simply because I enjoyed majority of the book. It was an easy read and for me it flowed. Here's where it lost points. The whole chapter on Mary Magdalene. There was no reason for her to be in this book. The title is Matriarchs of the Messiah, Mary Magdalene wasn't one of them. I am not sold in the theory that Mary Magdalene and Mary (sister to Martha) are the same woman. Part of me felt she was filling it with different things to fill a chapter. This for me ruined the whole book.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look on many women ancestors of Christ. Much taken from scripture. Much not. It will definitely give you a different way of looking at some women in the scriptures.

**Talking points - What do you think of the authors hypothesis about each of the different women? What did you like about this book or not like about it?

[Sylvia Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this book and the way it offers a glimpse into the world of these matriarchs. There are a few places where I strongly disagree with the authors interpretations (specifically their response and interpretations in cases involving potential abuse), but overall it’s a great book about biblical women.

[Exponent II · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her book, Matriarchs of the Messiah, Jo Ann Skousen artfully weaves in midrash among insights from scholars, church leaders and the scriptures to develop the stories of the woman and women she is describing. The chapters tell the various stories of Eve, “Mother Noah,” Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary or Mary Magdelene in scripture with additional commentary, insights and thoughts. The midrash sections peppered through each chapter are a fun inclusion; they are easy to read and they empower the readers to freely imagine what might have been going through the hearts and minds of the women at that time. This is delightful! It makes the book less technical and invites whimsy into stories that are sometimes relayed in a static manner.



Skousen’s thoughts are well restrained within Mormon culturalisms. This limits the book to an LDS audience. One example of this manifestation is reflected in her discussion of “modesty” when discussing Eve’s post-Fall thoughts about being naked in front of her husband, Adam (Kindle Locations 448-451). To be clear, the subtitled The Traditional View of Eve is powerful section wherein Skousen shatters the ideology blaming Eve for the Fall; indeed she states that Eve made a wise decision in regard to partaking of the apple. This section is worth the price of the book alone.... the read the rest of this review, please go and visit the Exponent blog here: http://www.the-exponent.com/book-revi...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that details the lives of the women in Jesus's ancestral line that were mentioned in the Bible. I learned a lot of about each of these women and had no idea of their relationship with Jesus.

[Kylee Morby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me build my faith to live my life the way I am guided by the Holy Ghost. I loved learning about what it means to be an ezer kenegdo! I am so grateful for valiant women in scripture after whom I can pattern my life.

[Lynn LeSueur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book on the women in the bible. The Author brings together many authors impressions and translations from the original languages and fills in gaps where some misunderstanding has been taught in the past.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Gave me more insight into these women and how they had choices to make.

[Gene Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book told me the history of the Savior's maternal family, all the way to Eve. I've read it twice and I would read it again.