Scan barcode
ewoudstra's review
5.0
This book is beautifully written. It takes the reader on a journey through Exodus from the eyes of the women. Kelly uses Prophetic Immagination to bring to life the lives and stories of the women of Exodus wand weaves it together with modern women who are undertaking the same drive for justice and liberation.
This quote sums up well the trajectory of the book:
We are all Miriam's descendants with work to do, songs to sing and liberation to practice until every pharaoh is dethroned and every captive set free. Women are not the soft side of church work. We aren't meant to educate only women and children. We are not serving well only when we are supporting the men in leadership. We are called to be Exodus strong and to work alongside men to set people on both sides of the Nile free from slavery, complicity, and all manner of injustice. Liberation work is part of our Exodus mandate.
This quote sums up well the trajectory of the book:
We are all Miriam's descendants with work to do, songs to sing and liberation to practice until every pharaoh is dethroned and every captive set free. Women are not the soft side of church work. We aren't meant to educate only women and children. We are not serving well only when we are supporting the men in leadership. We are called to be Exodus strong and to work alongside men to set people on both sides of the Nile free from slavery, complicity, and all manner of injustice. Liberation work is part of our Exodus mandate.
drbobcornwall's review
5.0
When we think of the Book of Exodus, we immediately go to Moses, and for good reason. He is the lead character in the story. He is the one whom God calls to lead the people out of Egypt and toward freedom. While this is true, women play an essential role in the story. It's not just a background role, it is a definitive role. Without the women in the Exodus story, there would be no exodus.
Kelley Nikondeha is a skilled and thoughtful storyteller who serves with her husband as the co-director for Communities of Hope in Burundi. In that position, she also serves as chief story-teller.
As revealed in her earlier book [b:Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World|34153588|Adopted The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World|Kelley Nikondeha|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489159096l/34153588._SY75_.jpg|55192313]. She continues that same ability to weave personal stories with biblical story to create a compelling narrative that enlightens and inspires. In her earlier book, Nikondeha shares her own story of being adopted and of being an adoptive parent, explored the concept of adoption in the Bible. Here, she focuses her attention on the Exodus narrative, teasing out the stories of the women of Exodus. But this is not just about a book in the Bible, it is a book about women, biblical or otherwise, who push boundaries to bring freedom to their communities. In reading the book you will discover insight into the biblical book of Exodus, but also into the strength displayed by women who give themselves to the pursuit of freedom.
In this book, Nikondeha offers the women in the Book of Exodus as archetypes for modern women. At one level, she writes that women "can defy the pharaoh's (and pharaonic policies) of our day; we can subvert ordinary tasks for salvific purpose; we can organize for resistance and work in solidarity to repair our neighborhoods." Secondly, these archetypal women "challenge us to consider our social location." That is, she asks concerning the women in this story, which include Hebrew midwives and Pharaoh's daughter, how social position might influence one's actions. (pp. 6-7). She writes that she engages in this work as both a student of scripture and as "a woman hungry for justice." Both are evidenced in this book.
As she begins the story in chapter 1, she seeks to balance the typical story of twelve me with twelve women. There were twelve sons of Jacob, and thus twelve tribes, and more. But here we're asked to imagine twelve women as parallels. But we're introduced not only to biblical women, but also the Batwa women of Burundi, with whom Nikondeha has worked, along with other modern women who have demonstrated courage and leadership.
This conversation sets the stage for the rest of the book. We're invited to consider the lives of Shprah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives who resisted Pharaoh and saved the lives of male Hebrew babies. There is Jochebed, the mother of Moses, who contributed to freedom by relinquishing her beloved son to the daughter of Pharaoh, all of which was aided and abetted by Moses' older sister Miriam. Then there is Bithiah (she's not named in Scripture, but in Jewish tradition, she was given a name). Thus Pharaoh's daughter, who rejected her father's murderous acts and conspired with Jochabed to save Moses. In other words, she leveraged her privilege. Then there's Miriam, who assisted in the transfer of Moses to Bithiah's care. She might have been young, but she was courageous and thoughtful. In this chapter Nikondeha brings into the conversation the students from Parkland, Florida who stood up for gun laws, bravely taking on the NRA, among other stories. There is a chapter on the relationship between Jochebed and Bithiah, as they conspired together to save Moses, suggesting the power fo motherhood. In this chapter she shares her own story of being an adoptive mother to children from Burundi, mixing her family story with the story Trayvon Martin, and the reality that her own son could have been Trayvon.
We move then from Egypt to Midian, where Moses meets the seven sisters, who are strong and determined, herding their flock for their father. Moses will rescue them, but they will teach him as well. The story of the sisters is mixed in with modern stories of women who pushed boundaries, reminding us that women have pushed against injustice. Among those seven sisters was Zipporah, who became Moses' wife, and his savior, when for some reason God attacked him. She is pictured circumcizing their son and using the foreskin to ward off the attack. This leads to a reflection on the story of Mary's anointing of Jesus, which Nikondeha provocatively, but I think rightly suggests anoints Jesus as Messiah. Zipporah and Mary both engage in sacramental, even priestly acts.
When Moses and Zipporah return to Egypt, Nikondeha envisions them encountering a Nile Network of neighbors from two sides of the river, linking Hebrew and Egyptian women in a network that resists Pharaoh. It is this network that leads to the Hebrew women gaining access to Egyptian good for the exodus. This invites us to consider the freeing power of neighborliness.
Finally, we come to a chapter titled "Descendants of Miriam." Here she reminds us that Miriam was a partner with her brothers in moving out of Egypt. Nikondeha pictures Miriam leading the singing and dancing as the Hebrews crossed through the Reed Sea. While Moses may have led the singing, Nikondeha notes that there is good reason to believe that it was Miriam who wrote the songs. Along the way she played the drums. Miriam, as noted here, is the first woman to be declared a prophet. She is the forerunner of those who beat the drums of freedom in the ages to come.
This is one of those books that will open one's eyes to the broader movements of scripture, bringing forth persons who normally are left in the background, giving them a voice in the story. As a good storyteller, she knows how to weave ancient and modern stories into a compelling narrative. You will want to read it. You may well want to study it in groups. With that in mind, the publisher has provided a study guide. I can assure you the Exodus story will never be read the same again after reading it through this lens.
Kelley Nikondeha is a skilled and thoughtful storyteller who serves with her husband as the co-director for Communities of Hope in Burundi. In that position, she also serves as chief story-teller.
As revealed in her earlier book [b:Adopted: The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World|34153588|Adopted The Sacrament of Belonging in a Fractured World|Kelley Nikondeha|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489159096l/34153588._SY75_.jpg|55192313]. She continues that same ability to weave personal stories with biblical story to create a compelling narrative that enlightens and inspires. In her earlier book, Nikondeha shares her own story of being adopted and of being an adoptive parent, explored the concept of adoption in the Bible. Here, she focuses her attention on the Exodus narrative, teasing out the stories of the women of Exodus. But this is not just about a book in the Bible, it is a book about women, biblical or otherwise, who push boundaries to bring freedom to their communities. In reading the book you will discover insight into the biblical book of Exodus, but also into the strength displayed by women who give themselves to the pursuit of freedom.
In this book, Nikondeha offers the women in the Book of Exodus as archetypes for modern women. At one level, she writes that women "can defy the pharaoh's (and pharaonic policies) of our day; we can subvert ordinary tasks for salvific purpose; we can organize for resistance and work in solidarity to repair our neighborhoods." Secondly, these archetypal women "challenge us to consider our social location." That is, she asks concerning the women in this story, which include Hebrew midwives and Pharaoh's daughter, how social position might influence one's actions. (pp. 6-7). She writes that she engages in this work as both a student of scripture and as "a woman hungry for justice." Both are evidenced in this book.
As she begins the story in chapter 1, she seeks to balance the typical story of twelve me with twelve women. There were twelve sons of Jacob, and thus twelve tribes, and more. But here we're asked to imagine twelve women as parallels. But we're introduced not only to biblical women, but also the Batwa women of Burundi, with whom Nikondeha has worked, along with other modern women who have demonstrated courage and leadership.
This conversation sets the stage for the rest of the book. We're invited to consider the lives of Shprah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives who resisted Pharaoh and saved the lives of male Hebrew babies. There is Jochebed, the mother of Moses, who contributed to freedom by relinquishing her beloved son to the daughter of Pharaoh, all of which was aided and abetted by Moses' older sister Miriam. Then there is Bithiah (she's not named in Scripture, but in Jewish tradition, she was given a name). Thus Pharaoh's daughter, who rejected her father's murderous acts and conspired with Jochabed to save Moses. In other words, she leveraged her privilege. Then there's Miriam, who assisted in the transfer of Moses to Bithiah's care. She might have been young, but she was courageous and thoughtful. In this chapter Nikondeha brings into the conversation the students from Parkland, Florida who stood up for gun laws, bravely taking on the NRA, among other stories. There is a chapter on the relationship between Jochebed and Bithiah, as they conspired together to save Moses, suggesting the power fo motherhood. In this chapter she shares her own story of being an adoptive mother to children from Burundi, mixing her family story with the story Trayvon Martin, and the reality that her own son could have been Trayvon.
We move then from Egypt to Midian, where Moses meets the seven sisters, who are strong and determined, herding their flock for their father. Moses will rescue them, but they will teach him as well. The story of the sisters is mixed in with modern stories of women who pushed boundaries, reminding us that women have pushed against injustice. Among those seven sisters was Zipporah, who became Moses' wife, and his savior, when for some reason God attacked him. She is pictured circumcizing their son and using the foreskin to ward off the attack. This leads to a reflection on the story of Mary's anointing of Jesus, which Nikondeha provocatively, but I think rightly suggests anoints Jesus as Messiah. Zipporah and Mary both engage in sacramental, even priestly acts.
When Moses and Zipporah return to Egypt, Nikondeha envisions them encountering a Nile Network of neighbors from two sides of the river, linking Hebrew and Egyptian women in a network that resists Pharaoh. It is this network that leads to the Hebrew women gaining access to Egyptian good for the exodus. This invites us to consider the freeing power of neighborliness.
Finally, we come to a chapter titled "Descendants of Miriam." Here she reminds us that Miriam was a partner with her brothers in moving out of Egypt. Nikondeha pictures Miriam leading the singing and dancing as the Hebrews crossed through the Reed Sea. While Moses may have led the singing, Nikondeha notes that there is good reason to believe that it was Miriam who wrote the songs. Along the way she played the drums. Miriam, as noted here, is the first woman to be declared a prophet. She is the forerunner of those who beat the drums of freedom in the ages to come.
This is one of those books that will open one's eyes to the broader movements of scripture, bringing forth persons who normally are left in the background, giving them a voice in the story. As a good storyteller, she knows how to weave ancient and modern stories into a compelling narrative. You will want to read it. You may well want to study it in groups. With that in mind, the publisher has provided a study guide. I can assure you the Exodus story will never be read the same again after reading it through this lens.
alicia_joy's review
3.0
I was really excited by the concept behind this book, but I must admit I was left disappointed and think that this book misses the mark in many ways.
My biggest issue with this book is the way Nikondeha recounted the Exodus and supplemental Bible passages/women without differentiating between what is actually present in the Biblical narrative and her speculative editorializing. If this was a work of historical fiction or Bible-based fiction, then sure, create conversations and name characters and fill out the story. But as this is a work of nonfiction, there are way too many liberties taken with the Scriptural narrative. There are no clear lines between the author's imaginings (which is not at all a bad thing to do if it's noted that "I imagine it this way" or "the conversation may have gone something like..."); but instead, she presents her own imaginative gap-fillings and things passed down through tradition as fact in a lot of places. Although I am very familiar with the Exodus narratives she references, I still found myself going back to the Scripture passages to make sure I knew what was fact and what was speculation in what she was narrating. For someone newer to scripture or unfamiliar with the Exodus narratives, I think her narration could be really confusing.
There's an undertone of Universalism to her writing. I am not sure if it was intentional or not, but just putting that out there as for some that would be really important to know before reading it. Also know that Nikondeha has no qualms clearly expressing her opinions on hot-button and polarizing issues going on in the American political landscape. Again, just something to be aware of.
All of that being said, there were parts that I enjoyed. It reiterated my drive towards justice and making our communities better places. I greatly appreciated how she emphasized the role women have in changing the world, as oftentimes in conservative Christian circles, the women do 80% of the work and yet hold no seats at the table. The stories of modern-day world changers that she shared (some known to me, some new) were captivating.
My biggest issue with this book is the way Nikondeha recounted the Exodus and supplemental Bible passages/women without differentiating between what is actually present in the Biblical narrative and her speculative editorializing. If this was a work of historical fiction or Bible-based fiction, then sure, create conversations and name characters and fill out the story. But as this is a work of nonfiction, there are way too many liberties taken with the Scriptural narrative. There are no clear lines between the author's imaginings (which is not at all a bad thing to do if it's noted that "I imagine it this way" or "the conversation may have gone something like..."); but instead, she presents her own imaginative gap-fillings and things passed down through tradition as fact in a lot of places. Although I am very familiar with the Exodus narratives she references, I still found myself going back to the Scripture passages to make sure I knew what was fact and what was speculation in what she was narrating. For someone newer to scripture or unfamiliar with the Exodus narratives, I think her narration could be really confusing.
There's an undertone of Universalism to her writing. I am not sure if it was intentional or not, but just putting that out there as for some that would be really important to know before reading it. Also know that Nikondeha has no qualms clearly expressing her opinions on hot-button and polarizing issues going on in the American political landscape. Again, just something to be aware of.
All of that being said, there were parts that I enjoyed. It reiterated my drive towards justice and making our communities better places. I greatly appreciated how she emphasized the role women have in changing the world, as oftentimes in conservative Christian circles, the women do 80% of the work and yet hold no seats at the table. The stories of modern-day world changers that she shared (some known to me, some new) were captivating.
kitty87228's review
5.0
Beautifully written and couldn't put it down. This book is full of hope. If you desire more than just the few lines that are given to women in the Bible, this book enhances the narratives. Some imaginative storytelling takes place, but I feel it is a truthful reading of the text. Nikondeha weaves modern lady prophets and activists with women in the OT and NT. The study questions at the end could be beneficial for a powerful book club/family read/etc.
bookish_brain1's review
4.0
I am a huge fan of liberation theology, it speaks to me, and honestly helps me navigate through the difficult portions of the Bible and my faith. I love a good dose of feminism, and this book gave me the much-needed medicine I crave. I found the prose engaging and the storytelling delightful and theologically insightful. I often feel like women were almost mentioned in the Bible as an afterthought so to read the exodus story through the lens of sisterhood was so powerful. The author wove throughout the narrative her own personal stories and struggles which gave the book incredible depth. The best part was that I got to share this journey with a group of amazing ladies that contributed to my understanding and appreciation of the text, and gave me a fresh perspective which enhanced my reading experience.
nicoletwalters's review
5.0
Kelley Nikondeha takes us on a journey through the book of Exodus that we have never taken before. She uncovers the liberating work of the women of Scripture we've overlooked. Their stories, weaved together with stories of women throughout history and in our world today, call us all to engage in the work of freedom together. This rich work of beautiful, imaginative theology will breathe hope into souls weary for liberation and ignite a passion in you to connect to the bigger work of what God is doing in the world.
karibaumann's review
In this book, Kelley Nikondeha details 12 women in the book of Exodus and talks about how they used what skills they had to defy the Pharaoh and help with deliverance.
202 has been a year where many Americans have been learning about injustice more and more, and inevitably the question comes, “But what can I do?” I think this book provides a helpful way to think about resisting empire and oppression by providing examples of different types of resistance seen by the women in the story. Perhaps you are more inclined to civil disobedience, or to leveraging your privilege, or crossing boundaries to know your neighbors. This book provides examples and inspiration from women of Exodus and throughout history, showing the power and possibility of communities of women. Recommended for discussion!
202 has been a year where many Americans have been learning about injustice more and more, and inevitably the question comes, “But what can I do?” I think this book provides a helpful way to think about resisting empire and oppression by providing examples of different types of resistance seen by the women in the story. Perhaps you are more inclined to civil disobedience, or to leveraging your privilege, or crossing boundaries to know your neighbors. This book provides examples and inspiration from women of Exodus and throughout history, showing the power and possibility of communities of women. Recommended for discussion!
claireak95's review
5.0
This book was so lovely. The author discusses the women of Exodus and relates it all to current issues and what we can learn from these women. She adds a lot more personality to the women than the bible actually provides, which might bother some people, but I liked it. I have to admit, I'm not sure who the "12" women were; it seemed like we discussed both more and less women than that. This book was beautifully written and addresses so much modern social injustice and I thought it was great. 5/5 stars.