I’m visiting an old favorite of mine by writing about The Red Tent. This is a historical fiction that tells the story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, who is only mentioned briefly in the Bible. Dinah is the one that her mothers (Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilah) pass their stories too. During the time of menstration, the women are separated from the men and spend time resting in the red tent, from their work the rest of the month.
I realize that this was a fictional story but it was so interesting to me to read the story of Jacob and his wives in the Bible and then to read this story. It fills in details and provides a clear picture and story to their daily struggles living in a home with many wives and children. There is jealousy, competition, love and tradition. Each of the wives are so much more vividly defined than their short mentions in the Bible.
The place where I felt this story really got interesting (and varied from the story I knew) was the time Dinah went with Rachel to Shechem to help deliver a baby and met the the man who in the biblical story, rapes her. In The Red Tent, they meet, fall mutually in love, and go to bed immediately with each other. Shalem goes to Jacob and tries to find what bride price he can pay to make Dinah his wife. Jacob requests that all of the men in Shechem become circumcised like the men in the house of Jacob and then his sons proceed to kill the men as they are recovering. Dinah leaves her family behind and travels as a widow, pregnant, with her new mother-in law to her home where she lives the rest of her life. It was an interesting account of the story. I found this to be a very good book and it’s one I still visit from time to time like an old friend. I enjoy it each time.
08/09/2009 at 3:59 pm Permalink
I’ve always wanted to read this. Sounds good!