Der Sammelband anlasslich der Emeritierung von Johannes Marboeck, Professor am Institut fur Alttestamentliche Bibelwissenschaft der Karl-Franzens-Universitat Graz, ist dem wichtigsten Arbeitsfeld des Geehrten gewidmet: der Weisheitsliteratur des Alten Testaments. In den zahlreichen Beitragen namhafter Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler wird dieses Thema aus hoechst unterschiedlichen Perspektiven immer neu in den Blick genommen.

Israel's story as a people of God is a tale of women, men, and their children. Moving past a patriarchal reading of the Bible, Fischer presents a new interpretation of neglected biblical narratives. From a gender-balanced perspective, she reveals the political dimension and narrative continuation of ancestral stories in the Book of Ruth. "Women Who Wrestled with God" demonstrates the significance of women in religious history in a way that will inspire as well as inform.

Chapters are: The 'Fathers' and the Beginnings of the People - An Introduction to Israel's Ancestor's, - - Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham: Scenes From a Marriage Under the Promise, - - Rebecca: A Strong Woman With a Colorless Husband, - - Rachel and Leah: The Founders of the House of Israel, - - Dark Sides of the Family Chronicle, - - Subversive Women at the Beginnings of the People in Egypt, - - Naomi and Ruth: The Unconventional Women Ancestors of the Royal House of David, - and - Women Who Wrestled with God. -

"Irmtraud Fischer is professor of Old Testament and women's studies (theology) at the University of Bonn, as well as chair of Old Testament studies at the University of Graz, Austria. President of the European Society for Women's Research in Theology, Fischer was given the 2003 Bad Herrenalber Akademie Preis.""

English summary: According to common interpretations of the Bible Israel traces its origins back to the patriarchs. The promises were passed on to the patriarchs and it was with them that the God of Israel began the story of his chosen people. This view corresponds neither to biblical narratives nor to Jewish self-conception. Israel clearly portrays its origins as a people of God as the history of women and their husbands and children. Irmtraud Fischer explains the political dimension of the 'Erzeltern-Erzahlungen' (the narratives of the matriarchs and patriarchs or parents) as she calls them and their narrative sequel in the Book of Ruth. German description: Nach weit verbreiteter Leseweise der Bibel fuhrt Israel seine Herkunft auf die Erzvater zuruck. An die Patriarchen seien die Verheiaungen ergangen, mit ihnen habe der Gott Israels die Geschichte mit seinem erwahlten Volk begonnen. Diese Sicht entspricht weder den biblischen Uberlieferungen noch dem judischen Selbstverstandnis. Israel erzahlt seine Anfange als Gottesvolk pointiert als Geschichte von Frauen mit ihren Mannern und Kindern. Irmtraud Fischer zeigt die politische Dimension der von ihr sogenannten Erzeltern-Erzahlungen und deren erzahlerischer Fortschreibung durch das Rut-Buch auf.