Gender Studies and Kings

Abstract The name of the books of Kings suggests a focus entirely upon masculine rulers. In fact, the books of Kings present a cross section of the professional, political, and religious roles held by women in ancient Israel and Judah. Beyond highlighting female-specific roles from the text, the text reflects and constructs a specific orientation toward gender. The books of Kings describe and normalize various qualities and roles that were considered appropriate and expected for men and women. The study of gender in Kings must therefore look beyond the reconstruction of the social, political, and religious roles held by men and women to encounter the construction of masculinity and femininity that is inherent to these roles. This chapter reviews scholarship that has focused upon the social and professional roles of the female characters in Kings and considers the ways in which gender figures into the presentation of these characters.