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Who is Gomer?

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WHO IS GOMER? Hosea and Gomer   The Book of Hosea is a book of the Nevi’im , or Prophets, in the Jewish scriptures. It is a part of “the 12” or Trei Asar, which is made up of other prophets’ books as well. As the book begins, Hosea is told by the protagonist, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” ( Hosea 1:2 ) The woman he chooses is Gomer. We are told very little about her outside of her being a prostitute as well as a wife and mother. Like other women discussed in the Hebrew scriptures, these roles are discussed as the only significant parts of her story. However, Gomer, like other literary characters, is more complex than the details provided illustrate. Who is she and why does her story matter? The details provided on a base level are not out of the ordinary for other women in the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish scholars, her story is not as basi...
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What is the Significance of Esther's Names?

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Queen Esther The Book of Esther, known as The Megillah in Jewish tradition, is the second book in the Hebrew Scriptures named for a female protagonist. It is part of the Ketuvim , or Writings. The Hebrew word megillah translates to scroll. Esther’s story, typically read from a scroll, is one of five megillahs found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Names are significant in Judaism, as are the Jewish texts that reference Esther’s names. When reading the Bible as a work of literature, it is important to consider the significance of the naming of a character. A traditional Jewish holiday is also tied to Esther’s story, and consequently, her names. Names are significant in many cultures around the world. This is especially true for names of Jewish people. According to the Midrash , one virtue that delivered the Jewish people from Egypt was their decision to not change their names. Names were linked to redemption, language, and separting o...
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