Notable Women of Olden Time

In Short

This nineteenth-century work examines nine influential biblical women, tracing how their personal choices, domestic relationships, and moral fiber shaped the history of ancient Israel. Moving sequentially from Sarah and Hagar to Athaliah and Esther, the volume pairs detailed historical and literary analysis with moral reflection. The author treats these figures not as distant icons, but as complex individuals managing power, jealousy, maternal devotion, and exile. The work has endured because it grounds timeless ethical questions in vivid narrative, showing how quiet domestic actions and public political moves carry far-reaching consequences across generations.

The Story

The narrative arc follows the historical sequence of the Old Testament, exploring the intersection of divine providence and human agency through the lives of key women. It begins in the patriarchal age with Sarah, who accompanies Abraham into a strange land to establish a nation. Her household experiences severe domestic tension as her initial childlessness prompts the introduction of her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar. When Hagar bears Ishmael, long years of rivalry and heartache ensue. Upon the miraculous birth of Isaac, Sarah demands Hagar’s dismissal, sending the unloved wife and her son into the desert, where divine intervention preserves them to found a vast lineage.

The focus shifts to the next generation with Rebekah, whose preference for her son Jacob prompts a scheme of deception against her husband Isaac and her elder son Esau. By securing the patriarchal blessing for Jacob through artifice, Rebekah achieves her immediate goal but fractures her family, forcing Jacob to flee for his life and separating mother and son forever. Jacob’s exile leads to the household of Laban, where the rival sisters Leah and Rachel compete for his affection. Leah, unloved yet fertile, finds solace in her faith and her growing family, while the favored Rachel struggles with envy until the birth of her own children.

As the Israelites grow into a nation, female influence expands into the public and political realms. Miriam watches over the infant Moses in the Nile, ensuring his survival and subsequent education in the Egyptian court, which prepares him to lead his people. Centuries later, during a period of national oppression, Deborah arises as a prophetess and judge under her palm tree, combining male sagacity with domestic virtue to rally Israel to victory when no male leader steps forward.

The history grows darker with the entrance of foreign queens who introduce idolatry and tyranny. Jezebel of Tyre uses artifice and political dominance to suppress the worship of Jehovah and confiscate private property by violence. Her daughter, Athaliah, brings this corrupting influence to Judah, seizing power by slaughtering the royal house until she is overthrown in a counter-revolution at the Temple. Finally, the narrative culminates in the Persian capital of Susa with the orphan queen Esther. When Haman plots the total destruction of the Jewish people, Esther hazards her life by approaching King Ahasuerus unbidden. Through calculated banquets and quiet dignity, she exposes Haman’s malice, secures her people’s salvation, and sees her guardian Mordecai elevated to power.

How It Unfolds

The patriarchal foundations Sarah leaves her ancestral home to wander in Canaan, enduring decades of waiting before giving birth to Isaac and establishing a permanent burial place in Hebron.

The outcast in the wilderness Hagar suffers domestic mistreatment, flees into the desert, and submits to divine command, returning to bear Ishmael before her ultimate exile into the wild.

The scheme of inheritance Rebekah uses deceit to secure Isaac’s blessing for Jacob, succeeding in her ambition only to cause a bitter family rift that drives her favorite son into lifelong banishment.

The house of strife Leah and Rachel compete for Jacob’s love, with the unloved Leah finding peace in her faith while the indulged Rachel wrestles with jealousy and home idols.

The protection of the lawgiver Miriam guards the infant Moses along the Nile, fostering the family ties and faith that sustain him through his upbringing in the royal Egyptian court.

The judge under the palm Deborah governs Israel with wisdom and courage, calling forth military leaders to break twenty years of foreign oppression when priest and prince have failed.

The shadow of idolatry Jezebel and her ambitious daughter Athaliah manipulate royal courts, promote pagan rites, and shed innocent blood, bringing ruin upon their respective kingdoms.

The rescue of a nation Esther risks execution by appearing before Ahasuerus, outwitting the malignant courtier Haman, and saving her doomed people from state-sanctioned massacre.

The People

• Sarah wants to see God's promise of an heir fulfilled, but her initial barrenness leads her to offer Hagar to Abraham; she ends her life as a respected matriarch buried in the land of promise.
• Hagar seeks safety and recognition for her son Ishmael, but her pride and unloved status provoke Sarah’s wrath; she matures into a resilient wilderness survivor whose descendants become desert princes.
• Rebekah wants to ensure her favored son Jacob receives the patriarchal blessing, but her treacherous methods ruin her household; she ends up permanently separated from the child she sought to exalt.
• Leah longs for the love of her husband Jacob, yet she remains secondary to her sister; through her trial, she shifts her reliance toward God and finds quiet dignity as the mother of key tribes.
• Rachel demands the love and exclusive devotion of Jacob alongside the blessing of children, but her petulance and secret cling to household idols mark her life; she dies in child-bearing along the road to Ephrath.
• Deborah seeks the deliverance of her people from foreign oppression; using her moral authority and legal wisdom, she leads Israel to political and spiritual restoration.
• Jezebel seeks absolute monarchical power and the imposition of Phoenician idolatry; her ruthless tyranny leaves her name a lasting symbol of unprincipled ambition.
• Athaliah desires complete control over the kingdom of Judah, slaughtering her own kin to secure the throne; she meets a violent end outside the Temple walls.
• Esther desires to save her endangered nation from annihilation; she evolves from a passive orphan in the harem into a courageous queen who risks her life for her people.

In Its Own Voice

"The history of the world would be thus remembered as the traditional recollections of a family, and repeated as the familiar remembrances of a single household."

The author reflects on how early human history passed from Adam through Methuselah to Shem and Abraham, connecting distant centuries through personal, domestic speech.

"A wife unloved, neglected--a mother disregarded--a woman held in bondage by one who had made her a rival--dwelling in the presence of him who had put her from him!"

This portrait captures the emotional weight of Hagar’s isolation within Abraham's camp after the birth of Ishmael.

"She came between God and his soul."

The text warns against unholy influences in private life, pointing to how a companion's character quietly alters a leader's spiritual direction.

What It's Really About

The book explores how moral character operates in both private homes and public institutions. It argues that personal transgressions—such as Rebekah's intrigue or Rachel's envy—inevitably bring their own earthly punishment, regardless of whether the ultimate objective is achieved. Domestic choices directly shape national history: the small squabbles between wives or sisters reverberate across generations, producing rival nations like Israel and Ishmael, or Israel and Amalek. Furthermore, the volume examines the dual nature of female influence, contrasting the constructive leadership of Deborah and Esther with the destructive ambition of Jezebel and Athaliah. Underlying every narrative is the idea that divine providence works through human weakness and historical upheaval to preserve truth.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate historical character studies, biblical commentary, and nineteenth-century prose will find much to admire in this volume. The writing carries a calm, measured rhythm that treats ancient narratives with serious psychological curiosity rather than mere abstract theology. It excels at drawing clear, vivid scenes—such as Abraham negotiating for Sarah's tomb with the sons of Heth, or Esther confronting Haman at a royal banquet.

Modern readers must navigate the distinct stylistic markers of its era, including didactic moralizing, elevated rhetorical phrasing, and explicit nineteenth-century Christian framing. The text does not shy away from severe judgments on ancient customs and non-Christian religions, reflecting the strict denominational standards of its publisher. Yet despite these period conventions, the volume remains engaging because it focuses intently on human motivation, family dynamics, and the ethical dilemmas that arise when power, love, and duty collide. It offers a fascinating look at how earlier generations read sacred biography to find practical wisdom for daily life.