What is it about?
In Genesis 16 and 21, Hagar encounters water in many diverse forms (a spring, in a waterskin, in her own tears, and as a well). This article focuses on the ways water appears in these stories, drawing parallels between the character of water and Hagar's own character development. This in turn addresses many interpretive issues in these passages.
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Why is it important?
Biblical interpretation frequently marginalizes non-human characters in narratives, despite the fact that the original authors and audiences of these texts would have been more attuned to these characters than are modern interpreters. Ecomimetic interpretation (identifying with such non-human characters) helps to correct this marginalization and shed light on interpretive difficulties.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Women, Wells, and Springs: Water Rights and Hagar’s Tribulations, Biblical Theology Bulletin Journal of Bible and Culture, November 2020, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0146107920958986.
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