Greetings Red Tenters!

Welcome to our first discussion of The Red Tent which is a historical fiction novel set in the ancient world. We learn about a time where men had 4 wives, younger sisters are given as concubines for dowry, and women gathered monthly and during/after childbirth in the Red Tent.

We will be discussing the Prologue through Part 2 Chapter 1 here, so if you read ahead, please do not write any spoilers beyond this section.

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Summary of Prologue through Part 2 Chapter 1

Dinah, our narrator, explains that she is sharing her story to elaborate on her brief mention in the Old Testament. (Warning, there are spoilers of her story in the link) – Here is the Passage.

Dinah explains how her mothers met her father, Jacob. Rachel desires to marry Jacob but he must wait until her first menstruation. Rachel’s father, Laben, comes to an arrangement with Jacob. He will marry Rachel once she is mature enough. Half-sister Bilhah, is promised as a handmaiden to Rachel and a concubine to Jacob later when she is old enough.

Leah, the oldest and more capable sister, is jealous of Rachel and pines for Jacob. Half-sister, Zilpah, devises a plan. They scare poor young Rachel about Jacob’s enormous eggplant and how it will be painful on her wedding night. Leah agrees to step in and take one for the team. Jacob spends seven blissful nights with Leah before confronting Laben about being duped.

Jacob bargains and keeps Leah as a wife with Zilpah as his future concubine. And he still gets Rachel as a wife and Bilhah as originally arranged. Jacob assures Rachel that although she gave up first wife position, she will always be his true first wife… awwww.

Rachel has numerous miscarriages while Leah bears five boys. Rachel works as an apprentice for midwife, Inna, and becomes an experienced midwife. Rachel shares the experience of pregnancy and Bilhah’s birth to a boy. By law, since she is Rachel’s handmaiden and not Jacob’s true bride, the baby belongs to Rachel. But Rachel realizes this boy will not fulfill her maternal needs and she returns the baby to Bilhah and renews her love with Jacob.

Rachel has Zilpah go to Jacob’s bed. Zilpah is not into men/Jacob and “does her duty” which results in getting pregnant. Rachel shares this beautiful experience with Zilpah and supports her through a difficult delivery of twin sons. Zilpah is absolved of any future time in Jacob’s bed.

Laben’s wife, Ruti, is abused by Laben and asks Rachel to brew her a potion to end her pregnancy.

Leah gives birth to twin sons before turning to fennel to avoid further pregnancies. Leah inadvertently becomes pregnant and gives birth to baby girl, Dinah, to the delight of the sisters. They all shower her with motherly love. Rachel is finally pregnant and gives a difficult birth to a son, Joseph (and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).

Dinah and Joseph are playmates as Dinah shadows her mothers. She spends time in the Red Tent, hearing the stories of her mothers.

As we close out this section, Jacob now has 4 wives, 11 sons and one daughter. After Laben gambles away Ruti and Jacob’s best dogs, anger against Laben grows and the sisters have Jacob free Ruti and bring her back.

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EDIT to add Family Tree.jpg) (warning a minor spoiler)

See you in the Comments below!

Next week u/Blackberry_Weary will lead us in discussing Part 2 Chapter 2 through Part 2 Chapter 5 on Sunday, January 28th. Reading Schedule Link