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Expanded Wall Label:
The Scarlet Thread and The Golden Cord: Thirteen Women of the Hebrew Scriptures
Edgar G. Boevé
The writers of the Hebrew Scriptures give great attention to the women. They were totally involved in the lives of their men and are often the driving force of their lives together. These women were the mothers of the leaders of lsrael, God's chosen people. The scarlet thread defines the place of those women in the royal line of David. Other women were essential to saving the nation of Israel, therefore, the golden cord.
The intent of the thirteen fabric art works is to interpret the essential character of each woman who contributed to the royal line of the preservation of lsrael by texture, color and design through diverse fabrics gathered from around the world.
Rebekah
Abraham sent his servant to Mesopotamia to seek a wife for his forty-year old son, Isaac. An angel appears twice in this search. The servant met Rebekah who came to water her flocks and he knew she was the chosen one when she gave him a drink as well as drawing water for his camels. The servant gave Rebekah a nose ring and two bracelets whereupon he learned she was the daughter of Abraham's nephew and therefore God's chosen wife for Isaac.
After twenty years of marriage Rebekah bore twins. Esau, the firstborn, was born "red and hairy." Jacob was the quiet son who by deception gained the birthright (Genesis 27:6-29). Rebekah during her pregnancy had been told by God, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger!" Two great bursts of energy erupt as these two forces continue to be in conflict even to our time.
The Scarlet Thread proceeds from Rebekah and Isaac to Jacob and Leah.