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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.
Rachel
Jacob went to Paddan-aram in a search for a wife. Near Haran he had a dream in which God promised him and his descendants this land. The place he called Bethel. He preceded to the east and came upon a well that was covered with a large stone. When Rachel arrived at the well at "high day," it was not a time to water her sheep. Jacob, nevertheless, rolled the stone away and watered her sheep. Jacob was so consumed by love for Rachel the he "kissed her and wept." This is the only time the Bible records a kiss between a man in love and the woman he loves. Rachel, he discovers, is his uncle Laban's daughter. Jacob agrees to work seven years for Laban to be able to marry Rachel. However, Laban deceives Jacob and secretly marries his older daughter Leah to Jacob. Then Jacob agrees to labor another seven years for Rachel.
The older son of Rachel and Jacob is Joseph. He was greatly envied by his step-brothers when given a coat of many colors. The brothers sold him to a passing group of Egyptians and they carried him to Egypt where he becomes second only to the great Pharaoh. When a famine strikes Canaan his father and brothers find a refuge in Egypt where they prosper and continue to increase.
It is through the intervention of Rachel's son Joseph that Israel is saved and the Golden Cord continues.