Ruth & Esther (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary | SHBC)
Overview
Ruth and Esther are the only two women for whom books of the Hebrew Bible are named. This distinction in itself sets the books apart from other biblical texts that bear male names, address the community through its male members, recall the workings of God and human history through a predominately male perspective, and look to the future through male heirs. These books are particular stories of survival. The story of Ruth focuses on the survival of a family, Esther on the survival of a people. As biblical characters, Ruth and Esther are women of their own times—and prove to be archetypal women for all times. Each conforms to the cultural norms of their story’s setting while pressing against boundaries of domination and privilege that limit female and outsider participation. As female characters, Ruth and Esther stand in a long line of biblical women who emerge as heroes in their stories. Each is a part of ancient Israel’s larger story of what it means to live as people of God.
Top Highlights
“stories, Ruth is the foreigner among Jews, and Esther the Jew among foreigners.” (Page 5)
“As female characters, Ruth and Esther stand in a long line of biblical women who emerge as heroes in their stories.” (Page 7)
“Ruth, ‘In the days that the judges ruled.’2 Likewise, Ruth stands before 1 Samuel, which describes the rise of David. Since Ruth ends by naming David twice (4:17, 22) and the climax of the story announces David’s entrance into the narrative, the LXX translators may have thought it was logical to place it there.” (Page 1)
“To read the Bible with an eye toward intertextuality is to think of it as a network of texts that developed over time in a variety of settings. Thus a particular text or tradition might validate, broaden, or contest another text as the biblical witness stretches across centuries of adherents.” (Page 9)
“The story of Ruth focuses on the survival of a family, while Esther focuses on the survival of a people.” (Page 5)
- Title: Ruth & Esther
- Author: Kandy Queen-Sutherland
- Series: Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary
- Publisher: Smyth & Helwys
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Ruth › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Esther › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:SHC08RU
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T17:12:14Z