Reading the Megillot: A Literary and Theological Commentary (Reading the Old Testament)

by Jeanette Mathews

Publisher:

Smyth & Helwys

, 2023

Overview

The Jewish festival scrolls known as the Megillot is a collection of Old Testament books that recognize that life itself—with all its joys and griefs, successes and failures, achievements and yearnings—can be a key to interpreting Scripture.

In Reading the Megillot, Jeanette Mathews uses her own translations to reimagine each book as a different type of performance: Songs of Songs as a Greek play, Ruth as a miniseries, Lamentations as performance poetry, Ecclesiastes as a television talk show, and Esther as a pantomime. Each script is introduced with historical and literary context and followed by commentary highlighting performative features that shed new light on biblical traditions. These close readings reveal important connections between the books and contemporary issues. Through these scrolls, the drama of human experience becomes a touchpoint for faithful reenactment by new audiences.

Key Features

• Highlights the artistry of composition inherent in the texts of the Megillot.
• Illustrates that ancient biblical texts speak to us today.
• Proposes fresh ways to bring them to life for modern audiences.

Praise for the Print Edition

Jeanette Mathews is well known for her creative application of insights from performance criticism when interpreting Hebrew Bible texts. This commentary on the five Megillot is no exception. Mathews consistently and skillfully read each of the five books from the perspective of performance criticism. She creatively translates each book as a “script” intended for aural performance. I have great appreciation for her focus on the five books’ liturgical importance in the Jewish festive calendar, the commentary on each book from the perspective of performance criticism, and the author’s grappling with the implications of these books (called “Connections”) for postmodern societal issues like gender based violence, xenophobia, inequality, and poverty. The book illustrates that ancient biblical texts speak to us today!

—Prof Gert T.M. Prinsloo. Department of Ancient and Modern Languages and Cultures. University of Pretoria

By viewing the Megillot through the lens of performance, Mathews builds a bridge for scholars and ordinary readers, clergy and lay people, performers and audiences to meet and explore these rich texts in both old and new ways. She synthesizes the best of scholarship on the ancient situation of the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther; leads us to see how each is used in Jewish festivals; connects each to major life events of every human; proposes fresh ways to bring them to life for modern audiences; and draws us into the struggle for justice and peace in our world. A creative and engaging book worthy of close study. I’m going to try out her proposals for performing them!

—Peter S. Perry. Associate Affiliate Professor of New Testament. Fuller Seminary

In this study of the five Megillot, Jeanette Mathews has reinvented the genre of biblical commentary. Her interpretation of the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther applies multiple hermeneutical perspectives, connects the texts with Jewish festivals and other cultic practices, and offers performance-sensitive translations that invite readers to become involved in the texts. Immensely informative and based on deep knowledge of a wide range of historical, religious, and literary issues, this volume equally speaks to graduate students, biblical scholars, and a general readership.

—Werner H. Kelber. Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner. Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies. Rice University

Product Details

• Title: Reading the Megillot: A Literary and Theological Commentary
• Author: Jeanette Mathews
• Series: Reading the Old Testament Series
• Publisher: Smyth & Helwys
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 292
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Talmud. Megillah › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9781641734073, 1641734078
• Resource ID: LLS:ROTMEG
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-31T00:00:03Z

About Jeanette Mathews

Jeanette Mathews is Head of School and Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies in the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University, based at St. Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra, Australia. Prior to joining St. Mark’s she was ordained as a Baptist minister and worked in Baptist churches in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Her theological education took place at Baptist Theological Seminary (Rüschlikon), the University of Cape Town, and Charles Sturt University. Her research focus is Biblical Performance Criticism of the Hebrew Bible.