About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherLiturgical Press

ISBN-100814650457

ISBN-139780814650455

eBay Product ID (ePID)1080673

Product Key Features

Book TitleRuth and Esther

Number of Pages272 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicBiblical Commentary / Old Testament, Biblical Studies / Old Testament, Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament

Publication Year1999

GenreReligion

AuthorTimothy K. Beal, Jerome T. Walsh, David W. Cotter, Tod Linafelt, Chris Franke

Book SeriesBerit Olam Ser.

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.9 in

Item Weight19.1 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN99-011352

Dewey Edition21

ReviewsThe volume contributes greatly to the promise of this new series, and alerts us to future important and insightful work we may expect from these emerging scholars. Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary, I highly recommend this volume as a useful resource for upper-level college and graduate students as well as for scholars. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, . . . both commentaries are innovative, evocative, clear, and compelling, disturbing the conventional and traditional explanations of these books. Gene M. Tucker, . . . a new and lively interpretation of Esther which should appeal to all. Society for Old Testament Study, . . . this is a compelling book for anyone interested in the dynamics of human character at the boundaries of existence - where hunger, hatred, desire, and resistance to death are worked out in enigmatic plays of truth and deception - and where God is registered as much by absence as by presence. Carol A. Newsom, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Esther is an unknown book for many Christians. It has been the centre of much recent interest by feminist scholars and it could be of interest as it treats of ethnic, religious and gender discrimination. Vidyajyoti Journal

Dewey Decimal222/.3507

Table Of ContentRUTH - CONTENTS Acknowledgments xi Introduction xiii 1. The Bond Between Ruth and Naomi 1 2. Finding Favor in Boaz's Field 23 3. An Ambiguous Encounter in the Night 45 4. Making It All Legal 63 For Further Reading 83 General Index 85 Index of Scriptural References 87 ESTHER - CONTENTS Acknowledgments vii Introduction ix 1. Beginning with the End of Vashti: Esther 1:1-22 1 2. Remembering to Forget: Esther 2:1-4 17 3. New Family Dynamics: Esther 2:5-18 23 4. Coup: Esther 2:19-23 39 5. Politics of an Anti-Jew: Esther 3:1-15 43 6. Another Quarter: Esther 4:1-17 57 7. Face to Face: Esther 5:1-8 69 8. Fifty Cubits for Mordecai: Esther 5:9-14 73 9. Sleep Deserts: Esther 6:1-14 77 10. Coming Out Party: Esther 7:1-10 87 11. Overwriting: Esther 8:1-17 95 12. Aftermath: Esther 9:1-10:3 107 For Further Reading 119 General Index 122 Index of Scriptural References 125

SynopsisSome ancient works of literature survive in fragments that appear so simple and complete it's hard to imagine them as being part of a larger narrative. Such is the case with Ruth and Esther. On first reading they appear so simple, so whole, and their meanings so completely self-evident. Yet the closer you look, the more perplexing they become. Ruth and Esther offers that close look, enabling readers to discover the uncertainties of the texts and demonstrating how these uncertainties are not problems to be solved, but rather are integral to the narrative art of these texts. In Ruth , the first part of this volume, Tod Linafelt highlights the most unresolved and perplexing aspects of Ruth. In doing so he offers an interpretation he calls "unsettling." Linafelt states that it is unsettling in the sense that he often refuses to ?settle? on a single, unequivocal meaning of a particular word, phrase, or theme. Rather he prefers to underscore the dual or even multiple meanings that the narrative so often has. Another way Ruth differs from other interpretations is that Linafelt entertains the possibility that there might be complexity or ambiguity with regard to the various characters? motivations, the presentation of God, or the book?s purpose. In this commentary, Linafelt explores the ambiguities of meaning built into the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the story to discover how these ambiguities carry over to the larger interpretive issues of characterization, theology, and purpose. He also lays forth an argument that the book of Ruth is intended to be read as an interlude between Judges and Samuel. The second part of this volume focuses on Esther, a story of anti-Judaism that raises strikingly contemporary questions concerning relations between sexism, ethnocentrism, and national identity. In Esther Timothy Beal guides readers into the meaning of the story using rhetorical criticism. He asks questions without assuming that there must be answers and allows for complexity, perplexity, and the importance of accidents in the text. In essence, Beal emphasizes the particular over the general and the tentative over the continuous; however, he does not altogether dismiss the importance of broader interpretations of Esther, especially those focusing on narrative structure. Chapters in Ruth are ?The Bond between Ruth and Naomi,? ?Finding Favor in Boaz?s Field,? ?An Ambiguous Encounter in the Night,? and ?Making It All Legal.? Chapters in Esther are ?Beginning with the End of Vashti: Esther 1:1-22,? ?Remembering to Forget: Esther 2:1-4,? ?New Family Dynamics: Esther 2:5-18,? ?Coup: Esther 2:19-23,? ?Politics of Anti-Judaism: Esther 3:1-15,? ?Another Quarter: Esther 4:1-17,? ?Face to Face: Esther 5:1-8,? ?Fifty Cubits for Mordecai: Esther 5:9-14,? ?Sleep Deserts: Esther 6:1-14,? ?Coming Out Party: Esther 7:1- 10,? ?Overwriting: Esther 8:1-17,? and ?Aftermath: Esther 9:1?10:3.?, Some ancient works of literature survive in fragments that appear so simple and complete it's hard to imagine them as being part of a larger narrative. Such is the case with Ruth and Esther. On first reading they appear so simple, so whole, and their meanings so completely self-evident. Yet the closer you look, the more perplexing they become. Ruth and Esther offers that close look, enabling readers to discover the uncertainties of the texts and demonstrating how these uncertainties are not problems to be solved, but rather are integral to the narrative art of these texts. In Ruth , the first part of this volume, Tod Linafelt highlights the most unresolved and perplexing aspects of Ruth. In doing so he offers an interpretation he calls "unsettling." Linafelt states that it is unsettling in the sense that he often refuses to ?settle? on a single, unequivocal meaning of a particular word, phrase, or theme. Rather he prefers to underscore the dual or even multiple meanings that the narrative so often has. Another way Ruth differs from other interpretations is that Linafelt entertains the possibility that there might be complexity or ambiguity with regard to the various characters? motivations, the presentation of God, or the book's purpose. In this commentary, Linafelt explores the ambiguities of meaning built into the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the story to discover how these ambiguities carry over to the larger interpretive issues of characterization, theology, and purpose. He also lays forth an argument that the book of Ruth is intended to be read as an interlude between Judges and Samuel. The second part of this volume focuses on Esther, a story of anti-Judaism that raises strikingly contemporary questions concerning relations between sexism, ethnocentrism, and national identity. In Esther Timothy Beal guides readers into the meaning of the story using rhetorical criticism. He asks questions without assuming that there must be answers and allows for complexity, perplexity, and the importance of accidents in the text. In essence, Beal emphasizes the particular over the general and the tentative over the continuous; however, he does not altogether dismiss the importance of broader interpretations of Esther, especially those focusing on narrative structure. Chapters in Ruth are ?The Bond between Ruth and Naomi, ? ?Finding Favor in Boaz's Field, ? ?An Ambiguous Encounter in the Night, ? and ?Making It All Legal.? Chapters in Esther are ?Beginning with the End of Vashti: Esther 1:1-22, ? ?Remembering to Forget: Esther 2:1-4, ? ?New Family Dynamics: Esther 2:5-18, ? ?Coup: Esther 2:19-23, ? ?Politics of Anti-Judaism: Esther 3:1-15, ? ?Another Quarter: Esther 4:1-17, ? ?Face to Face: Esther 5:1-8, ? ?Fifty Cubits for Mordecai: Esther 5:9-14, ? ?Sleep Deserts: Esther 6:1-14, ? ?Coming Out Party: Esther 7:1- 10, ? ?Overwriting: Esther 8:1-17, ? and ?Aftermath: Esther 9:1?10:3.?, Some ancient works of literature survive in fragments that appear so simple and complete it's hard to imagine them as being part of a larger narrative. Such is the case with Ruth and Esther. On first reading they appear so simple, so whole, and their meanings so completely self-evident. Yet the closer you look, the more perplexing they become. Ruth and Esther offers that close look, enabling readers to discover the uncertainties of the texts and demonstrating how these uncertainties are not problems to be solved, but rather are integral to the narrative art of these texts. In Ruth , the first part of this volume, Tod Linafelt highlights the most unresolved and perplexing aspects of Ruth. In doing so he offers an interpretation he calls "unsettling." Linafelt states that it is unsettling in the sense that he often refuses to "settle" on a single, unequivocal meaning of a particular word, phrase, or theme. Rather he prefers to underscore the dual or even multiple meanings that the narrative so often has. Another way Ruth differs from other interpretations is that Linafelt entertains the possibility that there might be complexity or ambiguity with regard to the various characters' motivations, the presentation of God, or the book's purpose. In this commentary, Linafelt explores the ambiguities of meaning built into the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the story to discover how these ambiguities carry over to the larger interpretive issues of characterization, theology, and purpose. He also lays forth an argument that the book of Ruth is intended to be read as an interlude between Judges and Samuel. The second part of this volume focuses on Esther, a story of anti-Judaism that raises strikingly contemporary questions concerning relations between sexism, ethnocentrism, and national identity. In Esther Timothy Beal guides readers into the meaning of the story using rhetorical criticism. He asks questions without assuming that there must be answers and allows for complexity, perplexity, and the importance of accidents in the text. In essence, Beal emphasizes the particular over the general and the tentative over the continuous; however, he does not altogether dismiss the importance of broader interpretations of Esther, especially those focusing on narrative structure. Chapters in Ruth are "The Bond between Ruth and Naomi," "Finding Favor in Boaz's Field," "An Ambiguous Encounter in the Night," and "Making It All Legal." Chapters in Esther are "Beginning with the End of Vashti: Esther 1:1-22," "Remembering to Forget: Esther 2:1-4," "New Family Dynamics: Esther 2:5-18," "Coup: Esther 2:19-23," "Politics of Anti-Judaism: Esther 3:1-15," "Another Quarter: Esther 4:1-17," "Face to Face: Esther 5:1-8," "Fifty Cubits for Mordecai: Esther 5:9-14," "Sleep Deserts: Esther 6:1-14," "Coming Out Party: Esther 7:1- 10," "Overwriting: Esther 8:1-17," and "Aftermath: Esther 9:1--10:3."

LC Classification NumberBS1315.3.L45 1999