The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) Stories from the Megillot (Festival Scrolls) Ruth Esther And...

The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

Stories from the Megillot (Festival Scrolls)

RuthEsther

And other scriptural short storiesJonah Judith

Tobit


Stories from the Megillot and other scriptural short stories

Reading the scriptural fable

- historicity is not the essential aspect, rather, the meaning of the story- the background is assumed, the modern reader must learn the context- symbolism is frequent and significant- literary devices should be noticed: humor, irony, parallelism, word- play- allusions to earlier events/writings- the presence of God/faith is often unstated, yet decidedly present



Ruth

Moab – a land often at odds with IsraelLevirate marriage (Dt. 25.5-10) – it was the

responsibility of the nearest male relative to marry a childless widow and provide an heir to the deceased husband



Ruth

- read for the festival of Shavuoth (Pentecost)- dated to either reign of Solomon or post-exile in

reaction to Ezra & Nehemiah's isolationism



Ruth Word-play

the parents: Naomi pleasant (later Mara bitter), Elimelech 'my God is King'the sons: Mahlon sickness, Kilion wastingdaughters-in-law: Orpah 'nape of neck, back', Ruth 'friend, additional one'Jewish city of the family: Bethlehem house of breadthe 'redeemer': Boaz - unknown, also the name of a pillar of Solomon's Temple, often understood as 'in him is strength'the heir: Obed serving

The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures) Stories from the Megillot and other

scriptural short stories

Esther

- associated with Purim- dated to post-exilic period, possibly as late as Maccabean era- historicity: Xerxes and a courtier named 'Marduka', no evidence of an attempted pogrom- heavy use of irony throughout the story- theologically significant as a reminder of Divine Providence


Stories from the Megillot

Esther

The Characters

King Ahasuerus (Xerxes)Queen VashtiMordecai, a JewEsther, Mordecai's neiceHaman, a courtier and the villain



Jonah – the reluctant prophet

Erroneous history and geography Ninevah – a wicked pagan city Sea creature – chaos The sheltering plant

A lesson on divine mercy



Judith Late datingErroneous history and geographyAchior and the summary of Jewish history in ch. 5Judith's reprimand in ch. 8Judith's plot

The issues – God as Israel's protector so long as the nation is righteous

Is it right to do evil for a good cause?



Tobit

A fable Elements of oriental folklore (demons, angels, folk

remedies, Ahiqar)

The cast: Tobit, his son Tobiah The demon Asmodeus, the angel Raphael

Sarah, a Medean widow

The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) Stories from the Megillot (Festival Scrolls) Ruth Esther And...

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