Symmetry, Ruth and Canon
The book of Ruth has proven problematic insofar as scholars have not been able to agree upon its structure, purpose or meaning. This article proposes that a key to each of these may be found in the first six verses of the book. After suggesting that these verses evince a symmetrical pattern, the aut...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2003
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2003, Volume: 28, Issue: 2, Pages: 175-191 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | The book of Ruth has proven problematic insofar as scholars have not been able to agree upon its structure, purpose or meaning. This article proposes that a key to each of these may be found in the first six verses of the book. After suggesting that these verses evince a symmetrical pattern, the author then explores what canonical connections might be implied by such an arrangement. The author argues for a ‘Davidic’ reading of the entire book, not by emphasizing the genealogy, but by focusing on the book’s introduction and presenting it, and the story that follows, as a figurative expression of an exilic (or post-exilic) hope for the restoration of the Davidic dynasty. |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/030908920302800203 |
