The Women's Bible Commentary - Naomi’s Homecoming
The Women's Bible Commentary - Naomi’s Homecoming
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Naomi’s Homecoming Prologue: Journey to Moab (Ruth 1:1–5) The opening verses briefly recount the migration of a Judean family to Moab. Moab holds the possibility of life when Bethlehem (literally, “house of bread”) has been depleted by famine. But leaving home is often fraught wi…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Natural and Unnatural Acts
The Women's Bible Commentary - Natural and Unnatural Acts
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Natural and Unnatural Acts Within the context of his initial discussion of humanity’s rebellion against God, Paul refers to the “degrading passions”: “Women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, we…
The Women's Bible Commentary - On Government and Power
The Women's Bible Commentary - On Government and Power
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
On Government and Power The royal court takes centre stage in these proverbs that are attributed to Solomon and transmitted by scribes in the court of Hezekiah (ca. 715–687 BCE). Indeed, some interpreters argue that portions of Proverbs 25–29 were used to educate aspiring young m…
The Women's Bible Commentary - No Male and Female?
The Women's Bible Commentary - No Male and Female?
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
No Male and Female? To illustrate the diversity of the body of Christ, Paul asserts that “in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (12:13). Behind this verse is a baptismal formula, reproduced…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Places of Worship, Gang Rape, Genocide, and Wife-Stealing: Two Conclusions
The Women's Bible Commentary - Places of Worship, Gang Rape, Genocide, and Wife-Stealing: Two Conclusions
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Places of Worship, Gang Rape, Genocide, and Wife-Stealing: Two Conclusions Two conclusions complete the book of Judges. They are packed with provocative narratives that enhance discussions about identity, gender, masculinity, and violence…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Passion Narrative
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Passion Narrative
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Passion Narrative Paralleling Mark 14:3–9 and John 12:1–8, Matthew 26:6–13 (cf. Luke 7:36–50) describes Jesus’ anointing. The action has a twofold meaning: Jesus equates it with the rituals accompanying burial (26:12) and so acknowledges women’s religious deed…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Preface to the History
The Women's Bible Commentary - Preface to the History
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Preface to the History Following the opening letters asking the Egyptian Jews to commemorate the purification of the temple, the author opens his preface with a lengthy sentence displaying his facility with the Greek language…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Prayer of Confession
The Women's Bible Commentary - Prayer of Confession
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Prayer of Confession The prayer that follows weaves a contrite response to the warnings of Deuteronomy 28, echoing closely the penitential prayer of Daniel 9: “The Lord our God is in the right, but there is open shame on us today… because we have sinned before the Lord” (1:15–17;…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Proverbs
The Women's Bible Commentary - Proverbs
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Proverbs Many of the themes addressed in 10:1– 15:33 continue, but antithetical proverbs are now mixed with a greater diversity of wisdom genres, including synonymous and synthetic proverbs, “better than” proverbs (e.g., 16:8, 32; 17:1), rhetorical questions (e.g., 17:16; 18:14),…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Rachel: Stealing Laban’s Teraphim
The Women's Bible Commentary - Rachel: Stealing Laban’s Teraphim
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Rachel: Stealing Laban’s Teraphim In an interesting scene leading up to the departure of Jacob and his household from Laban’s land (31:4–16), Jacob speaks to the feuding wives/sisters. He reviews all that has happened to them, tells of a vision he had promising him much of Laban’…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Preparations for Leaving Sinai