✍ Scribed by Joseph Coleson, Sarah B. C. Derck, Elaine Bernius
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Commentary Editors
Table of Contents
Abbreviations
General Editors’ Preface
RUTH
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Table of Sidebars and Excursuses
INTRODUCTION
A. Composition of Ruth
1. Authorship
2. Dating
3. Purpose
B. Structure and Features
C. Ruth in the Canon
D. How Should We Read Ruth?
E. Theological Themes
1. .esed
2. Providential Provision
3. Redemption
COMMENTARY
I. How Elimelek’s Plan Worked Out: Ruth 1:1-22
A. Loss after Loss (1:1-5)
B. Three Widows, Then Two (1:6-18)
C. Home with Naomi (1:19-22)
II. How Ruth’s Plan Worked Out: Ruth 2:1-23
A. Seeking Food (2:1-3)
B. Finding Favor (2:4-17)
C. Home to Naomi (2:18-23)
III. How Naomi’s Plan Worked Out: Ruth 3:1-18
A. Risking All for a Mother-in-Law (3:1-6)
B. Ruth and Boaz’s Extreme Obedience (3:7-15)
C. Home to Naomi, Again (3:16-18)
IV. How Boaz’s Plan Worked Out: Ruth 4:1-22
A. Boaz the Shrewd (4:1-6)
B. Sealing the Deal (4:7-12)
C. A Home for Naomi (4:13-17)
D. Epilogue (4:18-22)
SONG OF SONGS
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Table of Sidebars and Excursuses
INTRODUCTION
A. Date and Authorship
B. Content
1. Anthology or Story?
2. Keeping Track of Speakers
3. Structure
C. Literary Forms and Features
1. Parallelism
2. Metaphor
3. Wa.f
4. Wisdom Literature
D. Interpretive Approaches
1. The Song as Allegory
2. An Anthology of Love Songs
3. Drama: Two- or Three-Person Love Story
4. Liturgies, etc.
E. Theological Themes: An Invitation to Celebrate
1. The “Rightness” of Sex
2. Gender Equality in Sexual Expression
3. The Beauty and Delights of God’s Creation
4. Necessary Safeguards
5. An Embrace of Embodiment
F. The Place and Function of the Song in the Canon
COMMENTARY
I. Title: Song of Songs 1:1
II. Harbingers and Tastes of Love: Song of Songs 1:2—2:7
A. She: Take Me Away! . . . Where Can I Find You? (1:2-7)
B. He: Most Beautiful of Women (1:8-11)
C. She: My Beloved Is (1:12-14)
D. A Repartee of Love (1:15—2:2)
E. She: Like an Apple Tree (2:3-7)
III. Presence and Absence: Ways of Love: Song of Songs 2:8—3:5
A. He: Come with Me! (2:8-15)
B. She: My Beloved Is Mine and I Am His (2:16-17)
C. She: Where Is He? (3:1-5)
IV. Celebrating and Consummating Love: Song of Songs 3:6—5:1
A. Friends: Who Is This? (3:6-11)
B. He: How Beautiful, My Darling! (4:1-7)
C. He: Come with Me! (4:8-15)
D. She/He: Invitation to Joy (4:16—5:1)
V. Absence and Presence: Vicissitudes of Love: Song of Songs 5:2—8:4
A. She (with Dialogue): I Am My Beloved’s and He Is Mine (5:2—6:3)
B. He (with Dialogue): Lovely as Jerusalem (6:4-13 [6:4—7:1 HB])
C. He: How Beautiful! How Pleasing! (7:1-9a [2-10a HB])
D. She: I Am My Beloved’s! (7:9b [10b HB]—8:4)
VI. Enduring Love, Hers to Give: Song of Songs 8:5-14
ESTHER
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
A. Methodology
B. Placement in the Canon
C. Versions of Esther
D. Historical Setting and Chronology
E. Theological Themes
1. Reversals (Peripety)
2. Divine Hiddenness
3. Divine Providence
4. How to Live in Diaspora
COMMENTARY
I. Queen Vashti Deposed: Esther 1:1-22
A. The Stage: Persia’s Court (1:1-4)
B. Let the Feasting Continue! (1:5-9)
C. The King Demands and the Queen Defies (1:10-15)
D. Memukan’s Speech (1:16-20)
E. Vashti Deposed (1:21-22)
II. Esther Made Queen: Esther 2:1-20
A. The King’s Regret and Another Edict (2:1-4)
B. Enter Mordecai and Esther (2:5-7)
C. Esther in the Palace (2:8-11)
D. Preparation (2:12-14)
E. Esther’s Ascent (2:15-20)
III. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy: Esther 2:21-23
IV. Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews: Esther 3:1-15
A. Enter Haman (3:1-6)
B. Haman’s Proposal (3:7-11)
C. Haman’s Edict (3:12-15)
V. Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help: Esther 4:1-17
A. Jews Respond with Mourning and Weeping (4:1-5)
B. Mordecai Calls Esther to Act (4:6-8)
C. Esther Responds with Uncertainty (4:9-11)
D. Mordecai’s Final Charge (4:12-14)
E. Let It Be Done!—Esther’s Final Response (4:15-17)
VI. Esther’s Request to the King: Esther 5:1-8
A. Esther Appears before the King (5:1-5)
B. Esther’s First Banquet (5:6-8)
VII. Haman’s Rage against Mordecai: Esther 5:9-14
VIII. Mordecai Honored: Esther 6:1-14
A. The King Battles Insomnia (6:1-6)
B. Haman Hatches His Most Honorable Scheme (6:7-9)
C. Haman’s Humiliation (6:10-14)
IX. Haman Impaled: Esther 7:1-10
A. Esther’s Second Banquet (7:1-6)
B. Haman’s Demise (7:7-10)
X. Reversals Abound: Esther 8:1-17
A. The King’s Edict on Behalf of the Jews (8:1-14)
B. Response to the Second Edict (8:15-17)
XI. The Triumph of the Jews: Esther 9:1-19
XII. Purim Established: Esther 9:20-32
XIII. The Greatness of Mordecai: Esther 10:1-3
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