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Post by richardklein on Apr 1, 2015 8:45:33 GMT -6
I was reading Robert L. Hubbard's commentary on the Book of Ruth in the NICOT
at Ruth 2:6-7. What is your view regarding what is happening there in the Book of Ruth historically?
Not every commentator or version of the text is in agreement. Even the Hebrew
there can be challenging. It was surprising to me,
the strong case Hubbard makes from Sasson, since I was not familiar with the issue until
I began a Ruth Project with a graduate student recently. Never had bumped into this matter
before a week ago:) And, I do not agreed with Hubbard or Sasson:)
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Post by brianwagner on Apr 1, 2015 11:49:23 GMT -6
Just to clarify, Richard, are you specifically talking about whether Ruth was gleaning all morning or just standing around waiting for permission to glean, as Hubbard suggests, or are you focusing on the meaning of the last phrase in verse 7, as it relates to what she's been up to so far that day, or are you focusing on the word "return", as if the author was implying something more than just Ruth arriving with Naomi? Hubbard seems to skip the implications of verse 3 on his argument about Ruth standing patiently. I am not home with my Hebrew helps right now, but my guess is Ruth got right to it and started gleaning when she arrived Boaz' field, and was not waiting.
It is always interesting to me how evidence from the context can be overlooked by intelligent commentators who get enticed down a path for an alternative interpretation, perhaps just to find something new or that they hope has been missed by most other scholars. I know that feeling, and have been trying to force myself to always double check the context. I will have to see if verse 3 can be interpreted any other way than that she started gleaning the moment she arrived.
--- Having looked a little closer, עמד (to stand) is only found here in Ruth, but a quick look shows that it can have the figurative meaning of "stay" (1Sam 20:38, 30:9). I think the same can be said for the Greek meaning of ἱστημι used in the LXX. |
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Post by CowboysDad on Jul 31, 2015 21:08:51 GMT -6
Looking at the Hebrew it reads, "And the servant who was appointed over the reapers answered and said, 'She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab, and she said, "Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers," and she went and remained steadfast....'"
The Hebrew word in question that I've translated "remained steadfast" or "stuck to it" does require a less common translation value than its more common value of "presented" or "stood still." I get why some Bible teachers would default to the more predominant usage of the word, but the translation that I've suggested is not unwarranted, for in Deut. 25:8 we read, "Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm .... (NKJV)" Ruth stood firm. She was resolute in her determination to glean and gather. She remained steadfast or stuck to the task. This seems to be the idea, for the latter half of the verse states that she rested only a short time inside the shelter. The rest of the time she stuck to the task. She was reaping, not waiting for permission, if that is what the writers are suggesting. I agree with you both.
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