Great post, so much new and interesting info on patriarchy. I always found it interesting how many of the Bible's barren women (supposedly divine judgment) went on to have very important babies.
Dan, thanks for dipping into patriarchy in the Bible, but allow me to offer an alternate reading on Ruth. Though it's a beautiful text, I would argue that Ruth's validation comes only through her submission to the Bethlehem patriarchy. She's just a marginalized, foreign, childless widow until Boaz decides to act. Bearing a son for Boaz legitimates her reason for being., and even Naomi is wrapped up in it. Notice how Ruth's name isn't used again once we read "and she gave birth to a son." It's the Israelite Naomi who remains in our story, while Ruth, our most active agent, disappears once she has served her purpose.
Thanks, Joan! This analysis came from Carolyn Custis James back in that early YHP episode, not from my own research. Nonetheless, that's helpful as a corrective! I certainly think the Bible is chock-full of patriarchal and other un-Godlike assumptions about human beings and culture. Where I get interested is pulling apart the hints toward something else out of that thick stew. #JusticeForRuth?
Great post, so much new and interesting info on patriarchy. I always found it interesting how many of the Bible's barren women (supposedly divine judgment) went on to have very important babies.
it's one of those topics that makes for a very interesting modern-reader angle on these ancient stories!
Dan, thanks for dipping into patriarchy in the Bible, but allow me to offer an alternate reading on Ruth. Though it's a beautiful text, I would argue that Ruth's validation comes only through her submission to the Bethlehem patriarchy. She's just a marginalized, foreign, childless widow until Boaz decides to act. Bearing a son for Boaz legitimates her reason for being., and even Naomi is wrapped up in it. Notice how Ruth's name isn't used again once we read "and she gave birth to a son." It's the Israelite Naomi who remains in our story, while Ruth, our most active agent, disappears once she has served her purpose.
Thanks, Joan! This analysis came from Carolyn Custis James back in that early YHP episode, not from my own research. Nonetheless, that's helpful as a corrective! I certainly think the Bible is chock-full of patriarchal and other un-Godlike assumptions about human beings and culture. Where I get interested is pulling apart the hints toward something else out of that thick stew. #JusticeForRuth?