A Bible Sampler

A Bible Sampler

A Variety of Readings from the Bible with notes and supplemental resources. It is strongly encouraged that one has a good study Bible such as the NIV Student Bible or the NRSV Oxford Annotated Bible to read and supplement the materials below.

Ruth

The book of Ruth is one of the shortest and most beautiful stories in Scripture. It is a story, not a biography based on actual persons, used to illustrate several key theological points. However, this does not make the book, its characters, or its insights any less true—the teachings are timeless and eternal, real to the human experience of life and God.

Why was the book written? What is its purpose? These two questions can be brought to all of the Bible and help open up the texts for readers. The opening notes on the book in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible says the following:

In contrast to the story of the Israelite tribes in Joshua and Judges, the book

of Ruth focuses on a single family. The story underscores the loyalty and fidelity that

bind the family together. The mysterious ways of God are an important part of this

story, which illustrates how God is at work in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. These individuals serve as models of faithful commitment to the God of Israel.

It is difficult to be certain about a date for this book, yet ascertaining the

dating is central to determining the reason for its composition. A date before the Exile

(to Babylon in 587 BCE) leads to the view that the book intended to establish David’s

ancestry, to affirm the practice of levirate marriage (see Deuteronomy 25:5-10), or to

commend the virtues of the book’s protagonists to ancient Israel. A date after the Exile

(the people returned to their land in about 538 BCE) supports the conviction that the

author wished to show that a non-Israelite could become a faithful worshiper of the Lord.

This would counter the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, both of which consider intermarriage wrong (see Ezra 9 and 10; Nehemiah 10:30). Like the books of Jonah and Isaiah chapters

40-55, Ruth affirms that the concern of the Lord extends beyond the people of Israel to people of every nation.

Another element in the story, whichever stance one takes regarding the time of its writing, is that it is a powerful illustration of hésed of two women, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi.

Hésed is a Hebrew word full of meaning. In English, many translations are used: mercy, steadfast love, goodness and loyalty. It is used to define or characterize the relationship of God’s covenant with God’s people. Each English words nuances or changes our way of understanding the word. Mercy is not the same things as loyalty, yet each has been used over the years as a translation of hésed. To gain a better understanding of this word it is necessary to delve into the Hebrew meaning a bit.

The word hésed is exceedingly difficult to render into English, as is evident in the various translations found in Hosea 6:6:

“mercy” (King James Version)

“steadfast love” (NRSV)

“goodness” (JPSV)

“loyalty” (REB), and so forth

On a human level, hésed seems to apply to relationships in which one party

is “superior” in the sense of having more power or influence by virtue of social position.

A good illustration is of the friendship between David and Jonathan. At one point David

says to Jonathan: “Deal faithfully [show hésed] with your servant, since you have

taken your servant into a covenant [of Yahweh] with you” (1 Sam. 20:8a). As long

as Jonathan had the superior position (son of the king), the sacred covenant of friendship obliged him to help David escape from Saul. But Jonathan asked David to promise

that, when their roles were reversed and David came to power, David would manifest

loyalty (hésed) to him (1 Sam. 20:12-17). David’s obligation of friendship lasted even

beyond Jonathan’s death, for he was determined to “show hésed” to other members

of Saul’s family for the sake of Jonathan (2 Sam. 9:1,3,7)

Hésed, then, is loyalty manifested by a stronger party toward someone who

is in a weaker position. It is not an inherent virtue but something to be done, which

accounts for the expressions “do hésed,” “maintain hésed,” “love hésed.” It is not,

however, an act of noblesse oblige—as with people of high standing who behave

nobly toward inferiors in a condescending manner or give alms to the poor. Loyalty

arises not from any external legal obligation or social custom, but from the relationship

itself. Hésed is an act of inner faithfulness and therefore of grace. Each participant is

free to be loyal or unfaithful, although in a time of distress the weaker party in the

relationship might have no other source of help.[1]

As one can see, the writers of the Bible composed and edited in a way to have their faith speak to issues of the day, be in dialogue with concerns and differing views, and to illustrate their understanding of God. There is intentional crafting at play…and this is what makes the Bible, in part, the literary masterpiece that it is!

Ruth is a powerful book about women making their own destiny and becoming persons. It is about the choices of life and death, the traditional and the radical act of faith and risk. It is rich and complex book. Enjoy!

Several other books have been referred to in the foregoing material. They are included here for easy reference.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Levirate Marriage

5When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage, and performing the duty of a husband’s brother to her, 6and the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed to the name of the deceased brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7But if the man has no desire to marry his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow shall go up to the elders at the gate and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ 8Then the elders of his town shall summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, ‘I have no desire to marry her’, 9then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal off his foot, spit in his face, and declare, ‘This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ 10Throughout Israel his family shall be known as ‘the house of him whose sandal was pulled off.’

Ezra 9

Denunciation of Mixed Marriages

9After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, ‘The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.’ 3When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled. 4Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.

Ezra’s Prayer

5At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6and said,

‘Omy God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case. 8But now for a brief moment favour has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he* may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. 9For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.

10‘And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, “The land that you are entering to possess is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations. They have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.” 13After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practise these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor? 15OLord, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this.’

Ezra 10

The People’s Response

10While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly. 2Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, ‘We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4Take action, for it is your duty, and we are with you; be strong, and do it.’ 5Then Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. So they swore.

Foreign Wives and Their Children Rejected

6Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.* He did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 7They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8and that if any did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all their property should be forfeited, and they themselves banned from the congregation of the exiles.

9Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, ‘You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11Now make confession to the Lord the God of your ancestors, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.’ 12Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, ‘It is so; we must do as you have said. 13But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter. 14Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us.’ 15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.

16Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men,* heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter. 17By the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.

18There were found of the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women, of the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19They pledged themselves to send away their wives, and their guilt-offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt. 20Of the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21Of the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22Of the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25And of Israel: of the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah,* and Benaiah. 26Of the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah. 27Of the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28Of the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29Of the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. 30Of the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31Of the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33Of the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34Of the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu. 38Of the descendants of Binnui:* Shimei, 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43Of the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44All these had married foreign women, and they sent them away with their children.

Nehemia 10:30

30We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons;

1 Samuel 20:8

8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant* with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?

1 Samuel 20:12-17

12Jonathan said to David, ‘By the Lord, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed towards David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.14If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord; but if I die,*15never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.’ 16Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord seek out the enemies of David.’ 17Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.

2 Samuel 9:1,3,7

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9David asked, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ 3The king said, ‘Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.’ 7David said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.’

Some Questions to consider while reading Ruth.

1. Who is your favorite character and why?
2. Where is hésed displayed in the story? By whom? How?
3. What does this story say to you? About God? About how God works? About how we are part of God’s activity in the world? About relationships?

The books of Amos and Micah—two of the minor prophets