Rut 4:18�22: �n Venster na Israel se verlede?

Abstract

Ruth 4:18-22: A window to Israel's past. The genealogy at the end of the Book of Ruth starts with Perez and ends with David, thereby covering Israel's history since the time of the sojourn in Egypt to the Davidic monarchy. This article focuses on Ruth 4:18-22 and what its genealogy may reveal. After a brief review of different types of genealogies in the Hebrew Bible, the problematic dating of the Book of Ruth becomes secondary; however, a particular perspective will determine the rest of the interpretation of the genealogy. My point of view in this article is that the Book of Ruth dates back to the period of the Second Temple. I examine the following issues: the connection between Ruth 4:18-22 and 1 Chronicles 2:4-15, as David's genealogy appears only in these two passages of the Hebrew Bible; the connection between the tenmember genealogy in the Book of Ruth and similar ten-member genealogies of Genesis; and whether Ruth 4:18-22 is a later addendum to the text or part of the original. The conclusion to these questions is that the genealogy of the Book of Ruth is similar to those in Genesis, and that it was part of the original book. The median of the genealogy of the Book of Ruth takes place in the desert with Nahshon as the representative of that era. Nahshon's sister happens to be married to Aaron whose priesthood is elevated above the rest of the tribe of Levi, and to whose descendants eternal priesthood is promised. Phinehas, his grandson, appears to be extremely intolerant of mixed marriages -an attitude which is later sustained by his descendant, Ezra, the scribe. The article also touches briefly upon the whole problem of mixed marriages and a sense of identity during the Second Temple period. The conclusion is that the author of the Book of Ruth was written by members of the scholarly circles of this period in opposition to exclusivist circles as to remind the community of the important role that women -especially foreign women -played in the formative history of the nation. VoorwoordHierdie artikel word opgedra aan Jurie le Roux. Ek sal hom onthou as iemand met 'n besondere voorliefde vir die teologiese wetenskap en die geskiedenis. Jurie het egter altyd beklemtoon dat 'n mens nooit 'n vaste greep op die geskiedenis kan kry nie, want die oomblik nadat iets gebeur het, is die feitelike verlore, en bly slegs 'n interpretasie oor. Geskiedenis is dus nie feite nie, maar interpretasies van gebeure. Daarom begin ek hierdie artikel met 'n veelseggende aanhaling uit 'n boek. Inleiding'Die verlede is 'n ander land; waar is die pad wat soontoe loop?' Roerende eerste woorde in Karel Schoeman se boek, Na die geliefde land (1972:1). In hierdie boek worstel die mens met sy gebondenheid aan die verlede. Hy kan sy verlede nie ontsnap nie, maar terselfdertyd kan hy nie regtig daarby uitkom nie, want hy kry nie die pad daarheen nie. Dis 'n diepe tragedie, want nou is hy vasgevang, hy stagneer en dis vir hom onmoontlik om vooruit te gaan.'n Geslagsregister, oftewel 'n stamboom, kan die mens dalk 'n bietjie help om hierdi...

The meaning and implications of Ruth 4:5: A grammatical, socio-cultural and juridical investigation

“…to redeem and that of marriage to "Peloni Almoni" in the form of a package, "in order to maintain the name of the dead upon his inheritance." 56 This statement proves to be to the contrary. In order to provide an heir for Mahlon, only a marriage to his widow is necessary, he does not need to buy the land also.…”