{"content":[{"text":"Dec 17 –Ruth","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.045146,"width":0.126124,"height":0.01859299999999999}},{"text":"Introduction","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.073934,"width":0.11972799999999999,"height":0.018593}},{"text":"In Matthew chapter 1, Ruth is one of only 5 women named in Jesus’ genealogy (Tamar, \n Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah –Bathsheba-, and Mary). As Christians, we remember the \n story of Ruth with fondness as she is one in a long line of bold women in Jesus’ family tree. \n For Jews, this story has both historical significance (Ruth is, after all, King David’s great- \n grandmother) and theological significance. Some believe Ruth was written by Samuel shortly \n after the establishment of the Davidic dynasty, other believe that this novella may have gone \n from oral tradition to literary tradition during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah –after the \n return from exile, when the issue of Jews intermarrying with other races/religions was hotly \n debated by those in power (in fact, Ezra is most famous for sending all the foreign wives away \n from Jerusalem). Those in places of religious power saw the marrying of foreign women as an \n issue because they did not want the Monotheism of Israel threatened by the polytheistic \n influence of these wives from foreign countries. The story of Ruth paints a picture of a woman \n who did grow up in a foreign country (Moab), with foreign deities, and yet she swore loyalty to \n the family of a Judean (Naomi) and pledged herself to faithfully worship the God of Israel. \n Her story illustrates the counterpoint to Ezra, namely that foreign wives CAN convert and be \n faithful followers of God and make important contributions to Jewish life (like raising up the \n ancestors of King David).","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.102899,"width":0.8795660000000001,"height":0.3168119999999999}},{"text":"Ruth tells the story of two women, separated by age, race, and culture, yet bound to one \n another in covenant with the God of Israel to procure a future together –whatever it takes. A \n future for both women means figuring out how to get a husband for Ruth and a son to \n carrying on their bloodline and take care of them in their old age. Naomi uses her wisdom to \n make the match between Ruth and Boaz, while Ruth uses her wisdom and ambition to make \n sure she and Naomi don’t starve in the process. God is seen both through the faithfulness of \n the people, but also at work, once again, behind the scenes through phrases such as “it just so \n happened.” There are no such things as coincidences in the Bible, these “God moments” are \n the surprising ways in which God moves our stories and God’s story forward through time.","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.430058,"width":0.870326,"height":0.167557}},{"text":"The scroll of Ruth is read during the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot (Pentecost, 50 days \n after Passover), because the Barley harvest begins in March/April (around the time of \n Passover), and the wheat harvest concludes 50 days later with the harvest festival of Shavuot \n (Pentecost).","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.607962,"width":0.864806,"height":0.07450199999999996}},{"text":"Chapter 1","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.692507,"width":0.08925099999999998,"height":0.01859299999999997}},{"text":"Ruth begins with an irony- Bethlehem (literally translated as “the house of bread”) has been \n afflicted with famine, which causes a man to move his wife and his sons to Moab to search for \n a better life. The distance between Bethlehem and Moab by road is 2063 miles. Once they \n arrived in Moab, Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) dies. As there were no eligible Jewish brides to \n be found, the sons then took Moabite wives (which was the custom when living in foreign \n lands) to continue on their family name. Their wives were Orpah and Ruth, and they lived in \n Moab for 10 years, when both sons also died. Naomi was now left with no husband, no sons, \n and two foreign daughters in law. She was as low as a woman could possibly be brought in this \n society, she would be relegated to relying on charity in order to survive, and her chances of \n receiving such charity were better in Bethlehem –where at least she still had distant relatives \n and friends who may help support her. She received word that after 10 years, the famine had \n now ended. She immediately, began the 2000+ mile journey home with both of her daughters","bbox":{"left":0.058824,"top":0.721447,"width":0.8817699999999999,"height":0.223777}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}