I also learned the other day that Bathsheba was totes not bathing on her roof like everyone thinks she was. She wasn't some shameless hussy trying to entice the king with her nekkkkidness. David was on HIS roof being a creeper watching women doing their monthly purity ritual bathing.
That they weren't married or that sometimes feet just means feet?
both. in a levirate marriage, the widow and the kinsman redeemer are automatically bound together upon the death of the husband.
But he wasn't the nearest kinsman and therefore someone else was her redeemer. That's why there was the whole part about him talking to the redeemer and the removal of the sandal. That man had to relinquish his claim on her for Boaz to marry her.
While the Bible certainly has a collection of people making eyebrow-raising decisions, I think Ruth was in such a precarious position (a poor foreigner and a widow), to be caught having sex with a man in a public place would have been disastrous.
I hope I don't seem argumentative; I just enjoy discussing the possibilities and details.
Post by thatgirl2478 on Sept 18, 2014 17:39:04 GMT -5
... so I know that the bible discussion is really interesting... but isn't this also how Lord Tywin died? Crossbow bolt through the guts while sitting on the shitter?
But he wasn't the nearest kinsman and therefore someone else was her redeemer. That's why there was the whole part about him talking to the redeemer and the removal of the sandal. That man had to relinquish his claim on her for Boaz to marry her.
While the Bible certainly has a collection of people making eyebrow-raising decisions, I think Ruth was in such a precarious position (a poor foreigner and a widow), to be caught having sex with a man in a public place would have been disastrous.
I hope I don't seem argumentative; I just enjoy discussing the possibilities and details.
i don't mean to sound short, but j is waiting for me to head to the playground but i get all sucked in with bible stuff
i think there are soooo many sexual images in that story that trying to claim that it's hard to claim that nothing happened. the washing and perfuming, the "uncovering of feet," and even the threshing floor. tons of people were having sex on the threshing floor after the harvest. that was very typical at the time. hosea mentions that israel is like a prostitute on the the threshing floor. also, ruth doesn't know that there is a closer kinsman. naomi tells her that he is a kinsman and sends her over. boaz doesn't say anything about it to her until morning. also, i think her position as a poor, widow, foreigner may have made her more desperate for the marriage.
oh there are definitely sexual images throughout the bible, but I think we need to be cautious to not attach 21st century interpretations when talking about what may have happened.