Biblical Times Podcast

15: The Book of Ruth: Part III

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.
Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.
During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from the tribe of Judah, fell into heavy debt. To pay his debt, Elimelech had to mortgage his land, and he, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, left their home in Bethlehem to live in an ancient land that no longer exists, called Moab.
In Moab, Mahlon and Chilion married two local girls: Ruth and Orpah. However, shortly after, a great tragedy befell the small family: Elimelech and his two sons passed away, leaving behind three poor and heartbroken widows.
After the tragedy, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, but first, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Orpah indeed returned to her father's house in Moab, but Ruth tied her fate to Naomi's and arrived with her in Bethlehem.
To support herself and Naomi, Ruth went to glean ears of grain in one of the wheat fields near Bethlehem, where she met Boaz, the wealthy farmer who owned the field. Boaz and Ruth fell in love, married, and had a son named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David.
On the surface, this story seems simple, even bland, but the opposite is true.  It is a complex legal document written in the form of a story.
In the three episodes, we dedicate to Ruth's book, we reveal the social and legal system hidden within the story.
Elimelech, who mortgaged his land to a foreign creditor, pledged a portion of the tribe of Judah's territory. To prevent the tribe's territory from shrinking, one of his relatives was obligated to "redeem his land." That is, to pay the debt and return the land to the possession of the tribe of Judah (which Boaz does in our story).
We mentioned that before Naomi's return to Bethlehem, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Naomi did this because, in the Book of Deuteronomy (25), there is a law stating that the widow remained in the possession of her deceased husband's family and that she was not allowed to act as she pleased or remarry on her own accord.
From the day Naomi released Ruth and Orpah, the familial and legal relationships between her and Ruth ended. Although Ruth stayed with Naomi, this did not change the fact that between the two women who loved each other like mother and daughter, no formal relationships existed anymore, and Ruth did not belong to any tribe or family in Bethlehem. She didn't have any social or legal protection in Israel. Ruth's vulnerable situation explains why Boaz extended his protection to her, and why to secure her future Naomi wanted her to marry Boaz.
Boaz, who paid Elimelech's debt, did not marry Ruth in a regular marriage, but according to the levirate marriage law. By doing so, the land whose debt he paid made a U-turn and returned to the possession of Elimelech's house. Obed, the son Ruth bore, was formally considered the son of Mahlon, Ruth's first husband, and Naomi's grandson, continuing her family line that had effectively become extinct.
As we said, on the surface, Ruth's book seems naive. In reality, this story is a fascinating, genius creation because the many laws contained within it form an integral part of the story. Those who read the story without understanding tribal society and its laws read a beautiful but flat story lacking any depth.

14: The Book of Ruth: Part II

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.
Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.
During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from the tribe of Judah, fell into heavy debt. To pay his debt, Elimelech had to mortgage his land, and he, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, left their home in Bethlehem to live in an ancient land that no longer exists, called Moab.
In Moab, Mahlon and Chilion married two local girls: Ruth and Orpah. However, shortly after, a great tragedy befell the small family: Elimelech and his two sons passed away, leaving behind three poor and heartbroken widows.
After the tragedy, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, but first, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Orpah indeed returned to her father's house in Moab, but Ruth tied her fate to Naomi's and arrived with her in Bethlehem.
To support herself and Naomi, Ruth went to glean ears of grain in one of the wheat fields near Bethlehem, where she met Boaz, the wealthy farmer who owned the field. Boaz and Ruth fell in love, married, and had a son named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David.
On the surface, this story seems simple, even bland, but the opposite is true.  It is a complex legal document written in the form of a story.
In the three episodes, we dedicate to Ruth's book, we reveal the social and legal system hidden within the story.
Elimelech, who mortgaged his land to a foreign creditor, pledged a portion of the tribe of Judah's territory. To prevent the tribe's territory from shrinking, one of his relatives was obligated to "redeem his land." That is, to pay the debt and return the land to the possession of the tribe of Judah (which Boaz does in our story).
We mentioned that before Naomi's return to Bethlehem, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Naomi did this because, in the Book of Deuteronomy (25), there is a law stating that the widow remained in the possession of her deceased husband's family and that she was not allowed to act as she pleased or remarry on her own accord.
From the day Naomi released Ruth and Orpah, the familial and legal relationships between her and Ruth ended. Although Ruth stayed with Naomi, this did not change the fact that between the two women who loved each other like mother and daughter, no formal relationships existed anymore, and Ruth did not belong to any tribe or family in Bethlehem. She didn't have any social or legal protection in Israel. Ruth's vulnerable situation explains why Boaz extended his protection to her, and why to secure her future Naomi wanted her to marry Boaz.
Boaz, who paid Elimelech's debt, did not marry Ruth in a regular marriage, but according to the levirate marriage law. By doing so, the land whose debt he paid made a U-turn and returned to the possession of Elimelech's house. Obed, the son Ruth bore, was formally considered the son of Mahlon, Ruth's first husband, and Naomi's grandson, continuing her family line that had effectively become extinct.
As we said, on the surface, Ruth's book seems naive. In reality, this story is a fascinating, genius creation because the many laws contained within it form an integral part of the story. Those who read the story without understanding tribal society and its laws read a beautiful but flat story lacking any depth.

13: Book of Ruth: Part I

The Book of Ruth is considered the most beautiful story in the Bible and one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.
Ruth's story takes place around 1100 BCE when Israeli society was still tribal. A tribe was a cluster of extended families living in the tribe's territory, maintaining mutual responsibility and protecting their people.
During one of the drought years that afflicted Israel, Elimelech, Naomi's husband from the tribe of Judah, fell into heavy debt. To pay his debt, Elimelech had to mortgage his land, and he, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, left their home in Bethlehem to live in an ancient land that no longer exists, called Moab.
In Moab, Mahlon and Chilion married two local girls: Ruth and Orpah. However, shortly after, a great tragedy befell the small family: Elimelech and his two sons passed away, leaving behind three poor and heartbroken widows.
After the tragedy, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, but first, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Orpah indeed returned to her father's house in Moab, but Ruth tied her fate to Naomi's and arrived with her in Bethlehem.
To support herself and Naomi, Ruth went to glean ears of grain in one of the wheat fields near Bethlehem, where she met Boaz, the wealthy farmer who owned the field. Boaz and Ruth fell in love, married, and had a son named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David.
On the surface, this story seems simple, even bland, but the opposite is true.  It is a complex legal document written in the form of a story.
In the three episodes, we dedicate to Ruth's book, we reveal the social and legal system hidden within the story.
Elimelech, who mortgaged his land to a foreign creditor, pledged a portion of the tribe of Judah's territory. To prevent the tribe's territory from shrinking, one of his relatives was obligated to "redeem his land." That is, to pay the debt and return the land to the possession of the tribe of Judah (which Boaz does in our story).
We mentioned that before Naomi's return to Bethlehem, she released her ownership of Ruth and Orpah. Naomi did this because, in the Book of Deuteronomy (25), there is a law stating that the widow remained in the possession of her deceased husband's family and that she was not allowed to act as she pleased or remarry on her own accord.
From the day Naomi released Ruth and Orpah, the familial and legal relationships between her and Ruth ended. Although Ruth stayed with Naomi, this did not change the fact that between the two women who loved each other like mother and daughter, no formal relationships existed anymore, and Ruth did not belong to any tribe or family in Bethlehem. She didn't have any social or legal protection in Israel. Ruth's vulnerable situation explains why Boaz extended his protection to her, and why to secure her future Naomi wanted her to marry Boaz.
Boaz, who paid Elimelech's debt, did not marry Ruth in a regular marriage, but according to the levirate marriage law. By doing so, the land whose debt he paid made a U-turn and returned to the possession of Elimelech's house. Obed, the son Ruth bore, was formally considered the son of Mahlon, Ruth's first husband, and Naomi's grandson, continuing her family line that had effectively become extinct.
As we said, on the surface, Ruth's book seems naive. In reality, this story is a fascinating, genius creation because the many laws contained within it form an integral part of the story. Those who read the story without understanding tribal society and its laws read a beautiful but flat story lacking any depth.

Episode 12: Judah and Tamar: Part III

Part III
Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.
During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a married woman. Therefore, if she had sexual relations with another man, she would have been considered an adulteress and would have been executed.
However, when Shelah reached marriageable age, Judah decided not to marry Tamar to him, nor to release his ownership of her - and in doing so, he turned Tamar into an "anchor wife".
When Tamar realized she had no way out, she deliberately violated one of the most severe incest prohibitions in the book of Leviticus. She seduced Judah to sleep with her, and to become pregnant by him - and so it was.
As required by the terrible crime she committed, Judah intended to have her executed by burning. However, at the last minute, just before she was thrown into the fire, Judah admitted her righteousness - and Judah's confession, which represents the Bible's stance, sets a supreme moral standard!
The story of Judah and Tamar raises a long series of social, moral, legal, and theological questions, that we will deal with in this series.
In the first two episodes (10-11) of the series, we will focus on the social and legal questions that arise from their story. In the third episode, we will focus on the theological aspect of the story.
The first two episodes deal with the legal status of a woman whose husband passed away before they had children.
We will address the question of why the widow remained in the custody of her deceased husband's family, and what levirate marriage is, which obligated Judah to marry Tamar to his second son, and after his death, to marry her to his third son.
In the eyes of someone living in the modern society of the 21st century, this is a strange, arbitrary, and inconceivable law. However, the levirate marriage law is an ancient progressive law, designed to benefit the deceased, his family - and above all, his widow.
The question of what an "anchor wife" is, will also occupy us. According to the Bible, the fact that Judah anchored Tamar justifies the horrific incest she committed when she became pregnant by him. Indeed, instead of being punished, Tamar received a great reward for the terrible crime she committed!
We must not forget that the Bible is a theological book that reflects God's will for the Israelites. The fact that the Bible stands by Tamar's side sets a supreme moral standard, which determines that where the law conflicts with a woman's right to live - the woman's right prevails!
 
The third episode of the series (12) focuses on the theological aspect of the story.
Seemingly, Judah and Tamar were two simple people who lived almost 4,000 years ago. Yet, the truth is that they belonged to an ancient distinguished, and noble lineage, the lineage of David's fathers and mothers, which God chose on the sixth day of creation.
From a theological perspective, Tamar and Judah were supposed to marry each other and give birth to Perez, who was the next link in this distinguished lineage.
However, God's plans are hidden, yet they always come true. And Judah, who did not know that Tamar was destined to be his wife, innocently married her to his firstborn son - and therefore God put him to death. And when he married her to his second son, God also put him to death. And if he had married her to his third son, God would have put him to death as well!
In the third episode we show that in order to fulfill her destiny, Tamar had no choice but to violate the incest prohibitions and become pregnant by Judah - and that is exactly what happened.

Episode 11: Judah and Tamar: Part II

Part II
Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.
During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a married woman. Therefore, if she had sexual relations with another man, she would have been considered an adulteress and would have been executed.
However, when Shelah reached marriageable age, Judah decided not to marry Tamar to him, nor to release his ownership of her - and in doing so, he turned Tamar into an "anchor wife".
When Tamar realized she had no way out, she deliberately violated one of the most severe incest prohibitions in the book of Leviticus. She seduced Judah to sleep with her, and to become pregnant by him - and so it was.
As required by the terrible crime she committed, Judah intended to have her executed by burning. However, at the last minute, just before she was thrown into the fire, Judah admitted her righteousness - and Judah's confession, which represents the Bible's stance, sets a supreme moral standard!
The story of Judah and Tamar raises a long series of social, moral, legal, and theological questions, that we will deal with in this series.
In the first two episodes (10-11) of the series, we will focus on the social and legal questions that arise from their story. In the third episode, we will focus on the theological aspect of the story.
The first two episodes deal with the legal status of a woman whose husband passed away before they had children.
We will address the question of why the widow remained in the custody of her deceased husband's family, and what levirate marriage is, which obligated Judah to marry Tamar to his second son, and after his death, to marry her to his third son.
In the eyes of someone living in the modern society of the 21st century, this is a strange, arbitrary, and inconceivable law. However, the levirate marriage law is an ancient progressive law, designed to benefit the deceased, his family - and above all, his widow.
The question of what an "anchor wife" is, will also occupy us. According to the Bible, the fact that Judah anchored Tamar justifies the horrific incest she committed when she became pregnant by him. Indeed, instead of being punished, Tamar received a great reward for the terrible crime she committed!
We must not forget that the Bible is a theological book that reflects God's will for the Israelites. The fact that the Bible stands by Tamar's side sets a supreme moral standard, which determines that where the law conflicts with a woman's right to live - the woman's right prevails!
 
The third episode of the series (12) focuses on the theological aspect of the story.
Seemingly, Judah and Tamar were two simple people who lived almost 4,000 years ago. Yet, the truth is that they belonged to an ancient distinguished, and noble lineage, the lineage of David's fathers and mothers, which God chose on the sixth day of creation.
From a theological perspective, Tamar and Judah were supposed to marry each other and give birth to Perez, who was the next link in this distinguished lineage.
However, God's plans are hidden, yet they always come true. And Judah, who did not know that Tamar was destined to be his wife, innocently married her to his firstborn son - and therefore God put him to death. And when he married her to his second son, God also put him to death. And if he had married her to his third son, God would have put him to death as well!
In the third episode we show that in order to fulfill her destiny, Tamar had no choice but to violate the incest prohibitions and become pregnant by Judah - and that is exactly what happened.

Episode 10: Judah & Tamar: Part I

Genesis Chapter 38
Tamar was about 11 years old when she married Er, Judah's firstborn son. Shortly after their marriage, God put Er to death. As required by the levirate marriage law, Judah married her to Onan, his second son, whom God also put to death. According to this law, Judah was supposed to marry her to Shelah, his third son, when he reached marriageable age.
During the years Tamar waited for Shelah, she was considered a married woman. Therefore, if she had sexual relations with another man, she would have been considered an adulteress and would have been executed.
However, when Shelah reached marriageable age, Judah decided not to marry Tamar to him, nor to release his ownership of her - and in doing so, he turned Tamar into an "anchor wife".
When Tamar realized she had no way out, she deliberately violated one of the most severe incest prohibitions in the book of Leviticus. She seduced Judah to sleep with her, and to become pregnant by him - and so it was.
As required by the terrible crime she committed, Judah intended to have her executed by burning. However, at the last minute, just before she was thrown into the fire, Judah admitted her righteousness - and Judah's confession, which represents the Bible's stance, sets a supreme moral standard!
The story of Judah and Tamar raises a long series of social, moral, legal, and theological questions, that we will deal with in this series.
In the first two episodes (10-11) of the series, we will focus on the social and legal questions that arise from their story. In the third episode, we will focus on the theological aspect of the story.
The first two episodes deal with the legal status of a woman whose husband passed away before they had children.
We will address the question of why the widow remained in the custody of her deceased husband's family, and what levirate marriage is, which obligated Judah to marry Tamar to his second son, and after his death, to marry her to his third son.
In the eyes of someone living in the modern society of the 21st century, this is a strange, arbitrary, and inconceivable law. However, the levirate marriage law is an ancient progressive law, designed to benefit the deceased, his family - and above all, his widow.
The question of what an "anchor wife" is, will also occupy us. According to the Bible, the fact that Judah anchored Tamar justifies the horrific incest she committed when she became pregnant by him. Indeed, instead of being punished, Tamar received a great reward for the terrible crime she committed!
We must not forget that the Bible is a theological book that reflects God's will for the Israelites. The fact that the Bible stands by Tamar's side sets a supreme moral standard, which determines that where the law conflicts with a woman's right to live - the woman's right prevails!
The third episode of the series (12) focuses on the theological aspect of the story.
Seemingly, Judah and Tamar were two simple people who lived almost 4,000 years ago. Yet, the truth is that they belonged to an ancient distinguished, and noble lineage, the lineage of David's fathers and mothers, which God chose on the sixth day of creation.
From a theological perspective, Tamar and Judah were supposed to marry each other and give birth to Perez, who was the next link in this distinguished lineage.
However, God's plans are hidden, yet they always come true. And Judah, who did not know that Tamar was destined to be his wife, innocently married her to his firstborn son - and therefore God put him to death. And when he married her to his second son, God also put him to death. And if he had married her to his third son, God would have put him to death as well!
In the third episode we show that in order to fulfill her destiny, Tamar had no choice but to violate the incest prohibitions and become pregnant by Judah - and that is exactly what happened.

Episode 9: Jacob and His Wives, Part II

The stories of the Bible, especially those in the Book of Genesis, are very concise, and we discussed the reason for this in episode 5.For the stories to convey more than the words written in them, the writers of the Bible used puns and words with multiple meanings numerous times (synergy). Each meaning plays a crucial role in the story.
However, wordplay cannot be translated from one language to another, and this limitation is especially evident in literal translations.The names that Leah gave to her sons and her maidservant's sons are not random, but rather names whose meanings illustrate how she improved her status with each birth.
The meaning of each name shows how the woman, who was hated by her, gradually became a happy and beloved woman.
Conversely, the meanings of the names that Rachel gave to her sons and her maidservant's sons illustrate the tragic decline of the young and miserable woman. They start from a low place and descend to the grave.

Episode 8: Jacob and His Wives

In this episode, we tell the story of Jacob and his two wives from two different perspectives: historical and theological. 
The historical part focuses on the marriage practices that were common in the ancient world and explains the reason why Jacob had to work for many years to pay the bride price for Rachel. It also explains why Rachel was considered a "senior wife," while her sister Leah had to get married with the inferior status of a "concubine wife."
The vulnerability of the barren Rachel and the reason for the hostility she felt towards her sister are also highlighted. 
The theological part of this episode points out that Leah was a "chosen woman," while Rachel was an "ordinary woman." Leah was chosen by God to be the ancient mother of the lineage of priests who belonged to the tribe of Levi, named after her third son, and the ancient mother of King David of the tribe of Judah. 
The fact that Leah was a "chosen woman" explains why in the competition between the two sisters, Rachel always ended up losing. The struggle between the two sisters continued even after their deaths. Saul, the first king of Israel, was a member of the tribe of Benjamin, which was named after Rachel's son. However, the kingship was meant for David, whose ancient mother was Leah.

Episode 7: The World of Women in the Bible

The story of Sarah belongs to her – yet, it also sheds light on the world of other women from four thousand years ago, who are mentioned in the Bible. The story of Sarah’s journey opens a door to the world of women in the Bible, why girls got married when they were eleven or twelve years old, why at the age when our daughters are still studying in elementary school, watching TV or playing on their tablets, the women of the ancient world were already married women? We'll also talk about why the Bible speaks positively of polygamy, and of course, why the status of a barren woman fell to the lowest point on the social ladder. 
The Bible relates that men married wives who belonged to three classes: 'senior women' (or senior wives), concubines, and maidservants. If they took women war captives, they had children with them as well (Deut. 21:10-14). The Bible doesn’t give us an explanation of the difference between these three classes, so we’ll have to do that work ourselves.

Episode 6: The Birth of Isaac and Hagar’s Expulsion

One day, against all expectations Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac. As expected, she took back the special rights of the firstborn from Ishmael and transferred them to her own son. The Old Testament says that one day Sarah saw Ishmael “making merry.” The meaning of the word “making merry” has never been completely clarified. Still, something about Ishmael’s behavior incited Sarah’s anger, and she demanded that Abraham throw him and his mother out of their home.
It doesn't matter what made Sarah’s blood boil. Even if nothing specific made her angry, she still had to banish Ishmael and Hagar from her home.