Biblical Women Unbound: Counter-Tales

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•

-'" 1 lea

omen ..-' noun counter tales

NOJ()~\A

KOS'fN

Biblical Women Unbound

••• •

~Vltli

John onod Anna: An

Am~rican Ilonl~

A•• I'M' Ctn.~,

Toudlina; bit JoylO~MI

""""t sm,,, ... Gm::n, a "'",,",,110 and U,h. S' ories

AcclMnu or Innuenc~ : Writing IS. .nd 0 Jrw In Am~rIc.

Worn."

Biblical Women Unbound COUNTER-TALES

No rma Rosen

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The Jewish Publicat ion Society Philadelphia

Flm ~p<m...,k ...!ition, 2001. All 'Igh .. ..,.."vnI. No ~n of thi> publiation m.y b< "'prod~ Or ,.. n'mitt...!. In ony fo, m or by any murlS, 0' ,""chonkal, Including pM,O'."Opy, rttording. 0' any Info,m"lon "or.I~ o. "'lr~al ')"1<m . "X«I" for brief pu"~ In coont"CtkH1 with , n ;t"'a) "'vl~. wi,oou, I'",ml"lon In WTIling (",m lho pub/i,ho" jrwl,h Publico, ;"n s.on."y

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l'hi~lphL>.

2nd Fklor

I'A 19 10]

l'on lons of this book originally ~ppunl, in ........'It.at d.n.",,", fonn,

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RnWi", RMU,. 0., vnj; f.., In ~ wtNnell'J ""ironY. 10 bt ~_ for uno:lemllnl"ll hn health. Uk
'..:!. ~k to IoibUo:al bqlnnlnl', .tl>dl«. In I fll In. heldlong "'y, "n.ally bKk

OOsc.rYoln~.

Flloc!nltN but frumll rli. Th.

pWfl

01 Indent biblical

nl'fII',," I. of~n maned for me by 1M ~1I.r voI~ In.onftl 01 the women, r.!llrlln:h. pownful mO!.lJh 10 ddI«t tht C'OUrwol rownanlll ""","Jioo. )'fll!""'" MWt lho: tllXt,

".tI......

1M bfftdl"ll cont~., "nIOrlI "'O"If!n. lhe ~""'In til."... IhfOll&h doon II ,a",.t> 10 ...... tho lives of .... n how tall ~~q_lon?

In Ihri. d","m of tnlm"!! Amrfk;a ,nd dnwlnl "'" 'ft", •

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A~IN/JU

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lhem, pillftlU Sol"'" upon tM Biblo ~1KI 1U 'n.Khronbms, 1M old Onhodo~ 'YIWjIOgIIn with tlld. ptCI>lLIII romblnln& of tUhN yfl Io. br.nu.. MId.uh II not I fairy I." of h.appy"," 111ft but I tltMn&lnto tItq>n .....1I1y thal.l_ lho thorns to .... m.ln In pI_, Splrll and fk>h a.~ .. Ill lorn, No! pouUIa. but

rwml.., 10m pl~ II whal brill&' m lrf-o. rniva OUr IftOIUlion 10 U... In Ih~ Im.ion of no ..,lIrf. Ie W;IS I~mpttn. to Ihlnk of writlnl a mldfl>h ibool " "Y woman of lho:' Blbl~. EYn}' on~ of Ih~m nHen, da..,httts, sUlen, wiVH, ..I'rion: a tqon.. blmd and ovtrIap. And men, of C(IUl>t, ' JIPN't, ;IS tMy mUll In f"Ytry Slory 01

n-

'or

Fllhns, ""'.. brotht($, hUlb.tnds. Sut lit" morn.nt, no WJ,rIon. An uttpdon to the I'IIlfln of a """,,.att $lory told In Ih' vola of the bfbllcal woman I. "Dilolosua on DeYoIIon, " wlttrt flVf romtmpo,ary womm dl"",'1 ..,IIUonshlp$ In 1M 8aclII: 0{ Ruth. Th~ story of Ruth and NaomI hll betn btloved Ihroulh the &Its, 5lIbjKt of t!\lIny potrnl and palntl ..... Ye1 tVffl thb beloved 'lory oIl(va rdIom from ruin, of happlnm snat ched from mJ ... ry. 01 human I"""lMU Ind mtft"J' lhal about human rrntwal, nn, .. lttrl looted ' I ..sIlt • conmnpor.ry ~, tr 10 II. In I ~nk, 'hi> m.>kos ·OI.IotI~. I,1et biblical dtllnulon; ",,,,,,nllors Il~ evH)'Wh •• t) clo!ot. 10 OIl' con·

don·.

ttmporlry nrS.

~

mld.l.h CiOn prtl¥kk pillhw.ys of

Inv,ontlon alon. which .... and thtworMn of tht 8UlIt may movo nt.,.,. ont lnoth ... And pt'.hlps, In tht tnd. nt..... • ht In,emlou of wh.t w ~ ....,.~ Ilway. munt to know. J~J mode 00 Idol. 10 spelk to God, no Idol. IhlOOlh whkh God wllimplortd lo.ptlk. Th~ mad!' . he 81bklOO h.>lor1H. In lho: lIori"" God Ihl~rm:!InpOke. AIn. tNI Ita. «.oed. Bul .... nn >lIllII)', "Hi""" .' lit .. I 1m. And he", II onothn 0101'}'.

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Acknowledgments

•••• I would Ilk~ 10 ocknowltlShu. Otht1 ,~acht .. and wlllOn, IncllJ(lln8 Iht ,,'onl,hlns ""tpou. lna of wo.k by wonu:n IChol.n ouch IS Avlva lom· btra. 111"0 r"des, Phyllb Tllblt, MIry Calloway. E1aln~ r08tlS. M~kt llil, LeUo U:ah Smllne" 1lkva Frymt,·Ktnlky, Su.unnlh HCloCh~1. Judith PI"kow, and many OIht .... Tht devoIN &nh---0 foo« 01 h<J1uJ:""It, Jewl'h I.... Yel 1\ l! not possible Of dCllr.blt 'u mike a turd dl,lInctlon boiwNn Iht h<J1akh1 '1>'«'

mrthods can M • muvd 01 m1lhl!d wlth mo~ commenl.

pl''''''

11'' ' ' '0'

El1c Auo:rb«h ~ "'"""u not.. thll Ihe Bible In Itl l ~"""a, txP""~ monl l .~ h Jng KIow all. In co,,,,.,1 10 Homn'J MOf)1ellin& n'\OdIe In TJtr~. wh .... (\dill> abound and aethetk$ ~inat .. OWl' tdlles. Tho B_ off..,. deuil..... 'lmplldty and almost unbtanblolm$lon. Thi, 1$ how A... rbiIch desaibHthe A.tnSo:lJI, the b1nIUn. of 1sa.K by his fn ll .. Alnhml: ~nl·m..,. ass, wood, Ind

...

knlfp, Ind no!hl"l pI~, wilhOUl "" tpltMt; thoy "'" thnP to ...... tho mel whkh God hU ooonm.o.rldtd. ° For ItdJtk.oh. tht wplI; for l.ax. tho bll'dl"I' SIlp wa. ItnttOUS ~nd Il f,..,I>1"1. he WI. nPI.1y _l'lfIcM. ThIIt b III tht bI(~round tho 8ibl • ..:rord. thl> b.ldP ~"d ,room, prog.nlton of bibli(ll JOW!, moth •• Ind fll~ to OUI SKIll.ltI"H. It mly bf beclU.It Blbl. otorlH a,.. I. t.rw Ind U II ... n to m01l1 ttK h ln, OS AUf rbof(l &fIn ,lie m.o. 1M dl ... o . .. ,.? And wh~1 of the 'eJPOfUC of I.we'. """h.., S.,~h , 10 IIIe Ak..w!r? We a~ Bev'" In s.orah', p~n~ again aft .. lhat n~,,· fatal tl'lIode. Whll If s.o,all kntw of Abraham', Inttntlon? Wh" mlBht Sarah rIone? AI for behel and ~ah, what WitS It ~ally like 10< oJ" ... to . hare I huomnd and compete for hb >otxual f• ...,.. "" they cou ld be..- son.1CouId thty~, ft5Ol.-e lhelr rlVIIlry? A wonderful mid"", hu COmt down to u. from I.4I......' ..' Ions /lQ",.,. Rac:heI, to 1p&te ~ah humiliation on h .. wtdd1rll nlJhl, whm )-00 ~t I\e WitS >If:q>Ins n<M wllh I.tah bul with hb btlo..d 1lxh~1, hid undn .1It bed, WlMn )-oo Jpob! 10 Inh, ItacMl an •.....-.d In lin own voItt ho m undtr

h,,,,,

... "".

A. ooml!1lmn hlppem. th~ an<wt't 10 otot pfOCftallon , thlnltl". tMy -... tM lUI beinp 1m on tUlh, 0< aboul Tlma~ who po>otd IS a harlol lo uwop lin btlln·in·I..... Sftd for. IlmlLatly dnpnat~ rea.on? Or aboul Miriam, hnoIflf' of ExodlU, who _ . I'Ionoftd

."

1111"""""",,

)TI

bypISoHd ,nd punished beyond 1M bound. of ,n)'thlnK

Impolofd on o,h~, ,,",m~ of llul family of p'ophtts. who Wtft 10 plt.. I"lI and" tM Y,,", tlmt 10 InllallnK to Go.n Wt know a Kood de,1 aboulTht p'I~". Ilvn of Abr.lum. of JKob. oIl....ac. of 1 wtlll",. Whfle .r. th. «:~u th.,. might ha"" I«ft us, Ihe ... rltty 01 VOIcn th.,. might hlvt Iffit 10 the !oO\Ind 01 J.... I'h thOUghl? Our .Inks Im ... ve,bhttl, .. t onn.,. ourstl"", SO on thinni ng Ihem by I•• ving out the female voke, by deny· I", her turn to ","ok. To glVl! bibllaol WOfI'H.'n • vol«- " not mnrly to do a "ftmlnl>! ~r'I"""I· ~adIn, and .mlln,. It k IO l tltonpl ....... frICtional hlnt.1 t/1oo>I' _ tilllt m'lhl ha"" ~ heard had our """'" not ~ to ,~.I hl>!orkally and culturally. If""" ...... W>d thai _ m .... as n~, btl"", .......... tilt ...... '" WOfI'H.'JI IO be M.rd roow, In the prumt, _ m,", ~

...

·bo 1ft !h~ Mlty of plun&lnB 1n10 Itw ~I 10 'flf_ OIl.

"'e\enl mothfB from

~ ll~nc ••

10

tfltl~

.twm

Ih"""" ImaBlnal!On. w~

Know Mort MiJriUlt TIl/III IVr TI,;n. In tgypt, Iht t n,laved mok: Hfb,. w, had 10} WU/ k.1I night. Th.I, wIves el mr 10 Ihtm In In orot, 10 conerlvr. Bu. Itwn Ih~ ~~ f • ..cd wllh J>h.,aoh', Imlbil' edl('1 of d.. ,h 10 Itwl. lnf.n. soru. Tht...mr.. whtn lilt women 81'" blnh. tilt chlld.tn ~m In.o lilt tanh ... ht~ llIty fIou. l.htd umll they could b,ml 0111 again In fuU.pown ht.llh . ~ I had any tnowlfdg<e of thl,Ot .nyOlhtr mid'nh. I w,cxe In my nom. ThuiI. nri&ln.lIy publllhtd ill 1%9, I fantaoy ehttlshtd by om of lilt d"'loCIm In 1h.l1 book: All tlltJewhh child ...... In Ewopor .bout to ~dHlIO)td by the N-..II .. ~ maply '.~n up In lO Iht wombs of Illtil mothtn "B"ln.nd Up! Ilt~ SIft unlll dtlln •• nct. Tl\t rabbis of 'ht ""Y n ntu,," Invrnted and ptrf«lf'd mlojrnh. bul If th~ hadn't. Ol.nlshtd with htr JOn. Clu.inK ~ackn to wony ~ .fttrwlrd .bout For IrupintlOn ....

ha~

s..••

s...ah

• 10 .

('OQ1P"'lSion 0( lhe M~I.urch Jnd 1M ~Ihla 0( 1M Sible. Whf1l s...~h die>. Abrn 1~U.;l> wI~ I womln Ih~ Blbk calh Ko1",~h. Mldrnh pic'" up IMw optn IInods 0( 1M 1.0. K~t"."h lu.nl out to t... fIOM oth~. tllm IbSI. 1 Thu, midlllh provldH I new endln8 01 unrnlstauble rightness, slvInS "~I~ lu (>tnt·up rl hlcll and n.tr.II"" 'fn$lon., Thf othel midl"lhlt additkln I. found In the "0.he-. .0 f1l1e-. .M IIOf)' and b«omt lhe flvorll~ of ~ f rom lhal poiIllon lh~ ~U~ Ihe powH to ~ lIaman, the t¥tl pIotle-. aprnll 1M ~ A mid,.... In M rdt _ Elltu. adds that VlShtl brom ....ndfd to Ippear natOethlnl h40pptn. to Ih~ ''''~.I of Ih~ lIthn tU" ,IiVt lh40t rnn. ln. 0 ... of Ihe porln 0( 00.11· and IIOfY~n h40m.i "ll mid..... .

NA RR ATIVE ME TI1 0 D IN C L ASSICAL M 1D RASI1 In Ihe Jewb h ",118101" world, lim. rnnnatn, coll.pHS. There 1. 110 btlo",and no after. That mlraculouul m\lltant lty >I.m. bom tht rabbinic kl.. th40t lOll ol TQ,.,klt-l ht . nll•• lieb~

Bible: n.... !Iooks of M~ PropI>icl. IMrt..t.o you encuunt .. no limitation ol limt. no borfoft and no aflu l"htrt you lind lhe >imliftaneUy of the .lObbb. A lUptrbuample ol thls appn»o:h. Ihl. mld.a. hk m'&Ie "" II,m ol Ii ..... rnnna tion, an bt Iftn In tht Iotlowlnl Ie~nd. Tht Jtrond'k 11M, Ii ...........
I"" 10 )I.1l\li", .0he ,",rift hn rebo:lllou ......."" Ihrough Ihe 10 Ihh dly. Mono will be J,lkI of h0 .tdo"'ption of 1M hoprleu uld dHplsrd Is.a ... h, ~ fe0 IWml~ ...... · fltholeu 11m on I lit. 01 Its own. AhI .... m and :W,.h ... ~ btcOloryl.II .... Ihe.r betn tlOubl. with tndlng "orks. SI In .....mot)'. f't.h.pI lhal Is why fantaslts-fal'Y lIles. ~ fiction, map:: ",.1. "m--tI~ such hold on our IrN81no.11om. They a", a way told around tlot mdI.nchoIy flClS:one Ii~, one Un~., nan .. I~ tJmHnd·~..,..n·lik. ond one dulh. In wtllln, Iktlon,.,... an ~. tnK. ill" .."In. bioI ,.,... donl H. ruk' dtpkI two OflI)OSjn, rotJnn of aclion lor the samt ch "lCIn . 1 1M ....... Ilm~. A ~I IIkt Philip RoI h's Tht Cowtrnll~ can pllY with . llftnlU~t 1lYU, poil. Ilonln, ItR lf withi n I l ri m. modern ruder as shodd", violation that thh Infortullon h Indlldod In 1M ctuopter do.llnI willi · 1oYI",· lrJndrwu." MId. uhkllly. Rdldah b trnlallns 11 ~ biblical · Mothtr" Ind more OJ ~ntric Woman, to 1M: ' round Ind ' round on the

,".ntd

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.pt oIl mqln,Uon, Ilbor,lty baue(! with tM

oa~

01

th~

w.tdous. V.. ,.".....11.....,. .. ..., hI ." abo >«n. mldrl.h Cln

on.ok~

oonntctlon. 01 slanllng Inol&ht lhal dupe i1 cltlrK"ltrJ Ind the melnlng. of tht'lr ~I.tloruhlps. through the Ult of th" ",me unb.ldifd and un lntimld"ed Im'8In.flon. The mid· .uh on the ~nt.l. story of Abflh,m lIking HIp, 1\ I wl~ . flt. Sa.. h's duth I. the magnl~m lIIulU.llon htrt. The Bib", Int oronlon,lIy capllulate! 10 Iht power 01 two dl/ft~m ."nlo", of an 0!\1:n1. I. In the cIoIIblt (~"Ion IlOfy. In o~ ."nlon God CrNtts Adorn Ind E." "' lhot ",mt Umt. In tht odin. God flm ~I~ Adom from 1M elnh If1d 111M [." from Adam 's rib. TIlt Ittdactor, who htlJtod IOSt"Ihtr tho< varkxu fllbit acmunu, JJ~ both ~1I1on "orin IOll.!ld. Ih ... on.okln8 nt"W rnc>rW>n$. SorM m id..", 1.011","/1 I"""t po ..·.r tlut II wiU. In tilt ~Idtn mind. bo IIkm toctt""< wilh llible >lory. "PIn mlklng II .txIr\lItc IntW.

MIDRASH ANO THEOLOGY The mld"o/Ils1l IlvN In the dark .r. Ihat /ollowm tho dtstnK'llon 01 the SKond Tmtplo. W. II." In I time lick with IloIocIu .. corucIousnns. TItt Soot 0( ! ' .... ,hnIOnS, ~ad

fYny)"tar on Thlu B'Av, lho< ninth day 01 1M Htb .... month 01 Av, Is /llifd orIlh iCJefIe oI>uffmn,"nd On!»'" lut 1M aodmt oommtntators wmo obit 10 oay tlut the >uffmng GUstYlmt wu I mull 01 ~ )lnnln .. A mind that could c:oncdw of lilt H(IIo. • 21 •

a,,~

punllohm~nt

for j .... WI sin would bf I mind "" ntlfd wllh Ih~ UM."iIOnt flUh UIO dlVOftt h untrlyfrom .... r IS

own Ilm~. In In ~1.11t. mld.uh onJonah. lncludt-dln myrolltcll"d nwoys. ActWmlJ of Inl/untu: IVrltl"l Q' Q Womo:tn ~M Q In.' In A.mttkQ. I ,ddfCS>Cd Ih~ q ..... Uon oIlh. «'Iuetlnl p«Ij>htt. Tht '"dllional vl .... of jonah ralb him I nuon obltsstd whh ludam.m who ""'piKS mtrcy. Ht won·, go 10 tht ~It 01 Nlnevth to prophesy tht l. doom bonlilt ht knows Cod's ....K)' wlU tn ...". rh~b for&i....-nesl.jon.h. "'ys thtcommen· tlry. w.ntl only IlJd&ment; God WlnU only mt1q'. In my mldruh.}onIh In tht bdlyol tn. fbh mcountm. klnd 01 IMIII lMIIft". for thlff days. !«fItS of HoIonIGt destl1.K· non oI tM ~ p.lI.I btfOft his ryes. By tM md oI lh~ d.Iys, wllm 1M big fbh tltctJ him. M 'J J1II1 00 _Inclined 1010 10 N~h ' ..... n bdon:. Nat. Ihll IIfM around. bea ..... M bflltYft Cod will bf 100 mttdful, but filM. bKaUIt .... anOOl bfu I.... Idt. of. God who II ntl.htf judgmtntal nor mHC1ful but fM..,ly .~nl . To II~ I Ille-I_ntltth. Ctntury 11ft Is to live In I tim. 01 broktn f.llh tiM!, 01 dl",ontlnulty. Mld •.,h ;. a cQunltrwtlghllnS COmmtnllry In tht It"fVk.- 01 continuIty. oIl.llh In Iht primacy 01 jew. lloh lUI. T1lt .lltnlllon lMt womm ..,adtn of the Bible M~ Itll. comilltl upon IolJe lxunae of fan 100 IttUn" CilInnol bf mtUII~ In 1M _ oalt .. ' tht lum11ltl_.y of God's fau' In tht lioIrc?o'" Yfl.t I CUllin dlJUnt poInl tn... t ..... IIlm1t1onJ Loltr$«t. In -0U01ojp>n on Dt-rotlorl,. whlrh tilt ..... """.

for""

lion oIlh ls boot, I SJOUP 01 _ _ who •• ~ rat~ th. ,Mn. 01 the Torah) " "To men, I'm tempted to sayl Should we 18no~ the ut· In8 away of It ffQm womtn~" - But In ~voIt all"ln" Ihat tbtll, mUll _ empty OUr. stl~H 01 our own "OfIH~'

"The truth Is, men a~ ... berett ... ..., I~, Men or ._~mm.~n __ lrft In the sa,,", sour, sktpIlcIJ qe. ~'w: loot our abioIutts. · · M.ybe 11\ Inx thaI ..., ~J otood II SlRII. yrt _ no:ow.do,.. "and In ~dlfftfftl. pI_. often wI.hout much ~ ... !Jon .0 1M BIble Of 10 onr ... 0100. Maybe .h fOUlh MW SlorIH we can ... rup to,",,,d rontlnuify." In n,y own Rtbtuh mJd.~ htrt. thtrt a~ two IIllftrent kinds oI 01OfIH. ".. /lrsl one J roruldtr 10 be In the tradition oIapol"lll'1k1 10. God. Jt ~ars I family ~1"lonlhlp to the kind 01 mldr"h th .. uplalm why S.,.h Ihnw out Has., and Jshm;>tL: hhmaet wu "'0011111 arrow.1I pll-stl$by, even mlkin, stxuaJ adva~ \(I liaIC In 10 I~II M r, and 1M wind bIo:nn aw.y hi. worth. ll>tol ItIO!her ~rvlm hi, • Ify, .nd 1M Clmfll bny and drown oul hi. Ln nolH. TIlt nil .... and h.ndm.lw My. h.lttI 1M gmllp Qf1 1M "iy Ind Ity to pliS II on 10 Kd>tbh but .h. hf ....1f >llfn«S 'h ..... tl., b,othf' .. arn~ h~. not '0 II"'Ilp wllh WOmfn on tht foil •• ney. bIIt !O k..,p • modO'll dfm •• no •. and P'~pI'f h..... lf /0. he. mlnll,t. Aoo '" ' '''' ,""s~n8~r. Ih~ Hrvlnt, Ind Ih. hloomlld. camt to, >In,lt n . God waMIl Ktbtbh !O be Ignorlnt 01 1M AklWll. (Artlln of ..od's M«S$Ity 0IaS. Ihey acknowltd,t. I.t too tffTlbit to be f~. And I you~ woman UpKt~ 10 bel. ntW ofhprln, to 1M racf wouLd be bfne. 0« 1101 know1"1 iboul her hulbond's ntl'·SICIIfIN. If 'M 1tMw. M ..... 1 Inf 1f1(ft'''nl 1M plpUillion mlghl bf dLmlnllhfd. ~ IUtk IM'rodUCWly Ioumty mkbuh attOUnlJ lor biblical !tory's ovrrll8ht In "'"Ylns ~h 18"","nl oIt"" ,f1'lt I fl'lIml of he. hllllMnd', Uft. It Ihll.ll", ICCOIInt, lor I"" poulb", (futlty toward Rebekah In kctplnS ht' lgn,",m IInlll III WI, 10 Jilt by so ... >ln. God'i compoulon and prlCliClI wl>
• 24 •

11111 InllOd....:lion. I. I> WOfth fU4lplNI.II.,. _ of I~ f'I .. "."u M ... lOt 1M pu~ of 1IlU!lIltlon, Rtbrbll'J f.tM, Laban. as kI.,. of 111.1' I.nd. took to IIlmwlf 1M
..

~'''hlr

oullnl", .. ""'" 01.1,,", ,itls Cl'II.lblt: A mIn has ,enl'lO""ly ~nN cwo pr«lou. I~I' 10 ""olh., man. Should Ih. lender nol ha~ Ihe p.I .... It." nowof r«alling Ihom to thel, plKt among hb ~""' ,10m? 'Of COUBe: .nsw~" ho. hu.band. And ho II broughl 10 ",brnlu1on 10 God'" will bdort ht k""," that It Is h.!1 ~

""'" who 1ft lht Ie~LI. Or this wo~n mighl write I mld.;ash of hor own. It would lit !1ft iOrMWhtt"o: bttWftll I'tbtLlIon and wbml~. n.tt.! w would lind _ . - ...~y 10 txpre.s Ih. h .. ~n cry 01 lou, ... hkh u our ""'&Oinl "'.... both I... I~ and ,...tllnl.

Mid""" In 'M end. 1$ IheoIoC', " ~Il II quntloru, 'nlWft1, ltad OUI IloNtoIk fw 01 ... who !>ad 10 m.a~ Ihb tin
• 17 •

,I. you will tI...., hoard, DiSOBEYED! Now-lt.h I> ..tJ~,,.....

shoukllook .t: OR,,!, God .... ocduud by tho ..... prlli . .. me

iU

I ......

yld '0 God: You ""nt know~.t1 How you. (~.'Urtl .nC' wlltll .hlngs K" .. rong~ M.~ this J'NC1 wllh mt, tlkt my O
1"1lauSh.obiti Who did [h,, hoptlns.

'."h.

"

..

Nt"Yft shook IhrdlY from his fn1 or 1hC' duSi from his bral .. or I"" ,'avd hum hl$ Ihroal. "Qh......do you Ih lnk wr should:>' Whw I ShowN him whC',.., 10 bI~ 10 _ rould ,""pion: 10SffhC'r. FI I (~ncf ! ' SIn« IlI nln, Ihls ro" .. pon""nCf'. n .... s has COmf Ihl' youl forlunfS.,.., .t Slo.fd-ht WI. 100 h.appy lllhe tllCOUm., 10 do '")'thin, so Ylly. (SIw: dldn " tDCIly 3ft Cod; >hr IIad Men ... Ikln, aIon8 ~.IIHI on. m in,,!., and 1M nUt or.. bww God WQ lhat II W:I'I _ li ~ 11Ii1.) And tllm iIw tIid om: of 100... d~lm con....,..\Jon.ln wtIIdI ~ opt'"k wil houl """"nsllps. S,,", opMt Inskk God, .. nd God spo~ Insld< hl"L

..,,.

_ Why did ~ h;o,~ 1(1 '" updlN from 001 "'.. "tllut

AU about E""

GINtnl My huWnd brot:~ down mm~ly aftft that. My child,,", .an wlkI. Thq rommlned horrIbIo crimes. And I 1m tOllMnIMI [)nIled, th~n M$pISed I! I brlncn of duth! Why did you rnlu ....... If..- whl'n you knew IIovN you so] - III u!W1 you? I m.lU you .uif..-I llow could I do that, bt~ l ln Ih~ Gardon I ca!~ Ind called. r 100.\:... for you ~~.ywhtrt. 10 bl ..... )'our "",rn~. f.Vt djO(o~rar 1'"""", pl"rI>tj. SJor ",/d II> Abrn""m, ~"'>¥-_" 1VIfI1tn ....., fiJllltt .,,"

·c;,,~r

(>«/ Ih"l

off"", u.a .... ~""IJ """

!hIort In IIw Irthtriumu wilh my ..... 1__•• ....... _It... oIIl/7rl.W'd Abn>1IIIm "..,l1y, (at it (lIM(""otJ .. _ 0( /tiJ. &wI God ! _ bI diJ/mW.,..,. llot ""r lit yow s..n./o ItIt! ,.,..,. '" fd al Ih~ divlnr ~nnour>Crm.nl and wa.n't 1110 only on. who had ltoulll. bellt.-Jng It could lupptn. ~ple !olIld Ih.1 1!olI~c wa, H iP'" SOfI. too. That It WitS iligar who h.d born. Ihl' otOn 10 God, s. •• 1!. abo w.", lionS'

NatullIUy. w would co. In I,", nl&hl!he heud Ih. vola In Abt.tum,\ Ifnl"y_

''''' "'hIlt)'Oll' oon and J.lOCfIfi« him." It Wu' voice W f«OtInl~. That vola an.d SInh IYd I.o .. ~ 10000hnl S.rah ~ Lillo Ab.. tum's Iml, but Abraham WlIvN hft ....y. No talk! No Ii..... to 11".n! rrq,. ••rioru to maul tw lYd!)fen '""'" >urntl"" whm h. smt tl~ •• from 1M """.. with ["'mael, He hMi IIftn mo ... """CUllt lou",,1 11tmr. lit had c.~wd that motlltl, kissed l/oal child. Now he polnlnl hi. finger a... ay from hlm ..1f Ind wllh. out I nOlh., WOfd Of ~>lure up
to

Duling till: night Sa ..h dn>aml of Ilapt, TIlf'" II no limit 10 tht q ~ HlIon. Sarah a,1:> Ih~n . _WlH:n
birth IMI .... My"U&h 10.,1 YOW 10 not ~ Ihl, borOWed boy. soon to be fttUtn~ . Yol I wU II helpJao U If I'd MVft" VOwN. ".dy to IoItrlllu I bondwoman', IOn to .. ~ myown . Sft how Ilf. "fleetl OUr dto-dsl lf I hod 1\01 ~nt Hapr's .... n 10 bonl .hm.m. ml8ht God now ch"""" him for oaaIfIco and 'IMN: mine? b that God .. mn"1"1 Spnk. mn_,er1" fJ leu. ..:pll,.., "I ha.... already dN:~ I iOul"TlC)' AM· him woo, me on. 1l>m! II wlln In It . wallPf ofIen me""" 111t.llar of Abraham'> hou ..? M.... ng ••, yOll mmt \pea ~r' " lwll mywlf, I ..",.nt. Trusttdon 8..,t .".nds. Wht n I wokf, my htal1ll1lcd with joy. I had don. my tnk. tr.,·tled fat.nd ytt '.mllnrd In my trut pia« nont tntO whost .... Abfah.m. who Iu. Ih. em bul1ocb7 20 flnnt kkb 01 Hw Mrd1111 . t-p1 40 hfttft11 SO f1td&llng bI"hl 0.. yout I0Il, EJltml Spelk. .......... 8""l. llut EJ"'~ . Is 01""'. dumb.

tn. I>< mornln" Sarah liso took l"ovtoJom, mQUnttd. don · kty, and rode 10 M....nt Moriah . Nllu.llly, Iht would do Ihlt . No man: qutltlom. Ho. >1.1 with his ilnII. Sarah ktpI on. NalwaUy, IIw would. W~.I>< 100. >lght of thom ..... coiled oul toWayfll .

"owl""

,.w

.""

....

" tb~

you _" my 1IIP1owd? I bo& you 10 It II nit wIIkh

w.y M":I ""..!" Aft •• , whll~ oM ,",W thot Ab •• ham and I~ had disrYoOUntl'd tMl. dooktyS.nd ...,'" .h.ody climbing tM uony mounilin on fOOl . ", am co.nlng. 1IIP1ovtd." .ht .ho.1I1'd to h e. 5Of"I. 50 Ih.1 M ... ould undt.... nd nothing could harm him. But II Ihe u.gl'd ht . dookty for .... rd. the M." IIU/Rbll'd ,lid Ilopt>td . SM f.1t Itl trtmbllng In her thigh •. Something wu In tht p.Jlh . SM ,",w IIOIhlng. No lN~or srorpIon. Bul she con!!n · utd 10 Ittl btI...,..n 1m thighs Ito.. 1huddt.. of l ilt 111It.. donUy. $.I"h Ind tht donUy both lrembled brion! the empty II. of IIOIhl"ll on 1M p.Jth. Thtn thtno ...,'" wlrm pufl's of II, on lief cheek. Tht nothing on lhe polh will w.wI"II cloln. "W""" '''' YOU. SllIh/"" .,.or"" I YOIa II her en " tI.", 11m. God. hUN)'I"Illoward my hu5b.>nd and my only...".. wllh whom you bles.!ed myoid .st. Up tM"'"SIo.lh I"'lntl'd urpntly-"Ihty" .. comin g to tht topl" · Stop I bll. a Ion8 whll~ .1""" ...,·vtlllktd IOStlh ... In facl. f>Ol sin"" Iht lop tIme

" I'!tnt don't. Of t witt h."" to do Ihl! .It C>"i" .galn." "Then J will $J"", lime. For the ,,"u of)'OUt rlghtroumts• • nd .110 you, forme. ~auty whkh I 'Illl behold pt,l«tod In my Umele» eye. Come. M younS! J rounl on you fot ~Iltf. UShl ........ bit of Ilgh"'n.! My ~n, I~rmndou" 0\IffrIdc0 all. My fQr=, my filCtS. my ph_. I~,aa.nd

• Malt lOW' "'' "'.... It. m...-cywwar" judg_nt, rompn. ~ IOWO\tIone5 I.l~ hold of lin Iltoh_..... God lum·

Ing 1m Into I you,,! ........ n opln, ...... time ~ally nothl",1 Though tIM: oM Ie.ntd . " ' t _. hord, oM fell u(ftd· Ingly comfort.ble. "TO ~n with •• ch.t. TIfnft-8e.uty-;nd RlmahInt .. llllfn011" "OfClOUlW. kwtd IJhm.otI.! Old I not m)'Wlf~ fhpt, my JeIVlOnt, in 10 Abnhml 10 flIn. [.aid 10 AbralL.1m. ' Blnlll! Iheml' [ lIInchetT dontty. ·u any moth,. would?" Sa.ah WI. stopped by tM SOIInd 01 whal Ih. Ihooght WI~ 1au.&h'fT. "Tha, I. amll.lng. Wortll your husband, Ind Hand In you. son's Htad.. Well dont, S.tahl Th1< " • III"" for all (~111on to .. _ . A ram from God!"

.and_

• S1 •

.... " pull of wind on Sa.ah'Jchftk, ... ",tUH In tIM: di~.na, and KIOI1, Sar.h "".., It.. donkq Nod cn~ lu trembll"A. Sh. Il"IOI>nml onod IIwy canlrml on, 11 !.pUrrl", willi

s..••

htf

h~11. Af~r

I whlle .ht .l>ar>Ce contorted In Itar. s-rah'J cry of iIoIlgulsh >0 lem~ 1M ani ...... "aorTitd thai It wnuhcd Ihrou&h III. >Kt and t hllJtd Into I Ihlckt wilnf: It .....mlll> hor .... and w:lOS aUBIII . As wU Abr.h.om, m1d.m"rlory of IId>tlah--does no onun'ttll hH about t h t .... ltdo". tht bindi", and nt..·!oKrifke of IYaC by hi. 1111'IH?_nd ""ppiies In Im'lllntd lut to KOOUnt fo< lilt 1>OI" elll",. OIM' aspKu of .t.. Rtbcbh and lloalc S'DlY lie al",. In my ~Irw. prim. mld,•• hlc momtnll. 'plCK In Ihe " orr 10 bt qut,tlonW •• Iucidalw. Ima,lnw. Vtl I do nOl find I Mm lmon, uampiK of mld,..hk lI.t ••

,u..,. Th .. Blblt

IlStlf I«OUnll only ,ho end nl R~bh ', tau •...,. 10 m~t 11M: husband .... has ~ Ieft\. Elltm. 11M: mts ..... gtr. idenIl~ Iht tIp,t of I~ In a fltld. lId>t .... h duc, ..d, (0. f.Us) II'OOl lilt ".....1. laac approachts.. 1lIooqjh much II made of , ..... _omony of and offmna WI' .. when Eliul;J n'l«t. R.... Uh 1\ tht weil • ..... t at IId>tkah':!. 81101 tneount.. with I~. no WIlt< II mtntlootd. Tho .. II only Iht ~ )lImmal)' to ISIoK

""1

M heMtf ..... ""h.d • son stir blnlsMd

.tt.,

,,,hen h.,

""

ttw Nndmlld with ..... hand .... ld'!. 1(1if of. lho wrnTin. of the Pn .IIUd I. or I'l0l_00 wa • .., n.""...... ,.,...... .hl"l alway> on lib mind. What COIIkl It ~ . ..iii, Iud rhty lItanl?

TMy 'houlhllt ... ~ 10 t. L1 me lhon, lib It Of nOf : 1M knlf•• '1....0 nod, ,ods M .... 'h him rudy for n.m., 1""" Ylllhlt 'tuostd for burnlns. "Nlghu_Ili, hurt·~nb. black rnopnl Thal'l 'hi' fun

your hu)/)and Iud In lif•. mIIOU)' for him, " th~ Wid. "He 11K. dl.~lul rou.h. I'km OIl. wllh Abumm OM d.ly and ..... hb b\hfl ~'" 10 kUJ him. And would III...-you know Abf.Iwft!-lflhen:'d bem no ,.ml 51,," 11111 unf.th· omed dly•• 00dm du.h Is IYaO So It 1M ~ IpptOOoCh of you. my de" (1tIIybt' ht's sot to I'Inbh Ihlnp ... qukk as card), wdl-fleed we opril it .... ' 1 11«;0_ of .h.l•

't,....

... .

you won', coned .... , a 'In 'M f.mUyu!'f'CU you11 ,.k~ .. pan younotlf. And m.... caU you bar ..... worMn,·

w.

TIIty!.lId I'd Iram '0 II"" ..lIh II, tlu 11 or noI, So..., tor m~ boo.. noStoppin8 now, What'< kcpc In C""," 0111, and always Ihlo. way, an(i~nl Of m~rn, · No one both~,ed 10 ttll you the family trOllbln, Now you know Abraham tried to 1eemtnt of IItr rre3nancy, Sa,ah la",hf(!, Then, w h ~ ,he meucllse' c.mt wllh n.....s' Abr.ham Ilfltd his knlft to ,lay you. ","" bu, JJ.IK IUI.. ,f(! from ..w.'III·~ MIni OIlly ",.. flrst pi" and dlOjipt'd dead befon: d ...... twu, 11«..... 01 tlllt you ~ met YOU' "IO,htr ,ln·taw. 1l'MIu&h what ...., of ..... 11 .... could SI •• h t.. to you-II,t·Jn·llft moth • •. o, u l",,,rnl ...., yet In Iht tnd urul* to!.l\'t' M. JOn? "1)00'1 you know that you _re chosen?" my WOfMn IIkf(!. "You',. """ned to a ... fVlVOf. lIu It Of not. Imprinted dftpt, .... th our .rlty from ,..,...1 My 101\ Iw Up«talloru! " Sbo'd mentioned JsIImael tint. Tha. JftfTlrd 10 tnt I,,&n. Ind p .... "'" courlg•. "May J ' b thaI "m uch" and "tlttLt" 1ft dd1ntd not by our own ptrSptCt.lw bul byGod"~.' iIIIh •. ~ Oft too II~, OUt ",IS beyond 'Katl . I liad no dl(>k
h.',

. 76 .

conlillt. al kU11n pan, 01 gflUng """,Mil W'lIltn IntO 1M .Ishl "'Of)'. Thtn. cradling my old hui:IttI uIII/ I/oq JNmtd

,,,,oil

"""NItr.

"'1' "',"",... '"

Iu /rl... ,",I " (n> hl£ , _ (rx """ ""'" 1«0#) ",U ro Laba", "Glw"" my wift, (iw my II ..... b {;,/{lIW, IMI I ....,. """'/>II with Ion.' IbId t..b.on

plhtrN ,,/I !1tt ~ /I( IN pllK~ ,,"" m and n!&h1S. Tobrftd M will taR ..... Newt few~. I know tM dlffe .. nc« """" InlO .....11". choly. "Whfn Jacob Wl kfS In w.. ..JI,h. and _ hlVrltchtl. It's II .... 10 'lull unlft> you nn convlnct mt OIhtrwl!.t brioIe JI«Ib's bo:
."y """

8lI1ltlnl hll body In t ..... ,tream, mu.murlng half to hjm ..lf. half 10 his i
.",., "pm."" of wornen It IlIlHIn• . I ...rt>11td willi Tho ....1 II !\"tl~1. .fte. wllkll I wllked wllh I dlf~~nI pll Ind I dl/fert'nl mome. lIut tlul wa. SOOd. c~ln combot! Compalt our obilsatlon," "1t"lI!Ob and I halflor any woman, t'l Utp tNI bo"r'IC
"'"

"Stilt lobltl', " LNh ~ "~ hlW oftm ao..-J onllflnl ln ont plaa lust like thf ~ and Iht cloud. Thll's PO_', Mbllm, tM"''s no doubl about It. You',t not btlnll t"'"I..:I Ukt IOmt nobody with nothing to off••• I don', say J"m him ibou' this. bul, now Ihlt I stop to Ihlnk about It, nuyW tflt family name I",,! ""Uy .ml,dltd.· wd~

ON THE SF.COND DAY, Moses "'slIS MIriam. '''' .... '''' with hoo. 10 11ft ..... brou&hl 10 low. She wyt, ·You..., mywllntSl brian: God. I WUI mot ..... 10 you."

"Miriam. my

>1m, ,,'" mocht.j· • 100 •

w.,

Sbo "'Y'. " You. cr~l~ 10 tu~ bftn )'OUr I'IV~. I made It Imo . 1If~-borse in.~"'. I led Pm..-.h ,\ do",'U~'

to )'OU. ~.' " How m.ny mot,,", I Sh~ uY'. " I broulht

tu v~

)'Ur

!lad!' own mOfhe,', b,um 10

you. lips.' " tlow m.ny mOlhers h. ,~ I belr.oytd1" She ~y., · u,arn h"'" my humlll"k1 n. You, tOO, will be "'" off. 1M . Ime wlll Com~. You won'l>ft .he promllN I.nd. I am ' ''''.rn lnl _rlfko:. Yoo will be ""I off one diy, 100.' "MIriam, my .1s1~.00 moIh~. m y prophftl tlow ""ny ".Y'.~ 1M'" fo< God to ~ak! And how I ~ tM oi lftt« of Godl'

ON 1'IIE THIRD DAY. Mlrllm h~'n 1M 'ppmKh 01 the ddotn. A, 'My Come ......rd M. oM sees a II .... wilen ~ will eo down 10' vall~. •0 tM dcrptst plan! of ~aflh and own .....1•• nd "," I ~ God .. , .... tM",. When SM comH bKk with Ih. rommlndmmts, SIltched .. If by 'n8el,' Hn. K~r. In sold and crimson and ~N~.n on st ... dy wo~n , loIh, d...:'o u'l'(! with In~~ and ~rs I nd fandf..1 bltds' Mid. In H.wl~ embtoldorry wor10 1m eh,octo/arouslng God', Inge •. liMOn 10 YOU-YOU 11"' In fUry WOfds to hI! 0 .... IleIWftft M~ Illt slow 01 lpO«h ."d Mlrbm lhe 6m:Jad,.r Is tllt~ a (1loI~111's I man .. of rommunlty wfty. You·~ Inft>mmablt mat.rlal. Miriam. Wt're dousing you." " But God ~ 10 _," Miriam >ereamJ. "Sooolin two mlnults she mlkts a rommodon!" "I call God to wit ..... kw m my broIMf's 11ft! You rumrd his htad willi lust! How 01 .. could he fOlWfll0 clmlmdw • son? And you )'OUrwlt rom. pI.lnld he .....wd not .wp wllh you whl!11 Iw l«r1ftd God's word'" "I f you. wi" _'" not '" thr«tlcd by you. bonl,hm,n t M ' t, you'd _th'l mt.nt ht wudrunk with God, not me,·

" But you complllM 1m ryn from llppof~h"s IU~. 1"he mpt..,. 0111 snows at mt nJ.htly. WM It the ""y • 105 •

fflodt)' aI you. IWlion for Moon Iml p~ you 1M rou",8 nolhlns mo,".

""1.

"'t

nit: f1ffH

DAY romes Mlrlllm'J hu\I).I.r\d, Caleb. H. offm to rio with htr, 10 romfon lhtm both. This II, of rourw, fort>Iddm. bul Ca~ II' c1tat._... man, ""'" of l1le ~ who will IMI.. Canaan .nd rfpCN1 10 1M wury band of ~ dul llle promised ~nd IppraB not Ihreatmln .. bul p'0'"" adlllttrOlJ •. Hf has SftII 1 ~.nl drln~ Iht Ikjllld by mbtl"". mlatd wtth wtm, 'OO lib lIomach bioIled. So !¥OIIld AIIIIOtnach, bloat, Includln, 1h0f of Ihf Idmlnlno, lng por\I my tru.h,1 Woman from Adam's lib. 10 bq:In wlthl Why would I do IUCh a th l"" wlltn my & God. "Go out" And whtn Illt l. so Ihl1 .h. dlC!d? Soth, say lhe old If&tndl, and ours m"lIloIy the SII1>f, 5M both dlC!d.nd pmI.IC!d. Sh. was ,round down and 1M contln ...... She pw up .nd 1M ~ndUlC!d. Now and Ihen. in 1M midst alweh Itarinl opposItlons, _ opIril or ....'I)' ~trmI lin and bu.rII oul ln I ""'"

m.

m.

>in"""

Ih.r was "k~ ..... Mlrlltm tn. dlughtrr. mullin, In. moth ... the the

01 joy .nd hop". Sulffttnl .nd

wt"'. tM prophtt.

• 11 0 •

"'niof.

TAMAR

•••• GENES I S ]8:6-19 IwJDh "" d wlft "" Er hiJ !ltJI·I>om,' /tn ............. r"""" , BMI lI, flm.JxJm, ...... diJpWsl'll In IN /.old, ANi !/It /AnI fI:Iot IIh 11ft. Thm Juddll wid '" OM", ' j(Jbo ""fir )'tI "" )'IJW brulItw. &1 0-.. ~ Ilwll tIw JftrI - U "'" """', as "", Irf II ". '" _fc' fI(fJprlIw , . lib 1wrHIw. WIwt Iv J/4 _

""'*

~

10

lib lif~ Qoo. Thm , . .It JIIId to " if ""14hln-in-I.l", T.......... 's:..y dn, and lnamully lnhtrtts al lilt md. ~ tradltloNJ n>idm.hk rlbbll _ rudy 10 1It1iP .n.alllmwr on tilt 0U1U.I bdr.avlor 0 1 _ ItId. Itndlrnqr (n'C' oina [w) 10 hut .... n 10 lmplou> bthIvlOr, and on thdt t.l8*"0CSJ 10 I " "I 10 deal!. • 11 4 •

In mpondlnl to Tmw's "«y, lhey art pAfadolllcllly ~~r 10 oYft\ook ~rythln&:: M. adult...,..., bdwovlor, hn dhp.... U a harlot, and 1M ~ $M XU for Judah. SlIe 11 Imtoad pralwd ,." lin moo:Inly (1M lIar101 dh,ulw lno;l~ I ~I~ GmtsIs Ratt" ~mln.t }'OU'~, child." Shdah aawb InfO htr lap w~ oM drs on the 1Ioor. "Then I1J be)'Ol1' child, now thot my mother" dt~. "Tlmu

• 111 .

",fokb 111m In her arms. Th~ IOC. bK. 11>OOf dilld. Don't rompm}'Ol.lMl/l ShtIIh Is denltd to youl" "l1Itn I will .......... him," ..,.. Tam.a, wilh conviction. "1llf IOn who _ prombed to you and Ihm wllhhcldl ThIll Is bold. I _ tho IUKiClI' of )"011' wbh, bul 11111 ••• "

• I ts •

"No. not the ton. But he Is ~ 10 tht ton. " nN. re~tlve . k nlrn, 0 !ol)'J 1:omal. " My INtllh ilion! Blood pounds In my e.n ! I am too old fo< rtddlW ~ak p~lnly! NoIhlnl could to. ........, Imn Iht l..-ron I am d",.mlnl now!" TIlt nuM tears a, h .... mi •. "Y(KI .,~ to.yond my Mlpl " "Nol ., .11. Th~Jt'l much 10 do. Flnl, fetell me tilt Jetntfll 011, ,lid tht palnl pots. LooKn my lIall. R1R3 my n«k wllh omame-nl!. I\It to.lIl on my fett. TIt round my hips .ghdjj: with liflJlot biu of glass oewn In, wilh .... broI· cleM .nlmals. optn·moutlled.nd up-temn .. ... " "Thh brinp dcIothl WlMt you Ire doI"lI? [)ulhl" °Sllde copptt brKtku'lon& my.nru 1111 they bitt Into f1nh. H.ng t\IfqIIObf: and 1DOlhtr-of.purl .. my fomltad. and ring my eye with spl,kll"ll bbdI Palnt my Upsnlrruon. callY my to.lon&lnp 10 1M ctVSSIOa(Hulntd to... And his falher" dn:tiltd IriJ father with JOIukln·.....:otd arnu. So wilh faboo covtrinp I will dtalvt him!'

"OW,

0

• 119 .

-I am falntl My ~an WOI\'t SUnd Ihlll- crln I~ nllIV. - My hun YUIlU to do God's will. Ai Judah wal ~t~ 10 rllht-.snn$. SO rmoy God ~rd m y " ' .",s, too.~ n"IV we..ps bin.fly. "My poor wldoo dealh!" AI nlJht, Tirna. and h. r old nil ... 1rt 01 thl! bwlneu. • Tama, wo)'S. "I wUl ..npt IIOIhlnJ from you now bul pIcdgo:s. Glw 1M Ih_your suff, mant... I0Il cord.' "I wish aJl WOt'I1ftI ooouId .Ulk
tht aowOlods tJut n!&ht could not bt fou nd apln. And thou'" -'I .. t"~ with ttlt nlehl's nanSKIIon, Judah was UM"r It thor ~ht of tM pltdgt1. unrNtormtd.. tht ~ymtnt not mado to tho prostltutt whom no ont kntw. A, 101' lI~r, >M r>ulu. Ju.n..h hi< flUtn Into M. on ..... lIut tM t.lcklnt ~" I. SllIIlo rom •. 'IlIe,. I. Sh.llh, who hu hi. prklt, hi. pu.lon, hi. ~n~ of malt p.lvlltjJt. If th. plOt 1, 10 ",raM, there can bt nocon~'lInl from him Ih. fact. of Ih. dJstulw, Ih. crOUfM has dont. "000' bt ~11ou1, my ~. Judah .. fffbIt manhood was soon Iptnl. Not 11..w..d on tnt, til,,". bul drtbbltd off to on. side IS lOOn a. hor lay btsklt ..... 1ItI...... you and IIM', tit's no Abrlhlm. Somttl""", an old min h luSl In old man, "Tt\fn o,all>-lIkt 'olh.. lib

JOn" I

"'ppolt IInfanllnllt lIory-Iht night lilumbitel upon ht., dl'I"I~ ., I hlflot , TItI. woman h., now bttn known by your two bfOlhm .nd by lilt. Thlt can'l be vtry tntt(1l11 tot you." "0.., of rapect I won't JPCIk 01 your tOIt htrt, Fltht •. But I mUSI :IIy I"" thouJht 01 my dot~ brotht n Iht.t before 1m binds 1M to hn with .... no... •• rtfI&Ih, Ind with dttp flmlly Ioyllty. "w.-u, lamUp IlDtlIy, _ I II I, uld Ind dont. And lilY dlild.. . Irudy In !la, I It.IppDSe thtrt" no ibnif\' for you, which' had ftum alon" And you m.... n'! Itt lhot thou&ht that r Wft tilt'" btfort you .poIl you. plt .,.. re. "No, Fllhot •. " W\(e:

al'

"' btllevtd shot wi. I prostltult. I WII dllgu.tod by . he ICI, 01 count, ' wI. thlnkin, of you. dt.. dotad IIIOIht. III lhot whllt. , WI. In Ind out !>tlore you could :IIy • qllkk Kaddl,h, '1'1 not I I If thtre..u Iovrmaldnl loin, on ." "' know thlll" " Nothllll to be julou. of. " :II)'S Judah. "I'm ron\'1ncm 0111," ItuWflI ShtUh.

" ' didn't ~ htr Ihm Ind I probibly ......Idn'. now. , bAn-1y IooIt a. worntn Inyw"y," "000 " be ~Ious on I'X""Int of yow manctn, Fililtf. 11'1 wtll known thlt you off", ... you. own U~ for )'OU.

• 122 •

btOl~

lIm,,"mln wtwn./OSt'ph IM:Id hIm hosl" In f..c'pI.

, SOOd man.' 111", IlIlnl' an compllcaled. " ")"I Judlh wIth. Jl3II.

You ' ~

"'ull don~ w.nl you IOlftIcm.lflI. lloma'" nm·bom wtll of t'OUfH bit • sp«Ill chIld. But you c.n count on OIhtr chUd~n

from Mr."

" I'm pr~rtd 10...:apt Wlul God Jfrnil UI." Tlmll w~tdlfl 1M $parrln. of tht fathtr.OO Iht 5011 . Sht Jfn Ut,t Jl.Id.1h Is ...,m with symplthy for hll ton. who xnpll uncom pillnlnlly w lut Judlh bltllt-Yfl lllht prospect of S«Or\d·hand f.thtrhood. "T1I6f womm .... to lit plllftI, you know. TlIeI. bIoIop011 doc:b.~ tldl." ''''lIY." Si)"JucWt. hldlnt from hlffllrif 11M: windl", doH" of h!sown bIoIopcal dod. "Mm don'l luve thai pcoblt .... lui now lhn fTnhmtd. lht'll to on

llt.rInJ for )'QU." "r Iut.ow tNt. F.lht(.· rrpUa

-.

tlw: mpfCtf\lt )'OIUIIHI

"I don't ... nl you 10 f«l ( lIflttd," SI)"I tilt old fatlltt. " I'U try not to: ...)" Iht lItamln, br\dtt;'oom, while llorNr loolu modHtly do .. n. llom.. .00 1m h.nd.1ornt youn, hulb.too rtulve Judah .. blftllns. "I'")w, OUfH """,Ity pt't!W"eS "hmo. for tht rNrrlI.t b«I OOCO! mre. MItt • p.olnful time of ttfrllltd blbbUn,.. .IM: hu ,... o .. ttd lin wits and Is now &lYfn to pcophtllc ...,~ SM sits on tht and mutn: ~ will ont day bit • t1", whoIt IIImt Is 0.>1llWtlon aft.. Ulf/Lot falb

'''tty,

aLbIo: IOrIIlle .1....15 dl"~ ~ from another: Coin and Abel. Jacob.nd t:.au. bm H'mln'J

• 126 •

l.ofi ~ lind eoo""."""Y

sons I~ IIImtd. Lot's ~~n ....... dI\llhttn, womm ....... undl~nt1lted.. I will dlffmntllltt lilt dI"Ihltrs lit.., aU thlUD Gnnml and Cotdtlla. Traditional rabbinic mld.alh II no mon' opt"fIIy condtmnln8 of Lot's doug/unh could _ up with to lilt wkbd and ..... to his ~.' How did lhr dI"Ihln< kotI aboo.tt thel. and his JUbjKtI"l I""'" 10 "poP. wttlch would ba"" bffn the OW If the IfIFlk SUtSb had nOf Inl~? Nrlthn

...,. ·Wox

'"thfr

• 127 .

biblk:.1 tut IMK m1d, ash allows ~ for their word. Of ~In'l on tIw rnat~. In my mld,uI\, · O'ulht..·Wl.... of lot,· I allow fot both.

• IZII •

Daughter-Wives of Lot: All Glorious Is the King's Daughter Within (but that shouldn't stop you from thrusting her out-ofdoors when necessary): A Children's Play

•••• A ~ Cf!mn; Ihlnk 1 only dn.rnf1: h~manlly. God woo 1""00,,)1'1: ple bo!low to d ........ In dlrkntsl. If I ... ~ IIxwt In Ilghl _ 'd III bt dot... Vanlshtd wllhout trilU, lito I h. cutsftl Sod my bf&tittt? Whm I•• WOfIWIn !-iJ1ft" 10 he. JOn? (1iwy /Juuw JlI:)otn AI GONfRJL, wlto fl>IW"I'J brltJnd CDaDE. W "" Ittt ".1Jtt. A/Ur A timt-, thq dtpIn.l

at.

'''1ftS,

_n

• 133 •

COlPUIA {lIirrirrJ' (rom"" brJ), I thInk my I~. II pie. Don't ny, Gontrll. Wf _If bra~. If ~'vf loot God'o /i¥Of II's boa .... '"' could no! Ifad J.Udt m ... ky Wino. Whal moml rould In .11 that omoky oopilr7 We've done OOIt oot. GO NUll , wtul _ d id .. as not for 0111 uk". CO.DELI A, w.. did it 10. the chlld, .... aONUll , w...... da.I"3. Thl .. k!>ow oh ... thll h" ~n Ifwlldt-d. CO. 0 ELlA , T:omar Iu~ h., falhe.·l.. ·law ,0 btd . G ONU I L, Rebobh tJlckod 1$&aC and htf !On £sau. CO. 0 I LlA , Ab,ahlm"""'lfd hi. wife to 11lOt"'" ....... CO NUI L, Jamb d.,.,..,w.;I hi. f.,lln. Le.h doraIwd

,-

won God's approv.l. CONUI. , W. mlHl 1M wlt ....... l lt. C O.OUI ... , 'I'd _

of""'''

tu~ noI

* """"

(A ""'JM from lUIWIt "" ,,",, '"" ....... ,., Itrr rhmo. .., ""'.". II ~ "'*' Is ,"",,,,/): coo , ~.m lau~ho"l My word liclell.-nomy>tery:

a'

PLant )'OU' Kc 101 Make )'OU' dfoml Do! SIfI ~1 e,oot.1 If )'OU' .ffu.tJ come to ""thing. what of 1t1 YOII _.en 't the,. when I mlIde, aft .. aLII J"m INlty

r_n11

• 134 •

patd\lJl Thou.&h II would No~ bem n~ if IU lit. ~ 01 It.. town rouk! It.~ Mild, not jlnt Ihno lIIaqltn, G O to . . , L, And lrr.piMOd OUt ..,...",tIonS. CO _ D LL , .. , JlnUfIm out mlsln l.tp«·"tlons. GO ""lII L, GI .... us aodll for Inlfl!ully .nd mpomIblllty. CD ~ PUI .. , AU~ uS tolakoou. r!&htful pllulmong ell! rlgltt!OUs, 00 "" UI L, As rlgltl!OU' as AlnaNom, piowrvln. Itlm ... lf II s..alt's f~pm .... C O IPUI '" As rlgltlfOU... JKDII, ..1>0 followfd lib 1IlOthn'. vllIon 01 true co>mantl.! oucrnslon. CO HUIL , AnddKod •• d his fllh~ Ith brolhotr, and It b uncle alonjj; u.. ... y. CO IOUI .. , As OUr moIhotr. OO HnIL : Who In ha pity and COIIfuYorto)'OW """'dJ.' But 114m!: Sit/J Ii) lin. "If )IC>U will II' with ...... f will zo: If /tOt, J willltOt 10.•• w.y ....I~ I wil,,,, willt)'OU.· IN d~.• ~. IMrr will ~,.,

lit"""

_I'd,....

r.r.t"""

sIot u.m ",,,,InN ~

11M NapJoWlllf ~ rm ~ mtnrlotd '" ~ Itm.;

tuOd Ot

!., ..... .uo _ ..,. wid! _

• 139 .

•

COMMENTARY Of III women In 1M Blbir, l~bouh _ml Iu.St In need of nfYl' mkl...h. Hn lall. Mrok fmm first 10 u.S! : s.... II prophC1, ludge, g to the .~. tier i'llI'M

hlllb.ond a~ th~ meant Unk 11«, and >hr was so 001)' mornL.".nd nlllht IIIiI ptOpIt said II ..u tho !!«hI ~ for IM:~ To lin h .....

bond, MIdud, th~ &lYe nlctnam&-&lnk. or lhlnl..,laa (from dlppl"l hI! In tn. a.ndk buol...,..), Ind up!· doth, b,pu oItM n.m,.., whlch him fftI Uke Tony the Torch . ThO')' Upt Ih...nctu&ry III up, but ..Ide from that thq

"'*'

"'*

_'" In OIdl",,'Y rouplo,

,rtUn,

.,.,....,f\1I.

aloog. makln8 a Uvl,...

Tht11 pfOplo! dhcoYMod tllII fot IOmf fl'uon Iht (Indies DHIod hum.nd .IId chlldml II" tM work!. Th.Iot rrto1kes me slab, of couow. Youn. womm catch klnll'm Ilk
~

Ifln. He..u he:r lor IlhlnJI and Jhe: ptod...as II. She: UkH, IlOl sins, orden.! All day ~'s bw.y a lryln. oul the ftqlleStS of he:r hulb&nd Ind h~r ~he.·ln·lIw. Donn'l tu.~ I mlnut~ to think! Wtu.1I him life! The~'J rIO doutM aou will hl~ I ""'"n lunk come tomonow. Allor me. I'll _II ooe of my wife ', opin ion! .,ound my shouldo:rs. "0/1, 1Ia..lIde lor yel .. In 011. and~ buslne.. I doLnJL; lwiu 'Ilt work, doLng f"Vt"r)'lhJng s.ht did, Ihm In.u.I&Jn3tO Int J)'TIIIOIUf with III II>ox ~I Clndln-.... put fire to thm! In tnt lhop to m.aK SUIT tMy ~ of them _ I bu.nn. We ~ pIo'kIed bill!, lOkI >hoddy fnfft"handllot. Of ddluitod on I .wllwry dat •. So why? Why IlOl ~? Don'1 L hl~ • mil lion opInIom about ltYerythlnS1 Donl I _ _ lid llgura In the como .. of th. room, flfl'"C\Illy 111< 11 nllhl when [ on't sleep? That', wh-on [~bo.. h, my d.l.lln8 ~. IIStd to be my comlon. He, IIttl. wlnlS would fi n my brow. "There, lhere, don 't be . f ..!d. I'm ht, • . It wi. IuS! a dreaml" Why did W !.Ilk .... oul 01 my vWom? I could how ' - " • prophet 1001 I e","' Itrlf II If,,..'.p'k, _ mt~. , ....... "'lI'Lfn w,..." ..., "... ~ Itontt? She's IJIVIn& "'" th.It "",lInd>oly St.I~ ll'in. 0/1, no, J-ht's SOIng to ioftttli my lulU"', I nd II C1fI's be good. I don~ rvM how I dean tunk to wur.

Jon.

• 146 .

All .ISIII. my wI~ II I ",op/M"MO Ind I Iu~nd lIt for.he Blory of I...d ! Bu. I" ... l,n11U ,Io
wi'"

• 149 •

BITIAH

•••• EXODUS 2:5 - 10

TIlt """fill.. 0( PharilOh nrnlt """"10 !141M In lilt NI~. whl~ Ion ...../dtns owlW ~/ortf /Jw Nlit. SN .,w !Itt ~ .....,. IN 1I.'ItdJ, And _I "" " ..... PlIO (rfdt if. W"..,. slot if ...... If. JJw _ ,"", II - . II ddld, " boy

,'".t,••••

n)"I>rl. SItt ,..... piry on iI iINI.." '1Ir/s .....u M " cltUd.· Thmili. skin wid to ".,,_ \ ... ~. '5hlJU

"""1ft,.... "Ilobo..

~ 10

I.

JIrilt /Jw (1Ii14 , . ,.-J" .... "",."..,....~ d<Ju&1u" mwmW, ' ~. ' So tfri _ """ ",UnI/ht (~iJJ~ .-Iwr....."" 1'twmooIt'l dowpctr SIIiJ 10 Ion. "T...v lid. clllJtf hw~nd. married ail;'h (dltd In Glnzbtt,'s TIw u,m.b o(!tIt fnn. ...... vi). Whll I stortous 1""8Inl",! It ""lCtIes I" hu""nlly whll 1M mld'iII$hi!U conjuttd up 10 bri"ll HI"", Ind Abrlhlm's II,," tull ttwL DId BIII.h loin f.>Iodu.? What h.a~ 10 I\tT" on thll pxtou. Ind Inrlblr nlllhl of f!r., smokt, Ind Mllh. whm 1M fI.",.bom of .... EcYPt..... ~"' dot.o)ld and 1M tt.br ..... 1rit Ibtl. strYIludt and """,htd WI 10 fltedo"" under God's IMnnnI 1bm by 1M choice loyiotry 10 homcIand 01' to I\tT"

btl",""

• lSI .

8iri<JIr

foil,. ton, JPlNlIfd by .hf dolructlon of hff own ptOpIo, did

w SO OJ .!.ylln

my mld,uh. a jou.n,llst ofl hr JewiWt Pm> punun an ..., .., nMl In '''' ~,Itd bull,1 pI_ of J 'or.1 f.«ypflln pflnc,.... '0 IMtn. ul ' BII ~h: Mr mgl. of a 1'\'•• nl'. Inughlrr.·

• I S2 •

Bitiah: Memoir of a Tyrant's Daughter (as interviewed in the Jewish Press) .+•

•

(Tht "nor /I u ,.,.., ~" rnmb. P1o.rrri ~ ""«m Ifb '-J _ JJippnl It In to hi.< pocta, J/"'t Itt u _ un.. """', Iitt h~I~I? FIm, m.culnl Jowph from hI> broIhers, then Moon from old verw: "TIt1. world-io vartous. ... bnullful and n_- ' The.e It IS. lhe n~ry Il(t.aw I"'ul~. No pI~ withoullts purpose. TIH! .. you mlthl ... y. Cakle, mobile. Shapes.nd matm." .nd lones. III ~ IRIO N~nce. Alf In ~ 0( OM another lor

hoi,.

t/wIr be-i"" IIM>uSh thry moy not 0( courw know Ih.l. ~. f.Jypt were the variation Into whJch you h.ad to faU to '~nI!" )'OIIndva ~ an. 1M Insl.... ment 0( your ,tdo;mpllon. I p., OUr. SOl thai. And now I thlnkOllftuden would kM: 10 know .. hat he WJS IIU. Moses? '" a chIld? IInAIf , I am ~n asbd Ihal question . Hand1OrM. $trans. Alhlttk. Thoush.tful. Willful. 100. I ddl3hlod In him . lIod I ron~vtd a 0: M !hI", Ih" mllfN his p...-f~ lion! From 1M mOmtnl 1>0: muId 'P"'"k, he stam"""od. It became a ~I to me. 1 hlrod luton, and SO or: .fl _

"'Yf

Is. You may hurd some JIOry aboullhe dtJld's h.o1"1 pili a com to hb lip? Of ttuotl'!w.lh my 'atlle. HI bo:for .. Ihls b.lby two dWles, Mo( SOld and onto( bumln, (OI~ to _

w~ hlf undtrstandln& .... ,

• ISS •

.....1 moush. tothl'tlltn

Biri
,.ad

,..*n

KtUI.

• IS6 •

"TI~" ,

Ierrlble nl""t -tl~, ~, ",~amH cn('OUnlftN Mooes' """tin. I , . No! Ktallyl1l\11 II n ......1In f.oct "" lxoopl I think I an SWeir 10 II that no """'I rvn ... IITlUI , VH, tM~ ,ht >
On It.,t

~I.

""'nd •

• IS7 •

II 11 ~" : No! a WOfd. 50 I knew IMft wu nothln, 10 be IXInt. Ytt I ~k )'GU ....... kllI't II h.I... ""'"' .pptopoLllt If some Jtw CII .... forwud to "VI' ,II E(ypilln IS I had dont 10 IIItOOdI you' ... I'k!nJ7 •• 1'AH : 1I1;Iht'pptoaehofrommo.utmclnd undplt. ll'cy ~ tht)' could aut. ~ ffOlS! Mol'!! WfPtntsl M~ Wit ... tu,Md 10 bIood1 J.' .' Y.., bulltt's boP fal. 10 you. II _pnut iilnd WllM for ....I ...1 whm I' m wllh mywl/f .nd kkb. ] Ihlnk,

,.n·1

thrr.',

• ]60 •

" How (GU1d 11 hun to M .bIt to (GUn! on SOOd Ihlnr hlpponl ... ' AI loa" no! bad, God kKbId !" I I r IA H my fall.n. atw.),! km-w whll would hIppo"" tit ,""Homm.nd. and Ih~ wnT fnllowc< nlet thl"l1 you' , • ..., fond of. Ddoal. SUlf......... TragNy. Why naI t hink .bout >Omtthln • .... kif. cha..,e? I)I
j .• ,

kl< 'lOmplt, you. dewtlon to Moou, YOU' ...", •• •

"fIAH , . . .•ndmyhwband

.. .

I .' ., I btg you. p.1rdon? """ Ut , Mo~ my SOn .nd h .. ""'nd. j .t ., But.....m, ........ Iy not .. . ] tht ...... Come I I I .hocU No doubt you ..... mOf't IlmlllJ,. with our f.SYptlln ..... st()lTl th., .11ow1 . ,,,,, ..

I.IOe$

brotIom and .blm of 1M royJl f.mlly to manyon. 'nolMr. lor who .Iot c.... nlly do so? Moots btcam. my hulbond. We IItt:lb no blood taboo. _

J " , T...., you ," .,dO't OrdJpus Ind}oastJ. but It '""'" p!tI~ ...... to MomlDMllfd to l'hlnoh'ldl..,t.ttr!

• 16 1 •

liTO A" , 1 am to Mose wh.>t lUlU II to Abralllm, willi tht Qum1 ofSlltbl b to Killl! Solomon, willi Qum1 C ~· Ira b 10 Anlonyl l am r,ypt! I · P (pili", '''plly~ All!

II r I AII , 011, your ,..bbI. IrItd II> IImt mol TI\.fy pw mo IIWftt IIrb~ n.""" BIII.h.. And 11m 1I1I1'h. lIut I am ll!oO F,Umah.1 Of tht IhOlWlnd dirk, tntlelng mov.monlll

music plQ~. TM mummy wruppl",. )./1,.) J. ' o (sduJ "'ilh ,.."ic): PI .... SaI_ FII_ lmall! I Ippr«!. lIt III you, ... bul don'l, plt_ ... I wouldn't WJnl Iny· IhlnS IO ... ! (,u...1r ... w...) II TIA" , ....1 thm, of mww, llu: 0Mi1pus. MOleS h.>d hb faUl fbw. Su~ to"'"" radial ImJNIImo:l!. lit h.>d 10 fI« t'.fYpI! lltt $101")' Will put .bout by 1M IItbo.M Wt MOleS kllltd . n t'.fYpIlan 10 QW I WI"" from a btlltna. but did you know-illat lht E«fpOIn t.. klllN wau ~ rd.tlw1 Wllh hIm OUI of lt.. WIY, Moon would bt nt.It' 10 I'tuoraoh's Ihro ... wlltn my fltht returned to F.JYPI. It /0. It.. N.U: of 1M 1 1 _ !.l,Ves, Of 10 lpffId hll nlghlS with

w"

"'" "",,",....,...1 J.P. (............t): Evm molt dUf1rult. IIoth, maybt1 It T. A" , n.o..: &ladlllodai ronlO$lS bttWftn Mo5H and Pharaoh ' 0 _ who muld n.a' t """" IlUkes, frap. , ....H, b'ood. da,klvsz dldn', )'OIIlU
• 164 •

blood. r wu In rl.atfd. Angry. And &rlt"Y'nl 101" m~ rountry. Ont"'~ I awn:-hfd the colu"'n 01 ( laud ... (8irioM) .....~ b1Ii/J off: Tht -n bt/r1JOJl/tt. (I«JdJ wlrh !;"hr. I~~ S#ttwI fttttd al """ . norher. u If .. linK ....,'" • • In. But Iht !"omllt of food In the n . .. land wa, always " milk and hontY: as though Iltb' tw, mnnl to .Ip lib hummlngbildl. II WI. I, Pharaoh', daughtrr, PrinCftl of Ihe Nllt, who wil Ih. rtmln~r, Iht living bridgt bttwetn tht 1on~ .fOl' folbld· den ftrtUlty of E«YP' .nd what WH pIoolly UlIlllattd 10 milk and honty In the new Jt ..... ltml J . P., luI clt.fIy your Mil"" m.....'••~ ...... Prtnass, ~ tw:", In E&YPt. and not thtff: In tht PTomMd landi

w.'"

.,Tt A H . E«YP' red&Jms lIS own. joumtyl an noI dlfOcult lor .... And ......lh i. OUr I",.tat jou. ney. I had, » I'w ""id, my lUpply of oImmcnll, 011 .. ptrst .....aU>'U. joItph'l bona wtft cm\td oul. Why not: 8lmh 'S body at·

""Iva.

,~

In1

J . ' . /,Ju/lQMI/y) : May i ""y, BIUah, Ihat)'OUt ""rwphapl btauty II vny 11""1. And lhat yout ~ of Iht complt.

Inlt , dtptndtlKt of alilif. i. In.pilln,1 It 11 A.. , My stn oc of the Im .. deprndC'nu of all lift Is. If I tnly ""y, born of 1M t""ml,,!! Nllt. J don'l vaunt my own action" mind you. bul i00i:.1 what I did. [modt no 'I'ach... dKIam:I no contat. J ..." no minion. \0 In for ..... I rod>ed InlO tht waltf and w-.... OUI """ Ikbttw ( hlld. O!t.f. O!t.f loIVtd one. An act from whlett lManln, . to Row, throu&h ~ and worldo .

"".1otS

• 166 •

(TIlt ~ UrUIJ. TIlt i I I _ b CI>\'I". Tht jrNbIt Prnr ;-....Ib l (.tr(ulty plcb IrU ..,.,. ,.ut IN ."..,.., ".".. 11( ..,..1/)'. )

• 167 •

ESTHER

•

ESTHER 7:2_11 0.. ,'" >ttQnd ",nI ..... .., ...,. wish. "nd ...,. pn, ': ... my...,...". F/1r

... """" "...., JIII.t. ...,.

pc..,... """ I,

h> "'" " "" " ' "

_ml,

_ ....'..mlno'..,. H<MI .... only Irnw wid '" bonofmtn "nJ ~

I would ,...... Up! 11""(; ,.. 1M """'"'"''1 II "'"

-.thy II(

l:i'll'~

I""

/roOIbIt.• Thnroifl~ In htr bq!nnlltJ • so
."h.

p't00I, Ph.D. JIfOIIII1U, .1Id

cCorm

out fI&htlJII for rI&h''''''' c....... >tIll ~.'Ln. thrffInch h~1s. I hay~ ~t md' woman who libf E.uher Into whlkJ"", Ind flC!. h.rmln> wish· fullllll~ f&nwy .nd h~, dftd. 1'1 «""..,.IS.

Whtn Vashll's Ir.... atibiy risky refySlI 01 1M Kl.., nukes wly for Esthtn obstqlllusnons, ~ .. ndt"Und lhal V.sIIll Is hlughty In 1M .. me.. f oetf·mpKIll"Id • 11 1 •

Hw dl&nlty of ~hood, ~ In God., lnu~; Eothn I. orIf.$KI'I1kI1Ij In the most stlf«mnnl", way In t~ stl'\'ln ol t~ Je'Wlol1 pcoplt. MqI''''' bltr dIooses UtMr'..... y ()Yff Vnhtl'l, but ",fely ~'d like to acknowlrdgo the ImporUn« of both, In my OWn mldf15hlc contlnuaUon of the 'IOry. "Alltf uther." ltl)' to .

• 172 •

After Esther .++

•

lllman and hb ..,." l i t dead, h"".h ! The Jewl a.e undo. lhe prolf(110M01 Kln, Ahuutnll ...1>0 encour"8td IhHn to punish the Inli-Semltes of Shu.h.n. Now ptoplo ~ tht Jews brau~ of their w'prisin, blowo. And all this II tM WOftofbuudful.nd drvn Eom", """"'" tholO",dtlJrtdttllnt God'-nd ~ hll W\~ Now ~h .., who ~ tho ~ PfOIlk from .nn' hill· lion, h Ifft to U~ OIlt "'" Uk' with 10", AN~ For • whllt.he Ittn.1ow 01 JIOrY •• ~. Icwdy Iish', but I~ II faded. (slher's husIMnd ~istd up 1M Jews. but hfi Iht J.Jmt AhHlIftUI, ~ t(tdrun~n ~lrifs, Ind. sloppt dnmk hlm>df mlKh of 1M tlmt. When~ £Stile< IIH'" .M drtlms nape dream•. 0 .... nl8hl Iht IMVl'able hlPl"'ns. Aluo,uuuI IhroW1 • IIVl,h, wtM-SOIIkod J,I'u,nalllo for powuful ".."hl>omiltas hr tu~."""" IIIe IfOo

phloft on • IabIt with ..... hand and rumlNlel boI.hind It.. Nn_·up~ t-k with tht othtr. Thll EsI"" rttnOVtS hrf .hot and, with hrf httl, opIkn • 174 •

IllJ h.lnd 10 Ihf table. ". d>ou&hl of I hobby," .Ihf 11)'10.

....obklop orNmm ts. " By 1M II"", f..lthf:, ""~"" rromlhf: dn".mlht: I(lnl_dlllJl I'Unuch. 10 1~1I EMh .. loanoinland ptriumf Mnll! for Ih,~

doY' and IMn 'PPfIt bt/orf Ihf vlllllnl polfmllH--nlO~edl 111f funuch, l. u8h : " Eilller's roY11 shlre!nowllold Nrel" EsthflllllS and pllY' .nd >ColIn II" cl~, tH.ln fo, I pl.n, I st, 'legy. Shf runs to tht wlndo .. to i0oi< InlO thf courtylrd, hopi,,! Mord«al ..m bt thtre, bul he', sont. II, rnov«I .. Uh hb ... ", and chIldren 10 tM ",bulbs now thll lhe IntJ..$emlt"" Ire 1tIttrt& In 1M Jtw>. Toward do .... of 1M lim nlshl lhe IlIJs aslftp and d,"""lpin. 00' this stn~. six Ihlnb In tht dlflm, Htft 11m. q"'""" and h.ow ~hln&. why am I ...·upi.,.? In fan this .mam Is ,hi: stnnaest 01.11. Sht: ' " ' a ( IONd of ptopk tt1rbratlns. dUSHd In rostu ..... to rnrmbk httHII, V.sh ti. and Mordocal. From thl. thl'O"l of EsI...... and Vuhl" Ind Mordecai. tmffS'P IhfH ~ who really Ire Esthe' and Vullll.nd MOfdraoI,.nd th.,. tq:ln to .pea k. Vuhll I ,lilt! On whk h Is pr lnlod /ntIJ fur VI:htt. "I drllbtrllrry w.urped mysdf. Whm I refuHd to submit to 1M Kl.,.1 mado: room lor you to bt chosen. " 11)'1 Vashti. "'Tho: Klnpom ..as tw.d with buut1fu1 wI'IIn.l" Esthtt 11)'10. "How did It Npp..fl tlllt 1M Klnl dlC*' mrt' " 'nOted, lhe PnWrns """" JfWbh 0f0!MIl. kauty .poLlrd by suffefln&. Ih"Y lIy. I "0$ lhe one whol«Ustomfd

• ItS .

lhot K1l\1 lo...ch buuly. In Ellhn t.. rKngnlud V.tShU.OO looked roo- .... In you. armsl" "Tl1m you. Y.tShu·..,,,, you ...?" . ~ II Iw mough 10"'Y Ihal I =ilted .ht tlSl! In Atwo· Jutrul roo- lilt Yd ... j'N look of .... '/eIa.>ot kllllns" ~ ,houu. "' I oIknds youl klln'o: 1M, 11 ciotsn't offmd me. Wert you upwt by the Nul ""n&!np al Numnbftl? Not "",I I repened ewry on. who tooll his own Ur-Hltlft, Goo:bbt:b, Gomn~he"ln& tM ""nlmln, Mussollnl upside down by the ffft In the publk !qUlI_that wu • rrooonwU • 'Bul H,mln's ....... ' people Sly. ' how does 11 100II1 Couldn't th~ bit 'pami?' In thaI CI~, I say, ~ them to har>d O¥ft Thr ,.,,,,,. ,J'II{w £/dm II{Z/ctrl Theil pAmphlets

.,r«

on how.lnn tun tho mtdla lind control butkln&. thelt I(u 10\1.11 Klan hoods, thtIr muw... armbands. thelt ttue"')Ek'II. """ _nlS of the murdft of ~ whost IJIom b b.tked In lM mabah, thtIr o;am. 0I 1tlIIS ond OfMnt of ptnfl.ltlon, Of ' " plc:llltd It In bllne th.1 with II .1 one tnd . ...d lhe KIng'S pickled brain .1 tht 011>< •. lilt}' f.lltd M1ween them [0 c.ptu ... tht pl.~ of entry. Night Iht. night. FO'"'t •• they .. y. Some people wlnllo btll."" thf,I, flul If they thought about II, thO')' would .... llze lilt: (filth. How much COn Wi: all on God to do In 0j>iUMd, 111m tMy .... tdumpllolnt. I $land ,,," .. , Iootlnt OUt of thl: plloa window with """till h. my hran,"

'h.I'

AlloOOn •• ' hc wakes on the: J«<Mld doy. ElIM ' ~I\OWS whll 10 do. She ~r>ds I ,wlft mf:SSII8. to lilt: jn« of SlIwll;on, who .... now plOlpftOUS.nd .. fe btc'u.w of !>e., "Ran'lOlll rn., • t - nCU u)'l. "Offer Iny!.Um 101M: kine lor ~It_. Ik11 be &tad 10 be rid of ...-th~'J. Umll 10 how much ~fkrlnI./f:Wbh buuly .... a n IIU. IA"t me UY'f In q~ pu« I.nIOIlt my 1""'\.... RU"t".bft" tIIIl my sIltnu and submWlon haY'f btm for )'OUt ute." Bul I.... tldrn 01 the rnmmunJty, who now 1ft1 UI~mtly wk, yy, "How WOIDtn ~ toal~lrophlu! Sht's

In,

• 11 • •

I~

qUftn. Lt. hft htnerf!"

ml~ u~

01 hft _n _allh to ransom

Amon. 1M q~, 11I1Ong> oouilk tM plr_I~'H'~ ~ Ind III oftll.m wotcllful. Ntw1 of tllll n .... scandal In th. moklng It COUlt soon Sp, t"'S among III. "nell'd mulrltudt and 'nchH tht titS of V"lItl, who lutvl,," Imoo8 lhtm on pI~ soaps. AJ soon II Vashti IInrs the whl.prrs.1he sJlOn Into 1M pil_ llonB:..elfl pI"'~)'1 known 10 hfI'. In llgo. h., lui, I wtldnMlI. with ,II 1M slins of dfay-tCIbrouJ sldn ,nd 1000hlns I,"ns-upon 1Ief,'M ....kn lin way .o Estllft's dlambfl'. ~ >hr HnIIs thO' qIIftfI mllajMd In _ , .... . , 1M COlIltmpIUO... ~ of thO' six ... nuchs. whoso! If\dfd bodIH '''' dothm with rkh p,nwmu. "DId you Ihlnk, " Vuhtl 101)'1. "t>ta_ you _'" Quftn • •klt you could "'"p" I.... f •• " of WDmO'fI? It ""'Y ~"'" be .klt you _~ put h.~ for thb pul pc. 10 """ )'OUl1I.nd '1"ln" 0... (In.~rsl" " Rut If I 'ofu..,· E:liMr .ns_ ", "I will be (In. ro~ Ilk. youl"

'UlIu,,,

1lIt: six ... nuch.1ftr I"IIHMr In ' '''',. ' . ...tblo dogf:... t, "VuhU, VHhU,/bIlkrd bta ........... /hId ptlta_ Vl$htl's dJ&nlty led ditMly 10 her po.toI, "Id smells bod 1lIt: ... nudls lin OUI . "Helpme, God. • E:ItOO pn)'1. "F_ mywlU 10 Improvt..

'm-

,plan,

Of ~

MOtdecai 10 iIdvbe me, or '" Ihe kin. '1I1nk • 179 •

["....of the Chronklts 'Pin.

~ for

Iht ~, of put fiYOrS, radnd his ckaH IpIrut mf now."

....1 not "'" 01 tlw:H Ihlnss Iu~ru. Hisiory, lib III~· lUff, daMn 'l lin 10 widI! In I"'...". toiullon twta. Thil nljhllht sb grinnln& ftlnuch, a ury OUI lho! rom· ~nd of Kin, AhuUflUS 10 brinS F.$lht. forth n'ked. "F.$IMr, F.$thfl,· III')' miUdously rffIlt, "lhiJ'U Int 't. l" F.$lhtr mnovn Mr rich guJIltnlS ant by one . Whtn Iht II ""ked. barefoot •• nd ClOWn""" !ht wilks sllemly oJ"", tht pl'llltt con1don nanktd by the ftlnuch" As tIIty approach 1M hall wlltrt lhe ldn.a Cll'OIItei wllh his , - . . !ht ht." fOUIh lIIouts. bunu oIl .... h,ft, ~ now ~ thm the stIlltd serum of a woman . .... tl.m ~!enl l1lm E.J1htr thlnbof the ~ In htf drtam wnoput on sIIwr papnO.,.,...lnd alled the ...... ""'" ~it" E.Jthfr, 5ht Ioob do no I""F' h ...... frklKllt ('(JUn_ Any day the evU IIKf'Of ""Irut u. mly bf ,tyjyfd," And 10 II Camt to pau, Apln and I3Iln. For ~n E.Jrh" WI , dud. No OAf had Ih0iJ8hllt nt«:lSlry to prOt"" 1M prot«trns, or 10 "anlille JtwI.h womln whom ~ all Quftn M. fmdom.

• 181 •

Contemporary Women Look at Biblical Women

••• •

RUTH AND NAOMI

•••• RUTH 3- 19 Ulttttltt/t,

N_I~ ~

dit4; and W WIlS

r- - . TItty _rrItd ...,,,,,,blIl' _'11'11, _

Ittt wi", M

""""" ClrpI>II

""" dtt «Ittr ~, """ they IMd tItnr ....., 1nI,...",. ~

IIwM th>D Afd. "'Y."'PIn>! Wily wi/ll ",,7 IWvr I ""1 _ _ iii "'Y body

• 1M .

"'\flrl br ~ {lit """ 1lInI _t.. "'1' "'iWllm, {lit , "'" 100 old til lor """ ,.d. £ ..... ifI dtcooo...- ,.,.., ., tum bod: owl lOOt (ollqw ,.,... , •

.. r.r. .... ,.,.."."

will p; .. Itt".",,.,..

/odtt, I

will

/odtt;

,.,.., ~. Jc sIwJJJ bt my fXPtr, ...." ,.,.., God "'1' God. ~ )'OIl t&, will dlt. """ Ihm, will lor hIrltd. TJuu.-l _ ""'Y dot UInl '" to .... if anrt1rinl ".,.. ""'III "..,rs ..... {rortI you. • W/wn N_f ...... /tow oimmobOlll Jht woos III 10 wlflo MT, IN'~ /Q "'tw with Itn; ..nd '''' /100oI ......1 "" ""Ill Iltry mJdttd Bnhltlttm.

CO MM ENTARY ~ story

of Ruth ind NIOm.11

~Iowd .,oun
till

woold-by Chrlst"'n. u _II .. ~ by mm It-U &$ women. YIOI "'"" thls story olltws tttooo-n from ruIn,

0I1\appInfts ..... docd from mlst-ty. of hul1W1 p:oodnm .nd mercy tNt brlnJJ; abou. h"..... n ~_.", gon. whtn IooUd al with an wnnlnrhlnl

rontmlporny

ryt, >how IIJftf "".nnlbk to PjM., KhillllS, hoIn In ttw fabttc 01 'lat.,.Uw .hfOU!Jh which

• 186 •

our wllllnl ~ of dbbdld nur _I' uny. ~ can lum a ... y from tM story Indlfft"",Iy. "Yf$, 1'"." ~ .... y. "InoIht. taJ~ of. p>d &lrJ who did u Ih~ WiU told uld In tht tnd ~.mcd h~lf. U~ of SoOaIrity." Tlttn. an qu"tloru lito ",xl for«I upon liS. In my vItw. unltsl wt f~ "I' 10 thtm wt ClnnOi ~n "",.. Iv" 10 tht bt.1l1y of Thr BooIr afRu,h. W.I RUlh ",oily not ~ry brl8hl •• p"sstvtly lonjutM«nl ,1,17 WlI Naomi lovin, or manll"'latl~] W.. tht whole tlhos of "~ .. Irln," lind and I """man.., de ..... nln' I I 10 .... b I..,. LIllo. of hnohm Iudlcrow7 Unless ~ tint work IhfOUlh ou, IktpIkWtt Ind Ironies, ~ anROl (Oil .. llpon Ruth In a . - "'y, I ..... y tluil JUtu \IS now. with 011 our n.nlmlpoury qlltStIon$. Only IfIfl sudo. "worklns IhrouJh"-and tM Rnt t"," I«tIoru 01 my mldtllh pUy, "~on 1)M:ll1on," In th"-Ch wt lack, In our con ltnlponry 11_ In. opt'nnw to vhtut and .. tt·furcettln8 Io\lt th&t tht tUI tnthronfS. In tht Rnal soctlon of tht dllioJuts, II~ ronttmporlry wolMn. h&vin8 hllrtf
,In 10 Rftln, .... maotl"l ln I Mloluoltan IIvt "l rooII1 of one 01 !twIT ""moo. It 11 urly ~~ IMy Iu"" carried mfffe 10 chalts and oof• . ~ M l h OM anoth ..,

0fII0I"lI &fOIIP f_lowJy

thty Irt nmnbm 01 an

KfO.

nymed we I Oil: "Womm GatMmllO ()q)Ioft ,ho! 11lM.· Ont Of two of tMm _'1 wI$h Iht InUlI1s ""'"' Inno~ntly ~ "Womm G.ltIemI 10 DIKu., the Bible.' HOWfYff. ... lII:n nulll"" lin! WflII "", un.o:lft tht ' "tln rubric, 100 fnr telpond«L CIIAItACTERS: 5 HAl O " . 1111: oIdnl, • poychOIoSlSI. The mKtI"l II In

her .""nmml. A<wrd1"l101~.lntormal custom,. lhe host· _

KU U ' kind

01

~'IO
ai,,,

n CkT : I think prpl
Nt,·"

.....,.1

Ihl~~k.

' H.... O" : ShouIdn'I'" try 10 follow tilt chn:>nlosY 01 IhllloOoCllltd >1m"," IIld

• 192 •

n c ltv , AU rl3h1, bul linll .... nllo .woy II's I .Iory I do 11(1(

IIIIM.

' HAl Ol'< , Don't fnIM it? Why? n CkV , n. .... hoIe..orid t~k .. Ihl. story 10 II! Mlrt . But only bee.u ... II I•• ...,. (lUI .....111)' pflndpln. UU null· nHS, I' m ""ny 10 say. Arn:I ulterior moll...,.. Spend. day wllh Iny ollh. f.mllies In my n ... loadl CHOI Ui , -Spend. d.oy wllh m( In lny courtrooml -$pend • day In Ih. Hlslory Dtpartme-nl of my unl ...... lly. -Or 'M En.1l101t o.p.arunml of ml~1 UIAI Ol'< , Spend. day In my lherapy otfIo«! Bul you III....., ·' JlOi"*" ~~ Ittat vI~ II.bo put of ~.lIIy, hi.., you1

H c n , No. ofoours. not. Bul RUlh .....es me i>W'~ ol 1M do-wll lutkJn& twhlnd lhe Un ... Naomi .wo,.., "Go. my d.ouatrle(, 10 Ih. putlnJ: In II... llelds." LlI\'r we .... plOd

""'.n

Idt. ol wlul "'" ~ an:, IIoIu r.IIJ hi. WOfutS nol 10 h"m Ruth. I"'" IInprotKlfd fem.le. So In what .pltlt ~ N.oml ..... d Iluth (lUt on Ih .... n •• nd,? S HAlO H, Now you m. k~ II ""und as IfNinml ..... ndln, Iluth 10 ~Slruct\on. dt«:lvltIjI Ilulh I"'" ... IY Abraham dt«:lVftlI_c. Do you ~Uy thin . thaI 1M mJnUle you &fl a p"mll< hlld stOf)'. ~ 1hm:'I. SICI'IlIn-l Anothn AlNiIhl I (lIn~ beI~ lhe SOOdneso of thf: tlOf)' doesn~

-,...,

.lC. ', OfCUWlll' IllJKIO'Um-wI's ... hy I don't UUIt III It's tryi"tllO put _to......,. liU allitones about w\rtuouo womml I'm not '9"'kl"tl n • .ocIJ1 workn, I'm Spt.k1"t1 as m,..."lf. I (lIn't afford II. Pan of ..... WO\lkIio¥t to SO Into • 193 •

lhal world and cJawo th~ doot! Such • ~Iy WOfId, wiwn' peop~ MhaW lilt. kInI bftnJ!.. But """')OW that's SOIn,IOQ call1n,lMm kleal btln.s. Wilen .11 lilli's on IlIoi. mJnd Il pto(. tlllon.nd property! ' HUON , Wh.1 aboul RUlh's ~ty 100 Naomi? Whal aboul Naomi's COOCfm fDl' RUlh ? Whll .bout BQIl" respect for Ruth's 800d ..... tow.rd lit. mOlh~,' In'Llw? Thai', not jU11 proc'~'llon Ind projII'rtyI I~CKr , A young woflUn Ilvn htlVlf 100 an old man In Dehanse for food. Thattucha W IOlIWIhllll.boul "'m.L. lwv1vaL . On tht othe, hand. """" than mythl"" It'll >lory oIrtdtUlptlonl Of t~ ... opt1ly 01 . wIdo ... d WOIIIIIl,. iUld 01 Uft. ItIrouJh acu 01 ururi/lshMu and vlitUIt, I know I kftpPllliltOlllldand .. roundm)'lotlfhfre, lutllloo'thlnk It's fllllrdy- my faulL ~'s ~I M'Uty and vlfIUI I....... >lory, .nd I~'s " t i l ugllr>a$ and shamt . • HU Op; , Yn, I agrttw~catI'Ifl'~Y lrom tlwdoul>lo: .Hodln" n...",', the poIoItlft OM, bul wtuol Wi: II~ set II "'"",II' ...1>1 .....110n 04 wome-n .nd 04 propnty. If Ruth ~",n 't a widow, Mr vlrllnlly would"" vny much to th" point. As JIll, Mr vim.. I. , n Hted 10, If I ....... mbo., by h•• hlvl"1 1tuck clo;M to N.oml. !n flct, 8oru; mmm.n .. th,. Ruth hi. not ~ foolln,around with th. youn, m.n In th. fl.ld. Nobody 11....s .uu.1 purltycrNe-nUaJ. to th.oth .. pSllb-Io rN..m.. or 10 !Iou, ol,h ... .. /IoQz I .... downl Don Itt hive chlldre-nl Don Itt fool around with glrlnm In the fI.1ds1 1hf lUI doHn~ both .. 10 ,«ord Ill)' of thll. And _ tdl ounelYe how much Ihl"" ...."" c~! C HO"US , -How an _ ' ~Ik 01 cha"",1 tlothlfllNs rulty dw!~! -And 1M Wil doHn't own bot"'" to teU .•. -Oh, t~ t.xu, !MY'" hopeltuly frq"""'teaI~ toud>ed )'til

• 19S •

1. 5«ing

l.os.l: Sho:I,.", .t I nil their bacblltt hlnl mUII·Ila~ •. They .lIp In th.t fJlmeltch mllll I 'IinllY man who didn't w'nl 10 sh.~ hi. wtllth In hallI Umes. SO he "'m t to Moab, and God upped him . nd hlssonl, This Is the sort 01 commentary Ih" makn me w.nl to we rot 1I~llIhrnad """" Iww Iwn IhooIln& • ' 0'" Into peopk, thai's why ,s,rlh _mod him OUI aI Iht housf; cain" SKriIln! 10 God _ /UW"..." doni! In the wfOfII >pint, thai's why God .. jetted II, and on and 00........ 1.... for God.. &ttIer 10 1Ia~ wmmentaria th.t teU the Inrlh. job's tMh .nd N.omJ~ Inrlh. EUmeltch tflfll hI!

./c"'*'

"".-e""'"

• 191 .

~

onddlfd. CaJn'sycriH« wasaspldas Abd's. bhlMtl _ . boy Ilkt IJiK or any othn boy, £llmdKh did whit Abnlum, jeMpll, and Jacob .U did wtnt 10 1I1'101i'1n lind wlltn 111m! was famLnt. "I wUl bt anaouSlO whom I will bt , rKlow 10," God yld 10 MOst$. Wi:",n't lhe COmmtnlltors IlIttnl",l With thel, pietistic Imtrprtmlons, thd' «II to ttlch I mO'11 o,der. thty brought Ihtm ... l_ to tht absu,· dlty QI 5&yln, that ~rythln8 bad thll hlpptntd WII pun· Ilhmtnt /or lin. And WMrt I. ul.lenll.ll chlondness thtn? M poIl .HoIoawtJ __ , ..... hlov .... ·t the rilhl to say Naomi's pU.ns 11"' mol,ded bK.r.uw they Irt 11m... plans than FJI"",I. tell's. ~ should symboIIaUy tmP')' ttn drops Qlwlnt from 0\If aim of lOr II Naoml's triumph. and mntmoo whlol bddl jIt'O\Mt QI rln~ and Inb Ind ~ """ Mo.>bi~ h\llbl.nd. Doe!.n" Ihl.t ..,..nd lIkt .. hl.1 ml&bl hI.~ hl.ppmed If w 'd nurrled lou. CIII"f)'b\I oul the 1I1d11ic:lml pIIlrI", 01 nofmlcs , ....111& from tltt SImi: I&IMt, Ilk lsue .nd blunari, Of JKOb and ball, Of }oHph .nd his bfOcht .. ? 0., WJJI_by C"OIJidn't o.pm hi~ bcM~ 1 tM"Sf!ltr 10 lou? from hn dE· ...d .. ~n XI She, too, turn, out to bot I l'I'OI1dfrful ps.almbt . It', t~ ~blte smul AIlOr Ilovld ~ucg Uriah·, wife, Nltb.n Ibe prophl!1 ousht 10 tell D.vld th.t God Is owCho!=? SIlA10N , BUllook what th~ women cando with Ihtl' I>OfIdIoIctsI Al lhe end. people AylO 8ou, · May)'OUr house be lin thr hou .. of )'m,z ..hom TIImar bore 10 JIIIWI.· So 1M l U I Inm .. us 10 pal. Ruth and Tllmar. !WO womm who~ 1n10 1M advmlUreoflhri. own slOllrsand ItYdr Ihmlselves part of hMOI")'. l AUU , It'> true thaI boIh TIIm •• and IUlh lure oIdft ...... InlO Imprq""ling lhem . BUI unllkrTllmIr'> f,t/wr·ln· Law Judah. NKIIlII can', Im potIJli'r her da"'hl.... ln.law.

"01")''

."'" .

Maybr .... OU&h1 to ... y WI Ik>&l h Naomi's chasm ",noptel SHAI OH, Now you ..ant ... to think of N-.luJud&h In dI,S? LA U u , look " II Ihl< way-Tarm. I< both 1M In ... mot 01 ht. OWn IIOf,), and II. "".. Ion>!t acror. In Ruth. Invtmot Ind actot a .... dlvldtef 1f1ri' al belna °tmpty.o Naomi lind. a wly 10 fuJf\U w ... n.om ooIlh a o~ n.ontN" ~tl .... _ In 1M n altOflHhff ucognll.>l>l. to ....... 01 utI Mllth.now. txt by not wyl"3 10 NKlm~ "You. God luI &lven u, no prOlKlion, why don't we try the OOH Ihey'"" SOl ,*,k In Mo.lb1"

I HAlO H. ""1'IOlt about Rut h's f~mlly, Won't h• • own mOl"". be hu n whtn ,h. h.ar.1 Thl> h • ptobLtm fOl II«ky'l family ca.eworkt. oil OV.' opl nl !low old II Ruth, anyway1 Childbe"lnll~, ,Iu"111I we know, Maybe: . tfflUlJft'lll1ecullu .. wlldlff• ...,t, tM JOme lhlnl' nuy not luve chat\lM. We know ,two pull of Olhff pmpIt'l moch.trs, _ att.active lhan OUr OWn. Itdalloni wlth ... n I .. 100 oompiiollflL Com. 10 th ink of It, I don', bellow Ihffe'J I "'1111. $CftIt of mothe. -loro . Rulh's 1 MOibilt. H".orICIlly Wt mould pIKt Ihls Just .h.,. Iht I&bylonl.n uHt. Somt wlnl~ ~bh mm 10.blIndon thd. non.~lsh wlv .. btfore comllll! IlKk 10 JtNSllrm. Tlli. II a rounlt rballndn8 \101«. I !Uppow Ihal SI)'III all, IIonn'lll! Tllt polltla of Iht day c.lI~ for • mtnljlt 10 10 tHy on ron ...." •. Bullboul htljJIng WOmtn like Nloml mntrollhtlr own p. OfItrly.• boul Ihal 1M It XI had nothln~ 10 Sly! M Wf'1I al Inythb,. tllot 10 do wllh tu"hftln~ tilt IUtonomy of womtnl To Think how womm hi .... btU~ fof lavon, Iiny dian ... In tht 11t\Jf1J)' INt will Itt thtm tml IhUt bil lIu ~ COVf"RIInlt
• 210 .

plxN In N-..I 'J .rms. 1M wom~n .. y• •A :lOll Is born 10 Nx>m U" Thfft .... ...wards all around. Ruth ttI' !"flI.nd. ~b)', INrrl. 10 a kind InUi. .nd an honofabi.- p~ In that JOCIt1y. A nl« mough pktu .... llut ,loamy. 100. IlfICI!' that .. all th~ ... II to tilt wolNn" coy.".nt. Worn." •• ~n 't dlm:lfdtrfullilul we don 'l h .... mon: ITIOlhe.-d.ughl •• "",I... Maybe bK.u .. pow.,ful wom.n In 8'ouPS ha ... ",o.rl'" the rabbis. They welt f
H,.. o N: ilul ana you' ft 0IkI11, Ii', u.ndotmoodl ll you

.".q "Y """" you'vt IlIJm InIO Ill7Ip ot your own rnaklnl. Tllm illfh:'s no _y 10 ~m our own lUll. Thtl. ,Lory Is withheld lrom w! '" A•• ON , I glvt up. If you wlnl &\ory al any prlttl UU .Q N, [ 1Ion·,! [ know wt'.-e all tlftn ","pi OUloldt Ind III1Vt
• 2iJ •

Ilhlnk wuhould b.n); for , £no mlnUIn.and thtn JO b«k and 100II ,I wl>.ol .....·W 1m out.

4. No Going lkKk but by Going F(JIfW(ln/: S/uJ1Vfl IUld Ew/yn " I • 1 0 N ( .. Jilt l rmpdllty); Ttll us whal pam 0/ Ih t ~IOry makt you ay, Enlyn. tVlLYN , II may not MWh.i1 you thin k. No! when Ruth urs 10 N-.~ An)'W~ you flO. I CO, 100. II's nOl th.1 obvious. II's when IIou. SlY' 10 Ruth, "I I>.oyt betn lold 0/ IU 11>.01 you did ' Of)"lllt motJwef·ln·!iw Iftt< 1M dnth of YOUf hu~nd. " Ht's Mlrd of htr klndnm to tht dud and to N-..1. My God, [ look c.... of my ,.tOO wh"" he _ d)'I"II for IW wh...1t yut'$,.nd my lJstm OIly 10 ..... , "Wh.il dld you tyW do "'" o.ddy?" I can't bl'l'lO dritnd mptlf. Of ... mtnd IMm '" W"",,I I did lui "'" 10 be undtrslood. "'" I... be Jr.nown-lh. I's wMn I INI • lrue ab5ena: of God! 80az ut'ldtnfand., ... m"",btno val .... whit lhould be v.I . utd. Iou. ...... and huB, he k"""'l'. He ... w.,dl goodnc., ht's JJJ«, God, or 1lJ«, w,,",,1 W't

_,

God 10 be.

I It. 10 N, Yn, ,II tlghl, but Why, fOf goodntll' Sltt, IIItt

what's t~rty "'" ORO:'. woman's IIOf)' and maJ«, It Imo, man's Ilorylllou. Iilm. IIaJIy human, usIn& bRlns, ~ tfltfIY. 10 IIII10Ct God's MI""lkIIL Of CtI"way llOIIl God's IlItmlon. may bI' nIOA' 1Llpptnfli 0lOP? S H A0010 , MJyboP it nt'o'tt JUttt.:I. May"" It happonJOlop! lVlUN (b.....lmilllIN.fuJ): Don~ bt c, " " with mt. r ~nt to JO bKk to Idtuof IoyJ.Jty, devotion. hononbltr>n!.! MoIhtn and dilqlhltn who can: for ont anoIhtf. ",btl~ who tau mponslbillty In< ach OI:htf. I wl nt 10 lalk .bouT continuity In a world wllm:: ~hln, is .tttJrII loot• • HUON , Pour Evdyn l You'", Tbr youn.,.. 01 us, It's wont In< you. t VI LIN , Wt'w kKt all tllll. Wt '", b'''tly wlllln, to 'K. "lnlH what we' ...... Un&------PI.ln. IInl'Ol lcke. 0In ot ~ to a man, -lot It.. >III 01 """ I""", up to brill•• oooman. -lor the >In of think'... (hlkI~n .. ~ OUI only fulflUmmt, -fu< tho lin of Ihlnkl",d,lldren .~ """ ~ 11K' I'ry 10 OUr fulflUment, -for lho >In of Ihlnkln. only of ~lf·fulflilmml , _ for the lin of notllvln. for Ih~ load 0( communi!)", _ for the >in of lIv1n. only for atho.. Ind for,ettlnl ~If, -fot lhe >in of lettln. relul~ domlnll~ one~ II~. --for 1M >In of for&~ ... f.mlly. --for lhe lin of ab&nodonl ... kM!ofGod and substlwt!n& f'O)IIUIIlIC, t ' (I(k

~,

.....or the sln 01 """ embndna ronunlle, £fOlk ~ and IonSl ... only for rllM: ~.... (1Jw _, ....

"...-;ow -

_."...m,ty, -*.-t/iIU flit ,""', ..", u..

JIOpl.)

. 219 .

IHA.OM , Oh hut us, God wh_ InlOloC\lUroe 101m wf

nn1 bfl~ In ... 104 AaIOM , Oh a ............ God wlKM ph)"'kat form w~ rouJd nol bft~ In, ~ If p.fWnlN '0 u. at fem.~ ... U CCY , Oh I .. kk uund m.~ w whol., JractU.N God who lequlrn human dc<eds 10 fu~ Ih. Jean.mI alUlbules II 1111. ..

Judgment always jolnNi Wllh mercy. wl1h bfauiy. with knowlcdgt", wllh wl.oom, wllh I.w. wUh KOJd· LAUU:

M .. ...

.. A.ION , Oh ltay wtlh u', unlikely God, ao RUlh "'y.
n e n : Help us 10 ' ''''Kmbfr thto _

syllable 1IIi1

........ our malOInlft on the 1 _ ' " , floor. [VlUN , 011, .... y wtlh us, unUuly God. "ripped Df ,po.,.,••, and Irr.jAI ... bhod, at Huth suy.
a, ..... SIwmn IUtII w.r.1

IH ... O N, (drdoo l ilt room roIlKflnl cupland ILI_ tlltn looks up, .....uta_I: The Book 0( IWIh do,," with

UIcbr.11on of a boy'l blnh, • livlnl bfad on the covenlntll

" ""

will!! tkln m.ant to rudt ... from OW Indent put. y~ 11'1 N-"I., question tklt l!.Irs with ..... ",tow b It with YOU. my dlught..-?'" "Who ow YOU. my dI""' t..-7" What II my Inl~'? (SIwnut! nib. y lin 0( 1IJJ40< do:i; Or...... .and MI)fJ.; _one!.twaoppy II'Iock!lf .. .,~", tltoe .... 1I>e goOEfWl. .,...,.,... (II mrod ond """'""'" _ _ btIooI .... ,"

- Crnthl. Ozk:l, -r.o. of Quo"'" MId QIo,l ..",..,. f.n., folly

.,,