7 The Megilloth (The Scrolls) - L.pdf

7/13/2019 7 The Megilloth (The Scrolls) - L.pdf

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The Megilloth (The Scrolls)

Ruth

Esther

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Lamentations


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The Hebrew Bible LAW (TORAH/PENTATEUCH) 5 BOOKS

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

Deuteronomy

PROPHETS (NEVIIM) 8 BOOKS

Former Prophets (4 Books)

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings (Deuteronomic History)

Latter Prophets (4 Books)

Major

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

Minor

Book of the 12 (Hosea Malachi)

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The Hebrew Bible24 BOOKS LAW (TORAH/PENTATEUCH) 5 BOOKS

PROPHETS (NEVIIM) 8 BOOKS

WRITINGS (KETHUBIM/HAGIOGRAPHA) 11 BOOKS

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ezra-Nehemiah

Chronicles

Megilloth or Scrolls Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes,Song of Songs, & Lamentations

Daniel

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The Megilloth or Scrolls were Read at

These Feast/Fast Days

Ruth Esther

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Lamentations

1. Pentecost2. Purim

3. Feast of

Tabernacles4. Passover

5. 9thof Ab

SCROLLS FEASTS/FASTS

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Ruth

A MoabitessThe Wife of Mahlon

Daughter-in-law of Naomi

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Moab

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RUTHA CHIASM

Ruth 1a death interrupts a genealogy (Mahlon)

Ruth 4a birth repairs and continues it (Obed)

Ruth 1relationship between Ruth & Naomi

Ruth 4relationship between Ruth & Boaz

Ruth 2 Ruth & Boaz meet

during the day in a field

Ruth 3 Ruth & Boaz meet

at night at a threshing floor

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Ruth Title derives from the main character

3 Fold Purpose of Ruth

To demonstrate the universality of Israels God

To account for a foreigner in the line of David (Mt. 1)

To show Gods gracious guidance in the life of this family

2 Features of the book

Levirate marriage marry kinsman to continue the

family line (cf. Gen. 38)

Kinsmanredeemer of the land-to keep it in the family

Ruths story occurred during the time of Judges

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Ruth Compared to Judges

Shortsighted

selfishness

Frequent turmoil

Isolated leaders

Constant unfaithfulness

Preserving selflessness

Steady tranquility

Individual laypeople

Complete devotion

Judges Ruth

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3 Emphases in Ruth

On the Foreignness of Ruth

Ruth is from Moab, one of Israels enemies

On the Friendship of Ruth and Naomi Ruth 4:15 more than seven sons

On the Fatherliness of God

unseen but everywhere visible (LHB)

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The Book of Esther

Title derived from the sheroof the story

2 Fold purpose of Esther

To explain the celebration of the festival of Purim

To supply the historical context of Purim (the

survival of the Jews in Persia)

4 Themes in Esther

Anti-Semitism, retributive justice, self-defense,immutability of the Law of the Medes & Persians

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Evidence of Divine Providence

in the Book of Esther

1. Esther becomes queen after Vashti is deposed.2. Mordecai overhears a conspiracy plan.

3. Mordecai believed that deliverance would come

from another quarter if Esther did not help.

4. Mordecai suggested that Esther becoming queen was

to deliver her people at such a time as this.

5. The night before Mordecai was to be hanged, the

king has a restless night, reads the Book ofMemorable Deeds, and discovers Mordecai had

never been honored for revealing the conspiracy plot

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Evidence of Divine Providence

in the Book of Esther Continued

6. Haman is forced to honor Mordecai, his enemy.7. Haman falls, pleading for his life, on the couch of

Esther just as the king returns from the garden.

8. Haman is hanged on the very gallows he had made

for Mordecai

1. Mordecai gets Hamans honor

2. Haman gets Mordecais gallows.

9. Mordecai receives Hamans estate.10. Anti-Semitism was thwarted by Mordecais rise to

power.

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Ecclesiastes

Hebrew Title: Kohelethor Qoheleth, which

referred to a schoolmaster

Greek/Latin: Ecclesiastesone whoassembles a congregation (apparently for

the purpose of preaching to it)

Author: Solomon(tradition);but unknown as The Preacher (1:1)

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The Book of Ecclesiastes

Read at the Feast of Tabernacles

Difficulty being accepted into OT Canon

Humanistic, cynical perspective

Apparent contradictions

2 Fold Nature of the Book:

NegativeMan is bound by human limitationsand can never break out

Positive Enjoying life as God gives it

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Outline of Ecclesiastes

1:1-2:26 First Discourse: the vanity ofHuman Wisdom

3:1-5:20 Second Discourse: the vanity of

Human Experience 6:1-8:17 Third Discourse: the vanity of

wealth and honor

9:1-12:8 Fourth Discourse: the vanity ofchance and circumstance

12:9-14 Conclusion: Fear God and Keep HisCommandments

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Insights Into Life from Ecclesiastes

1. 3:1 There is a time for everything.

2. 5:1 There is an appropriate approach to

God.3. 7:1 There is a value in a good reputation.

4. 9:1 There is a God who controls all things.

5. 12:1There is a purpose for youth.

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4 Realities that Dominate

Ecclesiastes

1. God is the single indisputable reality.

2. Gods ways are not always understandable

(3:11; 8:17)

3. On the human side, what is done under the

sun doesnt always add up.

4. The great equalizer is death.

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The Song of Songs

According to tradition, Solomon authoredProverbs, Ecclesiastes & the Song of Songs

This book is part of the Megilloth

This book was read at Passover as an allegoryof Gods love for Israel since Passovercelebrates Gods covenant love.

Theme is in 8:7 Many waters cannot quenchlove, neither can floods drown it.

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Approaches Taken to Interpretation of

the Song of Songs Over the Years

1. Allegorical - a figurative story about Gods love forthe covenant community

2. Topical - stresses the themes of love and devotionwhich foreshadow the love of Christ

3. Dramatic - views the Song of Songs as a play withtwo or three major characters

4. Nuptial Songs - parallels Syrian wedding ritespracticed during a seven day festival

5. Liturgical rites - parallels rites of the cult of Tammuzin Babylon

6. Love Song - views the book as a poem(s) on thesubject of human love

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The Book of Lamentations

Authorship attributed to Jeremiah (uncertain)

Laments the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Part of the Megilloth Read on the Fast day known as the 9thof Ab,

the traditional date of Jerusalems fall

Style: acrostic format (lines begin with theletters of the alphabet) for thoroughness

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23

11

2 3 4 *

5 6 7 *

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia : With Westminster Hebrew Morphology.1996

(electronic ed.) (La 1). Stuttgart; Glenside PA: German Bible Society; Westminster

Seminary.


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31 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia : With Westminster Hebrew Morphology.1996

(electronic ed.) (La 3). Stuttgart; Glenside PA: German Bible Society; Westminster

Seminary.


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Lessons from Lamentations

No place on earth is inviolable (1:1-2)

God always judges sin! (2:17)

There is always a source of hope and thesource is always God. (3:21-27)

Seek the presence of God, not just the place

of God (Temple in Jerusalem)

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Documents

7 The Megilloth (The Scrolls) - L.pdf