Download
1 / 24
E N D
Genre Identification Narrative
Definition • Narratives are stories. Although from time to time we use the word story to describe them, we prefer the word narrative because story has come to mean something that is fictional. The Bible, on the other hand, contains what we often hear called God’s story—a story that is utterly true, crucially important, and often complex.
Form • Narrator/Point of View: Who is telling the story? Are they a participant? What is the bias of the narrator? What is the perspective of the narrator (the camera view)? • Plot: What is the storyline? What starts the story? What are the elements of conflict? What is the climax? How does the story end? • Characterization: Who are the characters? What is said about them? What details are given? Why are they important? • Setting: What clues are given as to the importance of setting? What is the geographical background? What is the timeframe? • Dialogue: Dialogue is the means in which OT stories develop characters and storyline. Who speaks? When do they speak? What do they say?
Types of Narratives • Tragedy. A tragedy is a story of the decline of a person from verity to catastrophe. • Epic. An epic is a long narrative with a series of episodes unified around an individual or group of people. • Romance. A romance is a narrative in which the romantic relationship between a man and a woman is narrated. • Heroic. A heroic narrative is a story built around the life and exploits of a hero or a protagonist, an individual who sometimes is a representative of others or an example for others. • Satire. A satirical narrative is an exposure of human vice or folly through ridicule or rebuke. • Polemic. A polemic narrative is an aggressive attack against or refuting of the views of others.
Function • The Structure of Narratives: Narratives are one story with one meaning, but have three levels of significance. • The top level is that of the whole universal plan of God worked out through his creation. • The middle level centers on the history of Israel. • The bottom level is the hundreds of individual narratives themselves.
Principles • An Old Testament narrative usually does not directly teach a doctrine. • An Old Testament narrative usually illustrates a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere. • Narratives record what happened—not necessarily what should have happened or what ought to happen every time. Therefore, not every narrative has an individual identifiable moral of the story. • What people do in narratives is not necessarily a good example for us.
Principles • Most of the characters in Old Testament narratives are far from perfect and their actions are, too. • We are not always told at the end of a narrative whether what happened was good or bad. • All narratives are selective and incomplete. Not all the relevant details are always given. • Narratives are not written to answer all our theological questions. • In the final analysis, God is the hero of all biblical narratives. Old Testament narratives are not just stories about people who lived in Old Testament times. They are first and foremost stories about what God did to and through those people.
The Book of Ruth Introduction: Information Overload
Story Settings: Words provide pictures. • Call me Ishmael. • It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. • It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Bethlehem Herald – June 2, 1213 • SAD DAY REMEMBERED: Today marks the 25th anniversary of the brutal murder and rape of Rachel, daughter of Simeon, of Bethlehem. This brutal murder and rape was followed by a sorrowful civil war against our neighbors to the north, the tribe of Benjamin. Over 40,000 Israelites and an additional 25,000 Benjamites were slain in a period of 12 hours as the wrath of the children of Israel responded to the terrible tragedy. We the inhabitants of Bethlehem are most sorrowful, since it was the harlotry of one of our own which sparked the unfortunate incident.
Bethlehem Herald – June 2, 1213 • INVASION IMMINENT: According to top sources at the defense department, the Midianites have been spotted gathering their forces for their yearly invasion through our land. This will mark the third straight year these marauders have swept through the land, stealing our precious food and taking our few animals. If this invasion is not stopped soon, the ongoing famine will claim the lives of each of us.
Bethlehem Herald – June 2, 1213 • BAAL TRIBUTE: In order to do our part in stopping the famine, the priests of Baal have added an additional worship service to the great god of fertility. Cult priestesses will be available for worship four days a week. • PLAYOFFS: The Bethlehem Breadmakers did not fare well in game six of the playoffs. They were run-over by the Tyre Tubes: 103-89. King James had 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Bethlehem Herald – June 2, 1213 • CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MOVING: Elimelech scheduled a news conference today to announce he and his family will be moving to Moab. The announcement comes as a surprise to all. He stated that he plans to stay in Moab until the famine ends. Because of this, he is keeping his property in Bethlehem. His two sickly sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and his wife, Naomi, will accompany him. She of the four will be greatly missed. Her friendly smile and even her faith in the old God of Joshua are an encouragement to us all.
Bethlehem Herald – June 2, 1213 • CLASSIFIED: Levite position open immediately. Proper lineage and some knowledge of the Mosaic Law required. Small home provided. Pay is minimal. No experience necessary. Send resume to the City Council of Bethlehem-Judah.
The Setting of the Story of Ruth • Read the first five verses. What do you see that sets the stage? • Dates: • Places: • People: • Pace: • Situation/Mood:
Date – “in the days of the judges” What do we know about “the days of the judges”? • Timeframe was 350-400 years. • Cycles of sin-servitude-supplication-savior/salvation-service-sin. • Judges were regional and at times overlapped • No king in Israel, so everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Places: Moab • What do we know of Moab? • Ancestry: • Incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughter (Genesis 19:37). • Moses’ day: • Paid Balaam to curse Israel out of fear (Num 22:1-21). • Seduced the men of Israel with women and idolatry (Num 25:1-5). • Current situation: • “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever . . .” (Deut 23:3-4).
Places: Bethlehem-Judah • Archeological History: Small farming community of no more than 5,000 • Biblical History: (during the judges) • Judges 17-18: The Mercenary Levite of Bethlehem-Judah • Judges 19-21: The Murderous Levite and the Cut-up Concubine of Bethlehem-Judah • Ruth: “The Bethlehem Trilogy”
Situation/Mood/Pace • Famine in the “house of bread” – time of judgment • Sojourning in an unknown land • Barrenness among the women – ten years of with no children • Death of all of the men – Three Jewish men die in a period of ten years. Overall setting is dearth, death, desertion, and destruction.
