The Skeptics' Overrated Bible on Ruth
as analyzed by
Sheila Rangslinger
- 1:4 Deuteronomy (23:3) says that no Moabite shall "enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation." Yet Ruth was King David's grandmother (Ru.4:13, 17), and she was also a Moabite. Same old same old. See here.
- 3:3-4 Naomi (Ruth's mother-in-law) advises Ruth as to how to best seduce Boaz. He tells her to wait until he is a bit drunk and has fallen asleep. Then "go in and uncover his feet [a biblical euphemism for male genitals], and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what to do." SAB's gutter mind is the problem here. "A bit drunk" is not in the text; it just says "eating and drinking" and alcohol is not mentioned. According to dirty minds everything is a euphemism for male genitals, making most Biblical characters nothing but genital for "head" to "feet". It's about as much "seduction" as a wink of an eye. I'd also hate to guess what's going on in SAB's mind when he reads this verse, 4:7: "Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel."
- 3:6-9 Ruth does as Naomi says, and then at midnight Boaz wakes up and finds Ruth "at his feet." He asks who she is, and she says, "I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over thine handmaid." Ditto.
- 3:11-14 Boaz seems agreeable to the suggestion and says, "I will do thee all that thou requirest." Next he asks her to "Tarry this night ... lie down until the morning." so Naomi "lay at his feet until morning." Ditto.
- 4:10 Boaz purchases Ruth to be his wife. Actually he purchases the right to levirate marriage -- not the lady herself -- and this is typical ANE procedure, in case SAB the cultural bigot wonders.
- 4:13 Boaz "went in unto her [Ruth]" and "the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son." Another God-assisted conception results in a baby boy. Son of a gun. Yep. And the problem, other than SAB's bigotry against miracles, is what?
- 4:17 Ruth, the grandmother of King David, was a Moabite. But according to Dt.23:3, no Moabite will "enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to the tenth generation. See above. So good he had to repeat it twice.