For example, the primary practices of Purim - feasting, drinking, and sending gifts - mimic the practices of King Ahasuerus. In his analysis of the Book of Esther, the author notes that it “contains no mention of God and no indication that the Judeans observed any biblical command.” Rabbi Drazin then identifies several inconsistencies in the story and reveals its pagan origins. “The book of Ruth not only does not indicate that Ruth converted, it states seven times that she remained a Moabite - including twice in the final chapter, where Boaz calls her a Moabite when he speaks about marrying her,” states Drazin. For example, the excursus titled “Did Ruth Convert” considers textual evidence that suggests that Ruth did not convert to Judaism, despite Rabbinic interpretation which identifies her as an early convert. Each unit is further divided into chapters and excursuses that provide an overview of each book and explore key themes in greater detail. ![]() ![]() Rabbi Drazin does this with an eye toward understanding why Ruth and Esther were included in the Jewish Bible while the Book of Judith, which has a more openly religious character than either Ruth or Esther, was excluded from the biblical canon and appears only in the Jewish apocrypha.ĭrazin’s book is divided into three units, one on each of the three books the author investigates. Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, and Judith, by Rabbi Israel Drazin, is part of a larger series that explores questions that have puzzled readers of the Bible for centuries.
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