Happy Thanksgiving

The Algonquin Bible

The Bodmer collection in Geneva loaned the exhibit this "Eliot Indian Bible." John Eliot constructed the vocabulary and made the translation between 1649 and 1659. The work was the first Bible to be printed in North America.

A Reformer Reads Hebrew!

This 1534 bilingual copy (Hebrew/Latin) of the Old Testament was printed in Basel and owned by the Zurich Reformer
Heinrich Bullinger, who purchased it for 4 Pounds and 10 Schillings, about half the monthly earnings of a country parson.

At the University of Chicago with John Yieh

We travelled south of the Convention Center to see the Swiss Treasures exhibit.

Three New Books

Cool: Three new books at the SBL book display, each with a new essay I've contributed, Daughter Zion, ed. Mark Boda, et al; Social Theory, ed. Saul Olyan; & Levites and Priests, ed. Leuchter and Hutton.

Ezekiel 47, The Temple Rivers

One fascinating talk but I heard today was by Daniel Bodi, of the University of Paris, on Ezekiel 47. He argued Babylonian tradition entered into the text at vv. 9-10 with the dual Hebrew term "rivers" and the motif of the many and various fish.

At the Convention Center

With my friend Stephen Chapman, professor of Old Testament at Duke, on the way to the Swiss reception today.

At the airport & ready for SBL 2012

Naomi

 

Benjamin Hart, artist, middler seminarian, and member of my Hebrew Reading and Exegesis Course, created this image, which we discussed in class today. I like the focus on Naomi here. Boaz thought especially of her, when he sent Ruth back to her loaded up with six measures of barley (six seahs?, 60 pounds!). He said, “Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed” (Ruth 3:17). Could that be Boaz’s (metaphorical) hand on Naomi’s left shoulder? The lectionary reading paired with Ruth this Sunday was Mark 12:38-44, the story of the poor widow with two small copper coins. Ben had this lection in mind as well as he drew. Could it also be Jesus’ hand on the widow’s shoulder? The hand seems to grasp her as we watch the image, and the widow seems to turn to the left at just that moment. She is looking to see who has come to her aid and support. Her eyes and the thumb on her daughter-in-law Ruth's hand on her shoulder seem to look and to point forward, out of the scene and into the future—a future of hope and redemption. At the same time, her eyes are deep set and sunken, reflecting memories of a tragic past and a long trek of suffering. A rich image indeed….

Comments are welcome…

2012 VTS Recruitment Video