Full Description
Irene Nowell's lively and thoughtful exploration of these poetic and powerful books promises to ignite appreciation and understanding in the hearts and minds of readers.
The five books abound with vivid stories of faith. The Song of Songs, dedicated to Solomon, celebrates the wonder of human love. The book of Ruth, a masterpiece of storytelling, tells of two valiant women who move from emptiness to fullness, desolation to redemption. Lamentations, telling of the destruction of Jerusalem, recognizes that the Lord has struck and that only the Lord can heal. Ecclesiastes teaches the futility of vanity and storing up riches. The book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish woman and her uncle who, by their courage and wit, deliver the Jews from threatened genocide.
Gathered together and artfully explored, this volume offers readers a wealth of information to inspire deeper understanding of the human journey and God's presence in the lives of those who trust in him.
Contents
CONTENTS
Abbreviations 5
Introduction 7
THE SONG OF SONGS
Introduction 9
Text and Commentary 11
A Declaration of Love (Song of Songs 1:1-6) 11
A Conversation between the Lovers (Song of Songs 1:7-2:7) 12
Her Lover's Visit Remembered (Song of Songs 2:8-17) 14
Loss and Discovery (Song of Songs 3:1-5) 17
Solomon's Wedding Procession (Song of Songs 3:6-11) 18
The Beauty of the Woman (Song of Songs 4:1-11) 19
The Lover's Garden (Song of Songs 4:12-5:1) 20
A Fruitless Search (Song of Songs 5:2-8) 21
The Lover Lost and Found (Song of Songs 5:9-6:3) 22
The Beauty of the Woman (Song of Songs 6:4-10) 24
Love's Meeting (Song of Songs 6:11-12) 25
The Beauty of the Beloved (Song of Songs 7:1-6) 25
Love's Desires (Song of Songs 7:7-8:4) 26
Reprise (Song of Songs 8:5-14) 28
THE BOOK OF RUTH
Introduction 31
Text and Commentary 33
Naomi in Moab (Ruth 1:1-18) 33
The Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19-22) 35
The Meeting (Ruth 2:1-23) 36
Ruth Again Presents Herself (Ruth 3:1-18) 41
Boaz Marries Ruth (Ruth 4:1-22) 43
THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS
Introduction 48
Text and Commentary 50
The Desolation of Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:1-22) 50
The Lord's Wrath and Zion's Ruin (Lamentations 2:1-22) 54
The Voice of a Suffering Individual (Lamentations 3:1-66) 58
Miseries of the Besieged City (Lamentations 4:1-22) 62
The Community's Lament to the Lord (Lamentations 5:1-22) 68
THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES
Introduction 71
Text and Commentary 74
Setting the Theme (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11) 74
Qoheleth's Investigation of Life (Ecclesiastes 1:12-6:9) 76
Qoheleth's Conclusions (Ecclesiastes 6:10-11:6) 88
Poem on Youth and Old Age (Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8) 100
Epilogue (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14) 101
THE BOOK OF ESTHER
Introduction 103
Text and Commentary 105
Prologue (Esther A:1-17) 105
Esther Becomes Queen (Esther 1:1-2:23) 107
Haman's Plot against the Jews (Esther 3:1-15; B:1-7) 113
Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help (Esther 4:1-5a; C:1-D:16) 117
Haman's Downfall (Esther 5:b-8:2) 123
Jewish Victory and the Feast of Purim (Esther 8:3-9:23; E:1-24) 128
Epilogue: The Rise of Mordecai (Esther 9:24-10:3; F:1-11) 136
Review Aids and Discussion Topics 139
Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 142
Maps 143
