TY  - BOOK
AU  - Lau,Peter Hon Wan
TI  - Identity and Ethics in the Book of Ruth: A Social Identity Approach 
T2  - Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft ,
SN  - 9783110247602
AV  - BS1315.6.E8 L39 2010
U1  - 222/.3506 22
PY  - 2010///]
CY  - Berlin, Boston : 
PB  - De Gruyter, 
KW  - Ethics in the Bible
KW  - Ezra-Nehemia
KW  - Nachexilische Periode
KW  - Narrative Ethik
KW  - Ruth
KW  - Soziale Identität
KW  - Identität
KW  - gnd
KW  - Sozialgeschichtliche Exegese
KW  - Alttestamentliche Ethik
KW  - RELIGION / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament
KW  - bisacsh
KW  - Book of Ruth
KW  - Ezra-Nehemiah
KW  - Narrative Ethics
KW  - Post-exilic Period
KW  - Social Identity
N1  - Frontmatter --; Table of Contents --; Abbreviations --; Introduction --; Ancient Israelite Identity --; Boaz: Identity and Ethics --; Ruth: Identity and Ethics --; Naomi: Identity and Ethics --; A Provenance for the Book of Ruth --; Summary and Conclusions --; Backmatter; restricted access; Issued also in print
N2  - This study demonstrates the importance of including narrative ethics in a construction of Old Testament ethics, as a correction for the current state of marginalisation of narrative in this discipline. To this end, the concept of identity is used as a lens through which to understand and derive ethics. Since self-conception in ancient Israel is generally held to be predominantly collectivist in orientation, social identity theory is used to understand ancient Israelite identity. Although collectivist sensitivities are important, a social identity approach also incorporates an understanding of individuality. This approach highlights the social emphases of a biblical text, and consequently assists in understanding a text’s original ethical message. The book of Ruth is used as a test case, employing a social identity approach for understanding the narrative, but also to model the approach so that it can be implemented more widely in study of the Old Testament and narrative ethics. Each of the protagonists in the book of Ruth is examined in regards to their personal and social self-components. This study reveals that the narrative functions to shape or reinforce the identity of an ancient Israelite implied reader. Since behavioural norms are an aspect of identity, narrative also influences behaviour. A social identity approach can also highlight the social processes within a society. The social processes taking place in the two most commonly proposed provenances for the book of Ruth are discussed: the Monarchic and Persian Periods. It is found that the social emphases of the book of Ruth most closely correspond to the social undercurrents of the Persian Period. On this basis, a composition for the book of Ruth in the Restoration period is proposed
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110247619
UR  - https://www.degruyter.com/isbn/9783110247619
UR  - https://www.degruyter.com/document/cover/isbn/9783110247619/original
ER  -