READING ON THE BOUNDARIES: READING 2 SAMUEL 21:1-14 WITH RIZPAH

  • Gerald West University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
Keywords: 2 Samuel, Rizpah, Contextual Bible study

Abstract

Contextual Bible Study is a process during which socially engaged biblical scholars read with ordinary readers of the Bible.  This article presents – and draws its conclusions from – communal reading of 2 Samuel 21:1-14 with Rizpah, with readers from poor and marginalized communities.  It emerges that, on the one hand, the reading is to a large extent shaped by the concerns, questions, needs and experiences of the ordinary readers while the process itself is one of empowerment for those readers as it enables them to utter previously unspoken words.  For the biblical scholars, on the other hand, ‘reading with’ means to begin to hear that beyond the boundary there are questions raised that are different to their own.

Author Biography

Gerald West, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
School of Theology
Published
2019-05-25
Section
Articles