Week 6: “The Sign of Orpah” -Donaldson (Sugirtharajah)

In her piece on the exaltation of Ruth and the subsequent marginalization of Orpah, Donaldson, attempts to show that the only constant that one can posit in the area of biblical interpretation is context. Donaldson goes further to state that biblical figures, ideas, and situations are only translated in light of how they can be “owned and embodied” by those doing the translating. This is dangerous ground to tread upon. I can see the benefits of “reclaiming” biblical figures such as Orpah from undue marginalization and critique, but as one can see through a cursory glance at biblical interpretative history, that a personal, de-historicized, contextual reading of the bible led to both the support of slavery and the practice of marginality that Donaldson is arguing against. With no biblical historical basis or clear theological foundation, one can use the very same text that Donaldson used and argue the exact opposite point, thereby, in my opinion, nullifying either position. This text is one that follows a clear line of culturally, non-religiously motivated interpreters who are prostituting the biblical text for the very same reasons of those whom they are questioning, personal context and opinion.