Holding the Question in Ruth's Choice

A note

A short detour. There is a passage elsewhere with the same shape though no direct connection, and setting them next to each other makes the writers' different concerns visible.

2and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

3Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4Now Joacim was a very rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house; and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

スザンナ 1:2-4（Brenton 訳・七十人訳から（英語））

In an ordinary week

Pull a single verse out of its paragraph and you can make it say almost anything. This particular verse has been made to say a great deal. Which is precisely why it deserves to be read with what stands on either side of it.

12and to-morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.

ベルと竜 1:12（Brenton 訳・七十人訳から（英語））

I went through several scholarly treatments and found nothing decisive. On reflection, the absence of anything decisive may be the most appropriate result this passage could produce.

1ヨナは魚の腹の中からその神、主に祈って、

2言った、 「わたしは悩みのうちから主に呼ばわると、 主はわたしに答えられた。 わたしが陰府の腹の中から叫ぶと、 あなたはわたしの声を聞かれた。

3あなたはわたしを淵の中、 海のまん中に投げ入れられた。 大水はわたしをめぐり、 あなたの波と大波は皆、わたしの上を越えて行った。

ヨナ書 2:1-3（口語訳（日本語））