Thanks for all the excellent e-mails about the Song of Songs. Several of you argued that the maiden’s “navel” is not her navel, if you get my (southward) drift. My brief research didn’t settle the ...

I’m afraid there’s no way to write this column without sounding like a nerd of the first order. But let’s face it. I am, alas, a nerd of the first order. Specifically, I’m a Bible nerd. If possible, ...

Flip through the pages of the Bible and you’ll never find the name “Oprah.” However, there is a minor figure in the Book of Ruth named Orpah. Orpah is one of the lesser-known women of the Bible. The ...

The Book of Ruth, universally honored as “one of the most charming short stories in Hebrew literature,” and standing in contrast to the stories of war and military violence in Judges and Samuel, ...

It’s hard to find a conversation in the Bible between two women. Sarah and Rebecca never speak to another woman in Genesis. Rachel and Leah speak with one another just once. Deena, Jacob’s daughter, ...

Paul Prather says the Bible is endlessly interesting because of its allusions, and the long stretch of history. Wavebreakmedia Getty Images/iStockphoto I’m afraid there’s no way to write this column ...