Inclusivity in the Old Testament

Abstract

In this article, the concept of inclusivity in the Old Testament is investigated and the theology of ‘Otherness’ is discussed broadly. Various authors discuss the ‘Otherness’ in biblical Israel. These views are critiqued and a conclusion is reached that an inclusive reading in the Old Testament, specifically of the known exclusive texts in the Hebrew Bible, is a possibility. To argue for inclusivity in the Old Testament, a view of hospitality is considered and a literary review of inclusive texts is conducted, namely the Books of Ruth, Jonah, Ecclesiastes, Esther and some Deuterocanonical texts.

Keywords

• inclusivity
• exclusivity
• otherness
• Ruth
• discrimination
• exclude