Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL STUDIES in the Faculty of Theology in the Department of Bibliological Studies at the University of Zululand, 2001 / The title of this dissertation reads Naomi on the Crossroads of Umlazi: A critical historical study of the cultural situation of the childless widow in Ancient Israel visa- vis that of the childless widow in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal in the late 1990s.

Fung Tat Yeung. / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-72). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- The Theme of Levirate Marriage in the Old and New Testaments --- p.1 / The disagreement between the Sadducees and Paul the former Pharisee --- p.2 / A comparison between Paul's illustration of marriage in Romans 7:1-6 and the levirate law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 --- p.8 / The transformation in the levirate practice from the era of the Old Testament to that of the New --- p.14 / Chapter 2 --- The Duty of a Levir to His Brother´ةs Widow in the Story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) --- p.17 / Judah s command on Onan: a levirate marriage? --- p.17 / Lexical study of or --- p.19 / Onan's refusal to perform his duty as a brother-in-law --- p.21 / Judah's command on Tamar: prolonged widowhood --- p.23 / Tamar's endeavour in finding the right levir --- p.27 / Evaluation of the levirate practice in Genesis 38 --- p.29 / Chapter 3 --- The Widow´ةs Marriage to Her Husband´ةs Kinsman in the Book of Ruth --- p.32 / Ruth seeking to follow Naomi --- p.32 / "The introduction of Boaz, the kinsman of Naomi´ةs husband's" --- p.35 / Lexical study of 7xi --- p.37 / Boaz's device in securing the redemption of Ruth by himself --- p.41 / Evaluation of the marriage between Boaz and Ruth in the Book of Ruth --- p.44 / Chapter 4 --- The Widow´ةs Marriage to Her Kinsman in the Book of Tobit and Voluntary Widowhood in the Book of Judith --- p.47 / The marriage of a widow by a kinsman in Book of Tobit --- p.48 / Evaluation of the marriage between Tobias and Sarah in the Book of Tobit --- p.53 / The choice of a widow to remain unmarried in the Book of Judith --- p.54 / Evaluation of the voluntary widowhood in the Book of Judith --- p.58 / Conclusion --- p.61 / An overall evaluation of the levirate practice in the Old Testament --- p.61 / The application of the levirate in the New Testament era --- p.63 / The message of the levirate for today --- p.66 / Bibliography --- p.68