BETWEEN THE LINES

(Ruth and Naomi; Esther; Magdalene and Mary)

Ruth and Naomi -The often-quoted verses in the Bible, spoken by Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi, ". . . for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; and thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. . . ." Preservation of the old.

Esther - Esther preserved the past and saved the future when she acknowledged her heritage as a Jewess and asked her husband, King Ahasuerus, to rescind his order to annihilate the entire Hebrew nation.

Magdalene & Mary - The prostitute and the mother of Jesus, wife of Joseph. Their strength gave us the New Testament.

SYMBOLS

1. Stalks of wheat - Gold and riches.

2. Violets - Symbol of faithfulness.

3. Covered heads - Hebraic cultural custom.

4. Golden columns - (of King Solomon's Temple): Because of Esther, prosperity was returned to the Jews.

5. Pomegranate - Hebraic symbol of regeneration and fertility.

6. Grapes - Cultivated by the Hebrews.

7. Spears - Esther's courage.

8. Myrrh - (On Magdalene's head): Holy oil for tabernacle and temples; embalming.

9. Rose with thorns - Antithesis of joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure.

10. Esther - The name means star-associated with Astarte. She became queen in 478 BC and saved the Jews from massacre in 473 BC.