Review of:

W. Pieterse & M. Yele (eds.), The Book of Ruth: A Translation in English and Pidgin with Clarifying Notes and Articles. Kumba: Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2005 [no ISBN]. x + 95 pp. Can be ordered from: Hebrewinkumba@yahoo.com.

The book is the result of the work of a Hebrew translation group in Cameroon, whose participants meet biyearly to translate and interpret Old Testament texts. The participants are gratuates from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kumba, Cameroon, now serving as pastors in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, and the book illustrates how continued studies after graduation may benefit the church.

The book focuses on the Old Testament book of Ruth, and it consists of three parts. First comes a new translation of Ruth in English, with explanatory – mainly exegetical – footnotes. Then follows a translation in Pidgin English. The translators express the ideal of making concordant translations, and argue that this is actually easier with Pidgin English than with English. The two translations are meant to encourage Bible study sessions in the congregations, and the third part of the book will here be of some help, consisting of seven brief articles on various aspects of Ruth: the notion of the Messiah (F. Asaha), the role of women (A. Chewachong), Ruth as an exemplification of Israel (I. Kongnyuh), the significance of harvest (J. Mbah), the significance of Moab and Betlehem (M.L. Mgwa), the relationship to Boaz (W. Pieterse), and the concept of the redeemer (M. Yele). Surprisingly, the last article is the only one that explicitly relates Ruth to traditional African culture.

Reviewed 2006-05-16 by Knut Holter, School of Mission and Theology, Misjonsvegen 34, N-4024 Stavanger, Norway. E-mail: knut.holter@mhs.no