Not Necessarily Normative
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 11:19AM 
From 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible by Robert L. Plummer on interpreting the historical narratives in scripture:
Historical narratives also present some unique interpretive challenges. The biblical writer’s purposes are usually undercurrents of the text rather than floating unmistakably on the surface. Because of this, unskilled interpreters are prone to missteps, leading both themselves and their listeners astray from the real meaning of the text. For example many details in stories are not presented as normative. That is, the author is not intending to present all persons or actions as moral lessons. For example, my wife and I were once listening to some audio messages for new parents. The speaker exhorted parent to put their babies in cribs (as opposed to having them in the parents’ bed) because Mary put Jesus in the manger (Luke 2:7). The key interpretive question of course is: why does Luke tell us that Jesus was placed in a manger? Was it to teach us how to put our children to bed, or was it to emphasize the Saviour’s humble origins? I’ve always wanted to point out to the speaker advocating cribs that Jesus told a parable in which a man’s children are described as being in bed with him (Luke 11:7), probably the more normal sleeping convention of that day, yet still only a colorful detail in a memorable story—not a normative principle.
I’ve heard Jephthah held up as an example of someone who behaved honourably for keeping his vow to the Lord even though it meant sacrificing his daughter. This is a case, I think, where the writer of scripture is reporting what actually happened, but not holding up Jephthah as an example to be followed. One point of the book of Judges (maybe the main one) is that when everyone does what is right in their own eyes, things go from bad to worse, and knowing that helps us interpret the story of Jephthah’s foolish vow.
Do you have other examples where details or people in a historical narrative are held up as examples of what we ought to do when the biblical author may not have intended his narrative to be used that way?
Reader Comments (6)
There was a woman who came to our church to speak at a ladies' meeting, and she used an account from Daniel to prove that we should be eating a raw fruit and vegetable diet; that it was more biblical to do so.
That's a perfect example.
I thought of Gideon's fleece, too.
That's a great question. And I agree that Jephthah's example is not one to follow. Can't think of my own example right now, but one will come to me as soon as I post this comment.
Gideon's fleece was what I thought of too. I like the blog revamp!
If Jephtaphs example should not be followed, why doesn't it say so? The old testament often points out if something is evil in the eyes of the LORD, either by just saying it our having god kil the evil doing person.
Moreover, why does god keep his end of the bargain, knowing that Jephtaphs daughter would be the first to greet her father?
Why would let people include that story in his book, if he would want to be clear that he would never take a human sacrifice?
I think your interpretation is just wishfull thinking.
Hello Mario,
I've responded to your comment here.