Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Ruth: -- Prologue and problem: Death and emptiness (1:1-22) -- Ruth meets Boaz, Naomi's relative, on the harvest field (2:1-23) -- Naomi sends Ruth to Boaz on the threshing floor (3:1-18) -- Resolution and epilogue: Life and fullness (4:1-22) -- Esther: -- Introduction and setting: Esther becomes Queen of Persia (1:1-2:23) -- The crisis: Haman's plot to destroy the Jews (3:1-15) -- Mordecai's stratagem: Esther must consent to appeal to the king (4:1-17) -- Esther begins her appeal: She invites the king and Haman to a banquet (5:1-8) -- Haman's stratagem backfires: He is humiliated and Mordecai honored (5:9-6:14) -- Esther makes her appeal: The fall of Haman (7:1-10) -- Esther appeals again to the king: She and Mordecai counter Haman's plot (8:1-17) -- The Jews are victorious: They put all their enemies to the sword (9:1-5) -- The Festival of Purim is instituted: Mordecai, Esther and the Jewish community set its dates and establish its character (9:6-32) -- Epilogue: An encomium on Mordecai (10:1-3).