This is the second post in a series on characters in the Bible. The first post in this series worked through the fact that characters in the Bible function as mirrors. I discussed how the characters function as mirrors and why the characters functioning as mirrors is important for correct interpretation. While explaining how a character in the Bible functions as a mirror, I pointed out the fact that Biblical characters come with little detail. Today's post thinks through, why characters in the Bible have little detail?
If you have ever read any modern fiction, you know the characters in a story have a lot of detail. Take for example, my favorite fictional story, Lord of the Rings. We know what Frodo looks like. We know what Dwarves appear like. We clearly see the difference in appearance between and Elf and a Dwarf. We know the attitudes of Boromir. We know the courage that Sam shows during the epic journey. The characters in, Lord of the Rings, have a great amount of detail. Think through any fictional story, even if it is a short story, and you will find great detail in, on, and around the characters in the story.
Now flip open your Bible. What color hair did Adam have? Did King David have a beard? Did Peter have dimples? Was Ruth beautiful? Was Queen Esther a curvy woman? And the list of details or lack of details, could go on. The Bible, as a story book, has very little detail. The question is, why does the Bible lack details compared to our modern stories?
There are 2 answers to this question. First, Hebrew stories are not the same as Greek stories. The Greek's took the form of stories and are the ones who began to add the detail. In the age of Socrates, and stories like the Iliad and Odyssey, Greek's began to add greater details to the story. This is when a characters figured began to be described (think Helen of Troy). This is when descriptions of places, and times were added to stories (the city was big and the army were like vicious animals). The Greek culture began to add great details to story and it stuck to story telling, ever since. This is why our modern stories have a lot of detail. The Hebrew form of story telling, does not care about details. The Hebrews cared about the plot and the actions in the story. Hebrews could care less about detail. This is the first reason the Bible lacks much details about its characters.
The second reason the Bible lacks details about its characters, is becasue the details that are given are the focus. Take for example many of these important details that are given and must be the focus; Esau was hairy (animal like in appearance), Saul was tall (stood above the rest), David was a runt, James and John were loud mouthed (Sons of Thunder). The details that are given, are very important for the story and the character. When the Biblical author gave a detail, it was critical for the story, the character, and the lesson of the story. Thus the Bible lacks detail becasue it wants the reader to see and focus on the details that is given.
And this brings us to what we need to know about details in the Bible. We must not expect the Bible to be like our modern stories. In fact, we must rejoice the Bible is not like our modern stories. The characters in the Bible play an important part in the stories of the Bible. This means, when a character is actually described, in some way, it is an important piece of information we as the reader must see. So as you read through the Bible, do not worry about the details that are missing, rather focus on the details of the characters that are given, seeing yourself in the character, and grow in faith towards God as you see yourself in the characters of the Bible.
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