Exercises in embodied (cultural) cognition

Abraham and his servant: Gen 24:1-9

What might different audiences imagine what is happening when they see the phrase in this passage “Put your hand under my thigh\"? How do you suggest dealing with the issue?

Rebekah's ring: Gen 24:22, 30, 47

Consider the translations of these verse below and compare them to other modern translations. Why do you suppose these versions have made the choices they have with regard to the ring? How will their audiences likely interpret the ring and its placement? 

Gen 24:22 - King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

Gen 24:22 - Douay-Rheims Bible
And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles: and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight.

Gen 24:30 - King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Gen 24:30 - Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister's hands, and had heard all that she related, saying: Thus and thus the man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near to the spring of water,

Gen 24:47 - King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Gen 24:47 - Douay-Rheims Bible
And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands.

Joseph and his brothers​​: Gen 43:34

Look at the phrase "So they drank and were merry with him." How do various translations handle this (e.g. Good News Bible vs. CEV)? How is this phrase interpreted elsewhere in the Bible? What do you think explains the differing translations? Compare and contrast the phrase "his heart was merry" in Ruth 3.7. Use the UBS handbook if need be.

Ruth and Boaz: Ruth chapter 3

The TLA version says "se acostó a su lado" (she laid down beside him) where most other versions speak of her uncovering Boaz's feet. Why do you suppose the different versions chose different renderings? And what do you think Ruth was really doing? Do a search on covering/uncovering people's feet if necessary.