Ruth 4:22
Jesse ... Jesse <03448> [Jesse.]
David <01732> [David.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF RUTH. This book is evidently a supplement to the book of Judges, and an introduction to that of Samuel, between which it is placed with great propriety. In the ancient Jewish canon, it formed a part of the book of Judges; but the modern Jews make it one of the five Megilloth, which they place towards the end of the Old Testament. This book has been attributed to various authors; but the best founded and generally received opinion, and in which the Jews coincide, is that which ascribes it to the prophet Samuel; before whose time it could not have been written, as is evident from the genealogy recorded in ch. 4:17-22. The time in which the events detailed in this book happened is involved in much obscurity and uncertainty. Augustine refers it to the time of the regal government of the Hebrews; Josephus to the administration of Eli; Moldenhawer, after some Jewish writers, to the time of Ehud; Rabbi Kimichi, and other Jewish authors, to the time of Ibzan; Bps. Patrick and Horne to the judicature of Gideon; Lightfoot to the period between Ehud and Deborah; and Usher, who is followed by most chronologers, to the time of Shamgar. The authenticity and canonical authority of this sacred book cannot be questioned; and the Evangelists, in describing our Saviour's descent, have followed its genealogical accounts. To delineate part of this genealogy appears to be the principal design of the book; it had been foretold that the Messiah should be of the tribe of Judah, and it was afterwards revealed that he should be of the family of David; and therefore it was necessary, to prevent the least suspicion of fraud or design, that the history of that family should be written before these prophecies were revealed. And thus this book, these prophecies, and their accomplishment, serve mutually to illustrate each other. The whole narrative is extremely interesting and instructive, and is written with the most beautiful simplicity. The distress of Naomi; her affectionate concern for her daughter-in-law; the reluctant departure of Orpah; the dutiful attachment of Ruth; and the sorrowful return to Bethlehem, are very beautifully told. The simplicity of manners, likewise, which is shown in the account of Ruth's industry and attention to Naomi; of the elegant charity of Boaz; and of his acknowledgement of his kindred with Ruth, afford a very pleasing contrast to the turbulent scenes described in the preceding book. And while it exhibits, in a striking and affecting manner, the care of Divine Providence over those who sincerely fear God, and honestly aim at fulfilling his will, the circumstance of a Moabitess becoming an ancestor of the Messiah seems to have been a pre-intimation of the admission of the Gentiles into his church. It must be remarked, that in the estimation of the Jews, it was disgraceful to David to have derived his birth from a Moabitess; and Shimei, in his revilings against him, is supposed by them to have tauntingly reflected on his descent from Ruth. This book, therefore, contains an intrinsic proof of its own verity, as it reveals a circumstance so little flattering to the sovereign of Israel; and it is scarcely necessary to appeal to its admission into the canon of Scripture, for a testimony of its authentic character. Add to which, that the native, the amiable simplicity in which the story is told, is sufficient proof of its genuineness. There are several sympathetic circumstances recorded which no forger could have invented: there is too much of nature to admit any thing of art.
Ruth 4:1
village gate <08179> [to the gate.]
guardian <01350> [the kinsman.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 1:11-13
sons <01121> [are there.]
This alludes to the custom that when a married brother died, without leaving posterity, his brother should take his widow; and the children of such marriages were accounted those of the deceased brother. This address of Naomi to her daughter-in-law is exceedingly tender, persuasive, and affecting.
<0582> [that they.]
old <02204> [too old.]
married <0376> [I should have. or, I were with.]
wait <07663> [tarry. Heb. hope. it grieveth me much. Heb. I have much bitterness. the hand.]
Ruth 1:12
old <02204> [too old.]
married <0376> [I should have. or, I were with.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 1:8
<03212> [Go.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
deceased husbands <04191> [the dead.]
Ruth 1:2
Elimelech <0458> [Elimelech.]
The Rabbins say, that Elimelech was the son of Salmon, who married Rahab; and that Naomi was his niece.
Naomi <05281> [Naomi.]
Mahlon <04248> [Mahlon.]
It is imagined, and not without probability, that Mahlon and Chilion are the same with Joash and Saraph, mentioned in 1 Ch 4:22.
Ephrath <0673> [Ephrathites.]
[continued. Heb. were.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 1:1
judges <08199> [the judges.]
judges <08199> [ruled. Heb. judged. a famine.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Beth-lehem-judah.]
Ruth 2:15
gather ......... her gather grain ...... Don't chase her <03950> [glean.]
The word glean comes from the French {glaner} to gather ears or grains of corn. This was formerly a general custom in England and Ireland: the poor went into the fields, and collected the straggling ears of corn after the reapers; and it was long supposed that this was their right, and that the law recognized it; but although it has been an old custom, it is now settled by a solemn judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, that a right to glean in the harvest field cannot be claimed by any person at common law. Any person may permit or prevent it on his own grounds. By the Irish Acts, 25 Henry VIII. c. 1, and 28 Henry VIII. c. 24, gleaning and leasing are so restricted as to be in fact prohibited in that part of the United Kingdom.
off <03637> [reproach. Heb. shame.]
Psalms 72:20
prayers <08605> [The prayers.]
This was probably the last Psalm he ever wrote; and with it ends the second book of the Psalter.
Isaiah 11:1
grow out <03318> [And there shall.]
The prophet having described the destruction of the Assyrian army under that of a mighty forest, here takes occasion to represent the Great Person, who makes the subject of this chapter, as a slender twig, shooting out of the trunk of an old tree; which tender twig, though weak in appearance, should become fruitful and prosper.
Jesse's <03448> [of Jesse.]
bud <05342> [a Branch.]
Acts 13:22-23
After removing <3179> [when.]
raised up <1453> [he raised.]
who <3739> [to whom.]
I have found <2147> [I have.]
this <5127> [this.]
<1453> [raised.]
