Discovery BoxRuth 4:19
Context4:19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,
Ruth 4:1
Context4:1 Now Boaz went up 1 to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian 2 whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! 3 Boaz said, “Come 4 here and sit down, ‘John Doe’!” 5 So he came 6 and sat down.
Ruth 2:9
Context2:9 Take note of 7 the field where the men 8 are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. 9 I will tell the men 10 to leave you alone. 11 When you are thirsty, you may go to 12 the water jars 13 and drink some of the water 14 the servants draw.” 15
[4:1] 1 tn The disjunctive clause structure (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + verb) here signals the beginning of a new scene.
[4:1] 2 tn Sometimes translated “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9.
[4:1] 3 tn Heb “look, the guardian was passing by of whom Boaz had spoken.”
[4:1] 4 tn Heb “turn aside” (so KJV, NASB); NIV, TEV, NLT “Come over here.”
[4:1] 5 tn Heb “a certain one”; KJV, ASV “such a one.” The expression פְלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי (pÿloni ’almoni) is not the name of the nearest relative, but an idiom which literally means “such and such” or “a certain one” (BDB 811-12 s.v. פְלֹנִי), which is used when one wishes to be ambiguous (1 Sam 21:3; 2 Kgs 6:8). Certainly Boaz would have known his relative’s name, especially in such a small village, and would have uttered his actual name. However the narrator refuses to record his name in a form of poetic justice because he refused to preserve Mahlon’s “name” (lineage) by marrying his widow (see 4:5, 9-10). This close relative, who is a literary foil for Boaz, refuses to fulfill the role of family guardian. Because he does nothing memorable, he remains anonymous in a chapter otherwise filled with names. His anonymity contrasts sharply with Boaz’s prominence in the story and the fame he attains through the child born to Ruth. Because the actual name of this relative is not recorded, the translation of this expression is difficult since contemporary English style expects either a name or title. This is usually supplied in modern translations: “friend” (NASB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NLT), “so-and-so” (JPS, NJPS). Perhaps “Mr. So-And-So!” or “Mr. No-Name!” makes the point. For discussion see Adele Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative, 99-101; R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 233-35; F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 196-97. In the present translation “John Doe” is used since it is a standard designation for someone who is a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown.
[4:1] 6 tn Heb “and he turned aside” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “And he went over.”
[2:9] 7 tn Heb “let your eyes be upon” (KJV, NASB similar).
[2:9] 8 tn Heb “they.” The verb is masculine plural, indicating that the male workers are the subject here.
[2:9] 9 tn Heb “and go after them.” The pronominal suffix (“them”) is feminine plural, indicating that the female workers are referred to here.
[2:9] 10 tn Male servants are in view here, as the masculine plural form of the noun indicates (cf. KJV, NAB, NRSV “the young men”).
[2:9] 11 tn Heb “Have I not commanded the servants not to touch [i.e., “harm”] you?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see v. 8). The perfect is either instantaneous, indicating completion of the action concurrent with the statement (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 107, 121-22, who translates, “I am herewith ordering”) or emphatic/rhetorical, indicating the action is as good as done.
[2:9] 12 tn The juxtaposition of two perfects, each with vav consecutive, here indicates a conditional sentence (see GKC 337 §112.kk).
[2:9] 13 tn Heb “vessels (so KJV, NAB, NRSV), receptacles”; NCV “water jugs.”
[2:9] 14 tn Heb “drink [some] of that which” (KJV similar); in the context “water” is implied.
[2:9] 15 tn The imperfect here either indicates characteristic or typical activity, or anterior future, referring to a future action (drawing water) which logically precedes another future action (drinking).
