Ruth 4:17

the women her neighbours. Cf. Ruth 4:14 and Ruth 1:19. In St Luke 1:58 f., the neighbours and kinsfolk propose to name the child.

There is a son born to Naomi The child is popularly considered to belong to Naomi's family. Cf. Genesis 30:3, where the son of Bilhah, born on the knees of Rachel, is regarded as Rachel's child.

Obed An abbreviated form of Obad-iah -servant of Jah," or of Abdi-el -servant of El."

the father of Jesse, the father of David The ancestry of Jesse is not given in 1 Sam. The name (Ishai) is perhaps a shortened form of Abishai. The story of Ruth thus shews how a Moabite women obtained an honourable place in the annals of Hebrew history; the rule laid down in Deuteronomy 23:3 [Hebrews 4] had at least one noteworthy exception 1 [7]. From 1 Samuel 22:3-4 we learn that friendly relations existed between David and the Moabites: it may not be fanciful to suppose that he would be all the move ready to entrust his parents to the care of the Moabite king because his father's grandmother was a Moabite.

[7] The Rabbis get over the difficulty by supposing that the law of Deuteronomy 23:3 applies only to men: Talm. Jebamoth76 b: Sifre on Deut. l.c.

With this account of the memorable issue of Ruth's marriage the Book is brought to a suitable close. The genealogy which follows may be regarded as a later addition.