Ruth 4 - Introduction
_A.M. 2692. B.C. 1312._ The next kinsman refuses to marry Ruth, Ruth 4:1. Boaz marries her, Ruth 4:9. Their issue, Ruth 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2692. B.C. 1312._ The next kinsman refuses to marry Ruth, Ruth 4:1. Boaz marries her, Ruth 4:9. Their issue, Ruth 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then went Boaz up to the gate_ Where the elders sat. The Chaldee interprets it, “He went up to the gate of the house of judgment, where the Sanhedrim sat.” _Behold, the kinsman came by_ Providence so ordering it that he should come by thus opportunely when the matter was ready to be proposed to him... [ Continue Reading ]
_He took ten men_ To be witnesses; for though two or three witnesses were sufficient, yet in weightier matters they used more. And ten was the usual number among the Jews in causes of matrimony and divorce, and translation of inheritances; who were both judges of the causes and witnesses of the fact... [ Continue Reading ]
_Naomi_ Both Naomi and Ruth had an interest in this land during their lives, but he mentions only Naomi, because all was done by her direction; lest the mention of Ruth should raise a suspicion of the necessity of his marrying Ruth, before he had given his answer to the first proposition. _Which was... [ Continue Reading ]
_I thought to advertise thee_ I have had it in my mind to speak to thee about it. _There is none to redeem it besides thee_ That is, thou hast the first right to do so; for it is plain Boaz had a right, but it was in the second place: and if he had refused, the next kinsman would have had the right,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lest I mar mine own inheritance_ It seems he had a wife and children already, which made him afraid to marry a poor woman with a small parcel of land, which would not provide for the children he might have by her, lest he should thereby diminish the inheritance of which he was already possessed. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now this was the manner in Israel_, &c. We do not know that there was any law of God enjoining any such ceremony as is here mentioned; but only it was a long-established custom to act thus in transferring one man's right in any land to another. _To confirm all things _ That is, in all alienation of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ruth the Moabitess have I purchased to be my wife_ He had her by the right of the same purchase, and did not succeed into the right of a brother, as mentioned Deuteronomy 25.; for he was not a brother to Elimelech, but only a remote kinsman of the same family, who could not enjoy the land while she... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rachel and Leah_ Amiable and fruitful. These two are singled out, because they were of a foreign original, and yet ingrafted into God's people, as Ruth was; and because of that fertility which God vouchsafed unto them above their predecessors, Sarah and Rebecca. Rachel is placed before Leah, becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Like the house of Pharez_ As honourable and numerous as his family was; whom, though he also was born of a stranger, God so blessed, that his family was one of the five families to which all the tribe of Judah belonged, and the progenitor of the inhabitants of this city.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Took Ruth_ Which he might do, though she was a Moabitess, because the prohibition against marrying such is to be restrained to those who continued heathen; whereas Ruth was a sincere proselyte and convert to the God of Israel. Thus he that forsakes all for Christ, shall find more than all with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The women said unto Naomi_ After Ruth's delivery. _Which hath not left thee without a kinsman_ The words may be rendered, _who hath not made_, or _suffered, thy kinsman to fail thee;_ that is, to refuse to perform his duty to thee and thine, as the other kinsman did. The Hebrew גאל, _goel_, which w... [ Continue Reading ]
_A restorer of thy life_ Of the comfort of thy life, such a comfort as to make thee, in some sort, young again. For they hoped the child would inherit his mother's virtues, and particularly her affection to Naomi, which was so surpassing, that it made her a greater blessing to her than a great many... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her neighbours gave it a name_ That is, gave her advice about his name; for it did not belong to them, but to the father or mother, to name the child. _They called his name Obed_ That is, _a servant_, meaning to express their hopes that he would nourish, comfort, and assist her, duties which childr... [ Continue Reading ]