Ruth 4 - Introduction
_BOAZ CALLS UPON THE NEXT KINSMAN, WHO REFUSES TO REDEEM: ACCORDINGLY, BOAZ MARRIETH RUTH; AND FROM THIS MARRIAGE COMES OBED, THE FATHER OF JESSE, THE FATHER OF DAVID._ _Before Christ 1376._... [ Continue Reading ]
_BOAZ CALLS UPON THE NEXT KINSMAN, WHO REFUSES TO REDEEM: ACCORDINGLY, BOAZ MARRIETH RUTH; AND FROM THIS MARRIAGE COMES OBED, THE FATHER OF JESSE, THE FATHER OF DAVID._ _Before Christ 1376._... [ Continue Reading ]
BOAZ WENT UP TO THE GATE— See on Deuteronomy 16:18. The Chaldee paraphrases this, _He went up to the gate of the house of judgment, where the Sanhedrim sat._... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN MEN— This number of witnesses, it seems, was necessary for the ratification of marriages, divorces, and the conveyance of right and property. See More Nevoch. pars 3: cap. 49: and Bertram de Rep. Jud. cap. 9: Boaz, in representing the distress to which Naomi, the sister of their _brother, 1:_e.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MUST BUY IT ALSO OF RUTH— This whole speech is rendered very confused by the _present printed_ Hebrew text; but if we admit of some alteration from the best manuscripts, the passage will be cleared from obscurity, and when corrected will run thus: Ruth 4:4. _If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; b... [ Continue Reading ]
I CANNOT REDEEM IT FOR MYSELF, &C.— The Chaldee paraphrases thus: "I cannot redeem it upon this condition, because I have a wife already, and do not choose to bring another into my house, lest quarrels and divisions arise in it, and lest I hurt my own inheritance." The Jewish commentators understand... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WAS THE MANNER IN FORMER TIME— See the note on Deuteronomy 25:5. Though the custom there referred to was somewhat different from the present, there can be no doubt that this was founded upon it; and the ceremony seems to express, that the person refusing to redeem transferred all his right to t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD MAKE THE WOMAN—LIKE RACHEL, AND—LEAH— See Genesis 24:60.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE HOUSE OF PHAREZ, &C.— _Pharez,_ the son of Judah by Tamar, was the chief of the family of Elimelech, and of all the Beth-lehemites. Nothing, therefore, could be more natural than this blessing which the elders of the village give to Boaz and Ruth upon their marriage. REFLECTIONS.—No sooner... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOMEN HER NEIGHBOURS GAVE IT A NAME— They advised Naomi to give the child such a name as was suitable to their foregoing discourse, and to the case of Naomi. See Luke 1:59. _Obed_ signifies a _servant,_ as Josephus interprets it: the Chaldee paraphrases the name, "Obed, who served the Lord of th... [ Continue Reading ]