And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. Thus she is an ancestor in the messianic line that leads to jesus. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. There are those who attempt to guild the lily as they read the book of ruth, desperately seeking some basis for making a pious israelite of naomi. The first verse of the book points to the time of the judges and the very last verse points to king david. The book of ruth is a love story, not so much between a young man and a young woman, but between a young woman and her motherinlaw. Like 1sa 12, it gives a series of intimate glimpses into the private lives of the members of an israelite family. When ruth beat out her days work of gleaning she had acquired two thirds of a bushel, whereupon, she left the field and went into the city with the grain 2. Link to eerdmans and an interview with mckeown at eerdworld. The jewish publication societys highly acclaimed bible commentary series provides a critical linebyline commentary of the biblical text, which is presented in its original hebrew, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, as well as the jps english translation.
First obviously were landing in the middle of the book of ruth. Concept of a godly remnant in apostate and rebellious times overview of ruth gospel love story focuses on the redemption of ruth. We continue in our ruth 4 commentary ruth 4 commentary. And in those chapters we saw the godly man from bethlehem named boaz being very kind. Kirsten nielsens comments on the book of ruth paint a rich and subtle portrait of its characters, carefully tracing the many connections between this story and other biblical passages, such as the stories of judah and tamar. The jewish publication societys highly acclaimed bible commentary series provides a critical linebyline commentary of the biblical text, which is presented in its original hebrew, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, as well as the jps english translation the moving story of ruth, with its themes of loyalty, loving kindness hesed, and redemption, is one. Block offers sound scholarly methodology, capable research, and applicable exposition. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old. When we open to the 3rd chapter of the book of ruth were coming into the middle of several story lines in the bible. This new volume on ruth attempts to follow a similar method for reading a biblical book canonically. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the.
This book is beautifully designed by god to show how his grace can sustain a faithful testimony of individuals at a time when the general condition of things is low and naturally discouraging. Ruth with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This could only happen through boaz marrying ruth and providing children to carry on the name of elimelech. James mckeown wrote the genesis commentary in the two horizons series. The book of ruth, which appears in the third section of the hebrew bible, ktuvim, writings, is a beautiful folktale written in four short chapters. New commentary on book of ruth a refreshing approach to bible. Ruth bible story summary what christians want to know. The new american commentary is for the minister or bible student who wants to understand and expound the scriptures. This was a time when the people of israel had abandoned gods ways and fallen into idolatry, horrific social conditions, and a disastrous civil war, as told in the chapters of judges immediately preceding the book of ruth in christian bibles. This thorough commentary mines recent research to give the book of ruths literary, grammatical, and theological dimensions a rigorous treatment. The critical allegation against the book of ruth that makes it a production of some postexilic narrator bases their theory on the false proposition that the names of elimelechs sons are fictitious, invented for them centuries later and designed to fit what happened to them, but leon morris cites plenty of proof that the names mahlon and. Two passages from the torah give the background of the festival emphasis added. Naomi was still entreating ruth to return, but ruth replied to that with a command of her own, entreat me not to leave thee. The book of ruth connects the book of judges with the books of samuel.
Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. You can find the best commentary on ruth for you using the tools on the right side. This volume includes an introduction to ruth, as well as notes. The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david.
The book of ruth contains one of the bibles bestknown and mostloved stories. There is no special book in the bible about mary, but god has given us this lovely book about ruth. Story of ruth first obviously were landing in the middle of the book of ruth. Ruth chapter 1 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Because of a famine in israel, a hebrew family moved to moab. Ruth, a moabitess, stands out as a refreshing contrast to the declension of israel in the time of the judges. The first chapter of ruth is very important because our appraisal of ruth, naomi, and soon boaz in the first chapters of ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. Like 1sa 12, it gives a series of intimate glimpses into the. A study of the book of ruth coalition for christian outreach. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible. When we open to the 3 rd chapter of the book of ruth were coming into the middle of several story lines in the bible. Written for sunday school teachers, ruth the moabitess is a compilation of thoughts on the person and book of ruth from some of the best commentaries and writers of the nineteenth century and earlier. That the book of ruth stands most fitly in the place where it is actually found must have been felt by the spiritual mind. Intro to ruth biblica the international bible society.
Ruth gleaned in the field until evening, then she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah 30 of barley 2. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. Ruth 4 commentary summary sermon explaining the book. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Exploring two vastly different pictures of the israelite people as displayed in the books of judges and ruth, dr. Ruth 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. This was a country not far from israel on the east side of the dead sea. Famine has hit bethlehem, which forces elimelech and his wife, naomi, to move east to moab with their two sons to get some grub. Hubbard pays particular attention to the skillful literary devices and unique theological perspective of ruth, using them to propose a new date and purpose for the book. New commentary on book of ruth a refreshing approach to. Robert hubbards commentary on ruth is a model of how commentaries should be written. The events in the book of ruth take place at the time of the festival of the barley harvest ruth 1. This volume includes an introduction to ruth, as well as notes, outlines, and lessonsuseable for personal or group study.
Feeding our families is holy work, and anyone who has the means to help others feed their families becomes a blessing from god. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Designing to return to bethlehem, she addresses her daughters in law, ver. Concept of a godly remnant in apostate and rebellious times overview of ruth gospel love story focuses on the redemption of ruth inclusion of the gentiles.
These are the opening words of one of the most magnificent declarations of loving loyalty to be found anywhere in the literature of all mankind. It also presents a delightful account of the remnant of true faith and piety in the period of the judges, relieving an otherwise wholly. Ruth was married to mahlon something like 10 years. But the book of ruth also looks forward to the time of david, a moabite descendant who enters a levirate marriage with abigail. From alienation to monarchy, as well as the two other commentaries that have been published so far in the maggid studies in tanakh seriesone on the book of jeremiah and another on the book of joshuaare good examples of studies of the bible that make use of the methods of literary analysis.
Several parallels between ruth the story of david can be made, but it is not clear to me how this relationship works. This commentary has been through advanced checking. F25 the book of ruth is so written that one naturally anticipates that the narrative will subsequently reveal some special reward from jehovah for this most remarkable. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the book.
This volume is a powerful addition to this critically acclaimed old testament library series. The book of ruth new international commentary on the old testament, 1989. The story begins with a famine in the days when the judges ruled ruth 1. Then he said, blessed are you of the lord, my daughter. For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. The book of ruth is named for the moabite woman who commits herself to the israelite people by an oath to her motherinlaw naomi and becomes the greatgrandmother of david by marriage to boaz of bethlehem. Ruth boldly, yet humbly and properly, sought her rights. Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. They were of the clan of ephrath from bethlehem in judah.
Its with great excitement and eager expectation that we begin this study. The book of ruth is one of the historical books of hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible. From this family came boaz and, later, great king david. Commentary on the book of ruth relevant bible teaching. The story is set in the time of the judges, a time characterized in the book of judges as a period of religious and moral degeneracy, national disunity and frequent foreign oppression. So a man from bethlehem in judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of moab, along with his wife and two sons. Introduction, outline, and selected bibliography for the book of ruth, by david malick at the biblical studies foundation.
It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. The setting of the book is the spring barley harvest, hence its long association with the festival of pentecost, which pictured this early harvest. The book of ruth reflects a time of peace between israel and moab contrast jdg 3. They are living as members of gods family because they respect and obey him. For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. Ruth is one of the five festival scrolls, also known as the megilloth, in the writings section of the old testament. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. By affirming the storys outcome as a divine providence, hubbard says, the. These two issues are addressed in the book of ruth. Our story opens on a nice jewish family with a problem. The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period.
The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david a dreadful time in a strange country. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the. There, they set up shop, eat some food, and live for about ten years. The great significance of it is that, ruth does not say elohiym god as foreigners do, but yahweh jehovah, indicating that ruth is the follower of the true god. The book of ruth new international commentary on the old. The book of ruth reminds us that ordinary work such as agriculture is a faithfilled calling, whether it is performed by wealthy landowners or povertystricken foreigners. It is a groundless tradition of the jews that ruth was the daughter of eglon king of moab, yet the chaldee paraphrast inserts it. Tragedy strikes the family of ruth and naomi ruth 1. The book of ruth abbreviated rth is included in the third division, or the writings ketuvim, of the hebrew bible. The sons marry two local girls, ruth and orpah, during this time. It manages to deal with both details and the big picture. Commentary on the book of ruth ruth 1 1now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land and a certain man of bethlehem in judah went to sojourn in the land of moab with his wife and his two sons. He helps us recognize how weve been squeezed into the mold of society. Indeed it is apparent to every attentive reader of scripture.
108 427 23 1100 651 619 344 601 1084 1336 818 529 95 429 685 243 861 789 767 334 615 1498 994 1021 597 599 960 1283 960 589 1088 356 179 857 293 861 578