Ruth, ch. i.RUTH, a Moabitish Woman, who having marry’d Chilion the Son of Elimelech and Naomi, who had settled themselves in the Country of Moab, dwelt some time with him, without having any Children. Naomi having lost her Husband and two Sons, and being desirous to return to Bethlehem her own Country, her two Daughters-in-law being now Widows, would also go along with her. But she making known to them her Inability of providing for them there, Orpah was persuaded to continue in the Land of Moab, but Ruth would go along with Naomi to Bethlehem. This happen’d at the End of the Time of the Judges, and under the Government of Eli, if we may take Josephus’s Word for it. Joseph. Antiq. l. 5. c. 11.The Rabbins pretend, that Boaz, who married Ruth, was the same as Ibzan the Judge of Israel, who govern’d them for seven Years, about the Year of the World 2823, between Jephthah and Elon. The great Chronology of the Hebrews places this History in the Time of Ehud, and of the Servitude of the Israelites under Eglon King of Moab. Others place it under Barak and Deborah; others, under Gideon; others, under Abimelech. Usher,Tostat. Lyran. Torniel. Genebr. &c. whom we follow, places it under Shamgar, about sixscore Years after the Time of Joshua.
When Naomi came to Bethlehem, she found her self reduced to great Poverty, and Ruth went a Gleaning, to get something to support them. She came by chance into the Field of a rich Citizen of Bethlehem, named Boaz, who was akin to Elimelech her Father -in-law. When Boaz came to see his Harvesters, he found Ruth, and commended her Dutifulness to Naomi her Mother-in-law, bid her go and eat and drink with his People, and gave them Orders to leave something behind them, that she might have the better Gleaning. Ruth returned Home at Evening, told Naomi what had happen’d to her, and inform’d her of the Civilities of Boaz, who had also bid her to go no-where else to glean but in his Field. Naomi blessed God for it, that he had put such Sentiments of Humanity in Boaz’s Heart, and acquainted Ruth that this was their Kinsman.
At the End of Harvest Naomi told Ruth, Ruth iii. 9.that she had a Design to provide for her, and to procure her a solid State of Repose. Go this Night, says she, and lie at the Feet of Boaz, who is to go this Evening to winnow his Corn; and you must do what he shall bid you. Ruth agreed to it; and having observed the Place where Boaz went to lie down, probably, under some Tree in his Field, Ruth went thither also in the Night, and lay down at his Feet. Boaz awaking, and seeing something near him, was afraid. But Ruth said, I am Ruth thine Handmaid; spread therefore thy Skirt over thy thine Hand-maid, for thou art a near Kinsman. Boaz acknowledg’d, that indeed he was a near Kinsman, but there was another nearer than he; and if this Man should refuse to marry her, he himself would take her to Wife. Then rising very early in the Morning, before it was Day-light, he filled Ruth’s Lap with Corn, and sent her away to Naomi.
When it was Day, Boaz went to the Gate of Bethlehem, and having call’d together the Elders of the City, he cited him to appear who was the nearest Kinsman to Elimelech, that he might marry Ruth the Widow of Chilion his Son. This saying, that he could not do it; Boaz then insisted, that he should renounce his Right to it. This he willingly did; and then Boaz declared, that he intended to marry her himself. Thus Ruth became the Wife of Boaz, by whom she had a Son call’d Obed, who was Father to Jesse, and Grandfather to King David.
The Book of Ruth, which contains the History of which we have now given an Abstract, is placed, in our Bibles, between the Book of Judges and the Books of Samuel, as being the Sequel of the former, Hieron. Prolog. Galeat.and an Introduction to the latter. Saint Jerom informs us, that the Jews added it to the Book of Judges, because the Transactions it treats of happen’d in the Time of Judg. i. 1.the Judges of Israel: In diebus unius Judicis, quando Judices præerant. And several of the ancient Fathers make but one Book of the Judges and of Ruth. But the modern Jews commonly place in their Bibles, after the Pentateuch, the five Megilloth, which are, first, The Song of Songs; secondly, Ruth; thirdly, the Lamentations of Jeremiah; fourthly, Ecclesiastes; and fifthly, Esther. Sometimes Ruth is plac’d the first of the five, sometimes the second, and sometimes the fifth.
The Scope of the Author of this Book, is to make known to us the Genealogy of David; and, in all Probability, he was the same Author as composed the First Book of Samuel; in which, because he could not conveniently place this Genealogy of David, he chose rather to give it by it self, than to perplex his Discourse. The Writer observes, at the Beginning of his Work, that the History he was going to relate, happen’d at the Time that the Judges governed Israel; therefore they ceased to govern it at the Time he wrote. Besides, he speaks of David at the End of his Book; which shews, that, at sooneft, it must be written in the Time of David. Besides, I have observed two ways of Speaking in it, or particular Phrases, which are only found in the Books of Samuel and of the Kings: The first is,a The Lord do so to me, and more also: The second, b I have discovered to your Ear; for I have told you.
The Canonicalness of this Book was never disputed. We have observed before, that the Learned are not agreed about the Epocha of the History it relates. Ruth the Moabitess is found in the Genealogy of our Saviour, Matth. i. 5.