Ruth 1

Chap. II. ver. 2. — In whose sight I shall find grace.] It would seem from this verse, and ver. 7, that either she did not know that poor strangers had a right to glean, as well as the poor in Israel, Levit. xix. 9; or, out of her great piety, she would not challenge it as a right, but request it as a favour, which she would thankfully acknowledge. Bp. Patrick.

Ruth 1:5

5. Then said Boaz unto his servant &c.] It appears he had a servant who during his absence watched over his harvest. Such were the manners of ancient times, when agriculture was deemed an employment honourable for the greatest men. In the same manner Homer describes “a king standing in the middle of his reapers with a sceptre in his hand, looking on in silence, and rejoiced to see the abundant harvest.” Calmet.

Ruth 1:11

11. — It hath fully been shewed me, &c.] It here appears, that Boaz shewed kindness to Ruth because he had been informed of her pious behaviour to her mother in law, and of her earnest desire to be joined to the people of God, which she shewed in leaving the land of her nativity. This is an evident proof that Boaz himself was a man of virtue, and married Ruth afterwards because he had conceived an esteem for her. And, since it was Ruth’s reputation which occasioned these marks of kindness from Boaz, we should consider Ruth’s good fortune as a reward of her prudent behaviour, and an instance of that blessing from the Lord, which attends those who seek Him, and particularly those who faithfully discharge their duty to their parents. Ostervald. That which Ruth hath gleaned, she carrieth to Naomi. Before CHRIST about 1312. people which thou knewest not heretofore.

Ruth 1:12

12. — under whose wings thou art come to trust.] To whose protecting care and good providence thou art come to commit thyself. The phrase of trusting under the wings of the Divine Majesty is often used by the Psalmist, Ps. xvii. 8; xxxvi. 7, &c. and is taken from the protection afforded to young birds under the wings of their mother. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.

Ruth 1:14

14. — eat of the bread, — the vinegar.] Under the name of bread is comprehended all the provision which was made for the reapers; vinegar was used for sauce, being very cool and refreshing in hot countries. Bp. Patrick. Perhaps we are not to understand this of simple vinegar, but of vinegar mingled with a small portion of oil. The Algerines at this day indulge their captives with a small portion of oil to the vinegar they allow them with their bread. Harmer. Or by the word translated vinegar may be meant, a kind of acid or strongly fermented wine, of which frequent mention is made in writings of antiquity, and which was very refreshing in hot climates. Calmet.

— parched corn.] See the note on 2 Sam. xvii. 28.

Ruth 1:17

17. — an ephah] Esteemed to be about a bushel of our measure.

Ruth 1:20

20. — The man is — one of our next kinsmen.] In the Hebrew, “is one of our redeemers;” which means a person who has the right of purchase on the fields of one of his family, who has alienated his patrimony, or who has sold his liberty: and denotes here a person who was obliged by law and custom to marry the widow of his brother or near relation, who had died without children. She does not say absolutely “he is our redeemer,” but “he is one of our redeemers.” Many think that Boaz was nephew of Elimelech, son of his brother. Calmet.

Ruth 1:21

21. — by my young men.] The Hebrew word here used signifies not young men merely, but all young people, and particularly the maidens, with whom she was desired to remain, ver. 8. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. III. ver. 1. — shall I not seek rest for thee.] Shall I not procure for thee a settlement in a house of thy own, so that thou mayest live more comfortably than thou canst with me? Bp. Patrick.

Naomi’s heart was now set on providing her daughter with a husband, in order to lay a foundation for recovering the prosperous condition of her decayed family.

Before CHRIST about 1312. Or, one that hath right to redoes. Or, fall upon thee.

21. — and his vow.] A vow which he made, probably, either when he found that his wife was likely to bear a child, or perhaps before, when she told him what hope she had of her prayer being heard. Bp. Patrick.

Ruth 1:22

22. — there abide for ever.] That is, for the natural term of his life. Dr. Berriman.

Ruth 1:24

24. — with three bullocks.] Several versions give here “one bullock of three years old:” and, as one bullock only is mentioned in the next verse, perhaps this reading may be preferable. Houbigant.

Ruth 1:28

28. — I have lent him] Rather, I have given him: so the Hebrew word ought to be here rendered. Dr. Wells. I have, upon my vow, returned him to the Lord, as formerly consecrated to Him by me. Bp. Hall. The character of Hannah well deserves a place in the sacred writings, for the sake of many excellent instructions which it affords: for, in her we see the reward of temperance and sanctity; also of a patient trust and dependence on God. Though the accomplishment of her prayer for a child was long deferred, yet this delay did not discourage her from continuing instant in her prayers, which were answered at last to her full satisfaction. In her too we see the advantages of a meek and quiet spirit, which suffereth injuries, and is not easily provoked. She had abundance of mortifying treatment from her rival, yet she endured all with meekness, and returned not the same behaviour to her insulting adversary. She committed her cause to God, who, she knew, in His good time could make the barren to fill the house; being persuaded, as she afterwards expressed in her thanksgiving song, that God alone is the Author of all good things. Reading. We should observe the piety of this holy woman, which appeared in her prayers to God in Shiloh; in her humble and respectful answer to Eli, who accused her of being drunk; in the vow she made to dedicate the child to God, and in the care she took to fulfil that vow, by carrying the young child to Shiloh. This is a noble example of piety and meekness, which is particularly calculated to teach parents, and mothers especially, to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord, and devote them to His service. Ostervald. Chap. II. ver. 1. And Hannah prayed.] On the occasion of the birth of so eminent a son, Hannah composed the following inspired and prophetic hymn. To the composition of such hymns, holy souls were sometimes raised by Divine inspiration, in their devout meditations on the extraordinary goodness of God towards them. Indeed this was the most ancient way of preserving the memory of things to posterity, poets being more ancient than historians or orators. Bp. Patrick, Pyle. This admirable hymn excels in simplicity of composition, closeness of connexion, and uniformity of sentiment; breathing the pious effusions of a devout mind, deeply impressed with a conviction of God’s mercies to herself in particular, and of His providential government of the world in general; in exalting the poor in spirit, or the humble-minded, and abasing the rich and arrogant, rewarding the righteous, and punishing the wicked. Hannah was a prophetess of the first class. Besides predicting her own fruitfulness, ver. 5, she foretalls not only the more immediate judgments of God on the Philistines, during her son’s administration, but His remoter judgments on “the ends of the earth,” ver. 10. in the true spirit of the prophecies of Jacob, Balaam, and Moses. Like them, she describes the promised Saviour of the world, as a King, before there was any king in Israel: and she first applied to Him the re-