Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old. Ruth 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The first chapter of ruth sets up the story that follows. You can find the best commentary on ruth for you using the tools on the right side. For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. May 14, 2002 see the commentary of the gaon of vilna on the book of ruth. Well, said ruth, whatever thy people keep i will keep, for they shall be my people. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative. May god, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. Among historical narratives in scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty and dramatic effectiveness an exquisitely wrought jewel of hebrew narrative art.
The book of ruth is a beautiful story, and probably one you may have heard in sunday school as a child. Commentary on the book of ruth tough questions answered. Indeed, the book of ruth is a fresh breath of air after reading judges. The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Best ruth commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. The book of ruth provides details about part of the genealogy of king david and of the christ who is called the son of david refer to matthew 1. It is a groundless tradition of the jews that ruth was the daughter of eglon king of moab, yet the chaldee paraphrast inserts it. As we move from the book of judges to the book of ruth, a bright light suddenly shines against the dark backdrop of a morally corrupt time period. When providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. The book of ruth gets its own small volume in the old testament library otl series. As with most other books in the ot, the author is not known for sure, although jewish and christian tradition point to the prophet samuel. Indeed it is apparent to every attentive reader of scripture.
The interpreters bible gives the following outline of the book of ruth. The book of ruth in the old testament is very short, only about three times the length of this little essay. Ruth boldly, yet humbly and properly, sought her rights. This could only happen through boaz marrying ruth and providing children to carry on the name of elimelech. May 11, 2020 the book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. This volume is a powerful addition to this critically acclaimed old testament library series. The book of ruth new international commentary on the old. It is a charming account of how ruth, a moabite who had married one of naomis sons. The book of ruth opens with a verse that begins the process of unpacking the historical setting and context of the story. The book of ruth contains one of the bibles bestknown and mostloved stories.
Best commentaries and books on ruth logos bible software. Written by kirsten nielsen, this commentary meets the aims of the series in providing a critical take in a midlength commentary. The setting of the book is the spring barley harvest, hence its long association with the festival of pentecost, which pictured this early harvest. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. Ruth is one of the five festival scrolls, also known as the megilloth, in the writings section of the old testament. That the book of ruth stands most fitly in the place where it is actually found must have been felt by the spiritual mind.
You will also find options for commentaries on ruth that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. The book of ruth tells a wonderful story of gods behindthescenes providence in the life of a woman whose descendants would include king. And what the book of ruth does for us is give us a glimpse of the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the. Ruth free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The text itself says nothing of the author, but whoever wrote it was a. The genealogy at the end of the book shows davids lineage through the days of the judges, acting as a support for his rightful kingship. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. The latter phrase is also used of the ideal womanwife in proverbs 31.
Top 5 commentaries on the book of ruth ligonier ministries. Excerpts this commentary is from a modern writer and is well done. 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. Then he said, blessed are you of the lord, my daughter. And with all that background out of the way, with noami and ruth in bethlehem, with boaz as a kinsman of elimelech, ruth decides its time to get out of the house and help provide for herself and her motherinlaw. Ruth 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
In her the gentiles find a place to share the hope of judahs race. The book of ruth is a hebrew short story, told with consummate skill. The events in ruth likely take place around 1100 bc, or toward the end of the rule of the judges. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. Ruth was a gentile not of the judeanisraeli descent but from another ethnic group, her background was a nation otherthan israel and she married a descendant. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. Now see from royal davids line one hope for jew and gentile shine. Ruth new international commentary on the old testament by robert l. 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. Ruth what star of messianic truth more beautiful than gentile ruth. Naomi said, we have four sorts of deaths for malefactors, stoning, burning, strangling, and slaying with the sword. Anyone reading the story of ruth is immediately struck by the strength of her dedication to her mother in law, naomi.
The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. While quite obvious at first glance, this theme does present a major difficulty on closer examination. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of ruth. To provide a biographical sketch of the pious ancestors of david the king which the books of samuel do not provide. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post.
The period of the judges would end when saul was anointed as the first king of israel in 1050 bc. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. Boaz is introduced in the narrative as an esh gibor hayil a powerful man of integrity in 2. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. Old testament exegetical commentary of ruth youll meet the. Read ruth 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. A short commentary, critical and expository, on the book of ruth 89 pages 1884 brief nontechnical comments with a devotional flavor and with potentially helpful sections called hints for lessons see example. Aug 07, 2015 the main purpose of the book of ruth is to communicate the ancestry of king david, the greatest king of israel, who would rule from 1010 to 970 bc. Its story of gods concern for two widows and of ruths devotion to her motherinlaw and first husband is inspiring and fore. Ruth shows family to be at the center of gods plan. This book is an attempt to combine the various elements and styles of different types of study aids into one resource to facilitate the biblical exposition and application of the book of ruth.
Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. 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. Naomi said, we are forbidden to worship any strange god. Excerpts this commentary is from a modern writer and is well done background notes. Mar 26, 2018 old testament exegetical commentary of ruth introduction there are several aspects of the book of ruth which need to be preliminarily understood for the exegete to properly analyze and interpret the meaning of the book. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. The other festival scrolls are song of songs, lamentations, ecclesiastes and. David guziks bible commentary on ruth chapter 1, where ruth makes the journey with her motherinlaw naomi from the land of moab to the land of israel. Ruth 4 commentary john gills exposition on the whole bible. The story begins with a famine in the days when the judges ruled ruth 1. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. See the commentary of the gaon of vilna on the book of ruth. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab.
The book of ruth is placed right after judges in the christian old testament, as part of the historical books section. These two issues are addressed in the book of ruth. A free bible version and commentary on the book of ruth in easyenglish. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. According to the talmud jewish tradition, the prophet samuel wrote the book of ruth. This chapter relates how an offer was made to the nearest kinsman of ruth to redeem her, and the field her husband left, which he refused to do, 4.
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