The book of Ruth is so called from the name of the person, a
native of Moab, whose history it contains. It may be considered as a
supplement to the book of Judges, to which it was joined in the Hebrew
canon, and the latter part of which it greatly resembles, being a
detached story belonging to the same period. Ruth had a son called Obed,
who was the grandfather of David, which circumstance probably occasioned
her history to be written, as the genealogy of David, from Pharez, the
son of Judah, from whom the Messiah was to spring, is here given; and
some commentators have thought, that the descent of our Saviour from
Ruth, a Gentile woman, was an intimation of the comprehensive nature of
the Christian dispensation. We are no where informed when Ruth lived;
but as King David was her great-grandson, we may place her history about
B. C. 1250. This book was certainly written after the birth of David,
and probably by the Prophet Samuel, though some have attributed it to
Hezekiah, and others to Ezra. The story related in this book is
extremely interesting; the widowed distress of Naomi, her affectionate
concern for her daughters, the reluctant departure of Orpah, the dutiful
attachment of Ruth, and the sorrowful return to Bethlehem, are very
beautifully told. The simplicity of manners, likewise, which is shown in
Ruth’s industry and attention to Naomi; the elegant charity of Boaz; and
his acknowledgment of his kindred with Ruth, afford a pleasing contrast
to the turbulent scenes described in the book of the Judges. The
respect, likewise, which the Israelites paid to the law of Moses, and
their observance of ancient customs, are represented in a very lively
and animated manner, Ruth iv. It is a pleasing digression from the
general thread of the sacred history.
native of Moab, whose history it contains. It may be considered as a
supplement to the book of Judges, to which it was joined in the Hebrew
canon, and the latter part of which it greatly resembles, being a
detached story belonging to the same period. Ruth had a son called Obed,
who was the grandfather of David, which circumstance probably occasioned
her history to be written, as the genealogy of David, from Pharez, the
son of Judah, from whom the Messiah was to spring, is here given; and
some commentators have thought, that the descent of our Saviour from
Ruth, a Gentile woman, was an intimation of the comprehensive nature of
the Christian dispensation. We are no where informed when Ruth lived;
but as King David was her great-grandson, we may place her history about
B. C. 1250. This book was certainly written after the birth of David,
and probably by the Prophet Samuel, though some have attributed it to
Hezekiah, and others to Ezra. The story related in this book is
extremely interesting; the widowed distress of Naomi, her affectionate
concern for her daughters, the reluctant departure of Orpah, the dutiful
attachment of Ruth, and the sorrowful return to Bethlehem, are very
beautifully told. The simplicity of manners, likewise, which is shown in
Ruth’s industry and attention to Naomi; the elegant charity of Boaz; and
his acknowledgment of his kindred with Ruth, afford a pleasing contrast
to the turbulent scenes described in the book of the Judges. The
respect, likewise, which the Israelites paid to the law of Moses, and
their observance of ancient customs, are represented in a very lively
and animated manner, Ruth iv. It is a pleasing digression from the
general thread of the sacred history.