3 ch. 2. L OW' Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, Sam. 24. that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. d Judg. S 5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. 6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 7 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? 8 And they said, What one is there ⚫of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there Sam. 11. came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly. <5.5.23 Γ. 9 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 10 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, 'Go and Sam 11.7 smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. • Heb. knoweth the ying with The virgins of Shiloh surprized. unto the camp to "Shiloh, which is in the Before land of Canaan. CHRIST cir. 1406. 13 And the whole congregation sent hJosh. 18. 1. some + to speak to the children of Ben-Heb. and jamin 'that were in the rock Rimmon, called. and to || call peaceably unto them. 14 And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. spake and i ch. 20. 47. Or, pro claim peace. Deut. 20. 10. 15 And the people *repented them for k ver. 6. Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. 16 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? 17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel. Judg. 11. 35. 18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Is- 1 ver. 1. rael have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin. Heb. from year to your. 19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh † yearly in a + place which is on the north side of Bethel, || on the east side of the highway Or, toward that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, ing and on the south of Lebonah. 20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards; 21 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, || Be 10r, gratify favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty. 23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and "repaired the See ch. 20. cities, and dwelt in them. 24 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inhe 11 And this is the thing that ye shall Numb-3. do, "Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that + hath lain by man. 12 And they found among the inhabit-ritance. ants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred + young virgins, that had known no man by lying virgin, with any male: and they brought them • Heb. 25 In those days there was no king in Israel: "every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 48. o ch. 17. 6. 19.1. & 18. 1. & Deut. 12. 8. ch.17.6 Before CHRIST cir. 1322. a Judg. 2. 16. ↑ Heb. judged. b See Gen. 12. 10. & 26. Nwhen the judges, ruled, that there sister in law. was ba famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to 1. 2 Kings 8. sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and Judg. 17.8, his wife, and his two sons. 1. have much bitterness. Job n Judg. 2. P. 32.4 38. 2. & Ecclus. 12 39.9, 10. 9. p Prov. 17. 17 & 18. 21 q Judg. 11. 24. 24.15, 19. Be not s 2 Kings a 16 And Ruth said, || 'Intreat me not r See Josh. to leave thee, or to return from following Kings 2.2 after thee: for whither thou goest, I will, 24 20 go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: against me. 2 And the name of the man was Eli-thy people shall be my people, and thy 2,4,6 melech, and the name of his wife Naomi, God my God: and the name of his two sons Mahlon and See Gen. Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and † continued there. 35-19. e Judg. 5. 30. ↑ Heb. were. eir. 1312. f Exod. 4. 31. Luke 1. 68. g Ps. 132. 15. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6¶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had 'visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the Matt. 6. 11. place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: 'the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find 1 rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, ||if| I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 18 When she saw that she was sted-Acts 21. fastly minded to go with her, then she + Heb. left speaking unto her. 19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, 'Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not || Naomi, call me || Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, "and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her thap happed. was to light on a part of the field belonging 13 Would yet tarry for them till they unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of were grown? would ye stay for them from | Elimelech, The kindness of Boaz to Ruth. Before CHRIST cir. 1312. d Ps. 199. 7, & Luke 1.25 2Thoss. 3.16. CHRIST Naomi's instruction to Ruth. 17 So she gleaned in the field until Before even, and beat out that she had gleaned: cir. 1312. and it was about an ephah of barley. CHAP. III. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you, And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the ch. 1. 22. Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: fi Sam. 25 10, 17. 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto ch.1 her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. b 1 Sam. 24 19. ich 116 Pt. 17. && 75 1.& 6.7 1 Or, I find favour. k Gen. 33-15 heart. Gen. 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13 Then she said, ||*Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast 1 Sam. 1.1 comforted me, and for that thou hast the spoken +friendly unto thine handmaid, 343 Judg. though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 133 11 Sam. 25. 14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and "was sufficed, and left. 15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and +reproach her not: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her "that she had re- ver. 14. served after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. ver. 10. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. Ps. 41. 1. ch. 3. 10. Job 29. 13. Prov. 17. 2 Sam. 2. 5. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, "Blessed be he of the LORD, who p hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, || one of our next kinsmen. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they || meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law. 17. HEN Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not a Cor. 7. seek rest for thee, that it may be well. with thee? 36. 1 Tim. 5. b ch. 1.9. 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? ch. 2. 8. Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 2. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint d2 Sam. 14 thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and || uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6 ¶ And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. ch. 4. 5. 1 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in n Deut. 25-5- the morning, that if he will "perform Matt. 22. 24 unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to Judg. 8. 19. thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. Jer. 4.2. 14 And she lay at his feet until the morning and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, 'Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the || vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 18 Then said she, Šit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. CHAP. IV. 1 Boaz calleth into judgment the next kins- THEN went Boaz up to the behold, a ch.3. 12. the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. He buyeth the inheritance. Before CHRIST 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. cir. 1312. And they sat down. b 1 Kings 21. 23. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Nao- 8. Prov. 31. mi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: Heb. 1 reveal in said, I will c Jer. 32. 7, 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, "Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If the car. thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if & thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, 18. that I may know: for there is none to e Lev. 25-25redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.__ And he said, I will redeem it. d Gen. 23. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, 'to raise up the Gen. 38 & name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 ¶ And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own 13. inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. Deut. 25-5,6 ch. 3-13. Mart. 22. 24 g ch. 3- 12, 799 7 Now this was the manner in former h Deut. 25time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of iDeut. 25-6 the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman k Ps. 197. 3& 1283that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did 'build the house of Israel: and || do thou worthily in Ephratah, and †be famous in Bethlehem: 41. 3 And this man went up out of his Exod. 23 city+yearly to worship and to sacrifice 16. Luke 2. unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And + Heb. from the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, year to year. the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkae Josh. 18.1. nah offered, he gave to Peninnah his 13, 18 & 16. wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: d Deut. 12. 56,7 f Deat. 12. 5 But unto Hannah he gave || a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: "but the Gen. 302 LORD had shut up her womb. + Heb ar gered her. h Job 24. 21. Or, from the time that she, c. 6 And her adversary also +provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, So she provoked her; therefore she + Heb. from wept, and did not eat. her going up. 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy Ruth 4-15 heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. P's. o Gen. 8. 1. 12 ¶ And it came to pass, as she + con- & 30. 22. tinued praying before the LORD, that Eli + Heb. seed marked her mouth. of men. Numb.6.5 + Heb. mul 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her Judg. 13. 5heart; only her lips moved, but her voice riplied to was not heard: therefore Eli thought she pray. had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. of spirit. 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrow- + Heb, hard ful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my P soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of 'Belial: for out of the abundance of my || complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17 Then Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. |