Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, 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.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: and I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

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 name of the dead upon his inheritance.

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem

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. 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 the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place : ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that 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 and let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young

woman.

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and she bare a son.

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Question.-What is the meaning of the name Boaz ? Answer." Strength is in him."

Q. Why did Boaz speak so kindly to Ruth? A.-He had been told (perhaps by the people of the city, who took a great interest in the return of Naomi, accompanied by Ruth- "all the city was moved about them,") that she had left her own country to take the place of a daughter to Naomi, and had adopted her religious faith; and he saw that it was the work of God. Boaz not only spoke kindly but acted kindly, by telling his servants to let some of the wheat drop from the sheaves so that she might have more to glean. He was, too, by marriage, a relation of Naomi's, and meant, it seems, to do her a kindness at the same time. Q-Why did Boaz tell Ruth that there was a kins

man or relation nearer than he, and that if he would not do the part of a kinsman to her he (Boaz) would?

A.-Boaz was not really a relation of Ruth's, neither was the man of whom he spoke, but he considered her as the adopted daughter of Naomi, and therefore as one of her family. As there was no surviving brother, the nearest male relation might claim to purchase any property possessed by the widow, and to marry her; if he was unable to do so, then the next nearest relation could do so. In this case the nearest kinsman of Elimelech and of Mahlon, Ruth's husband, refused to buy the land, "lest I mar mine own inheritance," which probably meant that he could not afford to purchase the land and keep Ruth and Naomi too.

Q-Why did Boaz summon ten elders-men of age and consideration-to listen to his conversation about the land?

4.-Ten elders formally assembled at the gate of the city,

the place where legal matters were decided, formed a court qualified to give judgment on any question that might arise, and, by their sanction, made any arrangement as to the disposal of property legal. The Jews, it seems, had a peculiar mode of confirming a bargain, by taking off the shoe of the person who sold and

giving it to him who bought, who perhaps preserved it as a sort of receipt or acknowledgment that the transaction had been properly concluded.

Q-Boaz speaks of "our brother Elimelech," but it is not otherwise stated that he was really a brother.

A. The word is not unfrequently used to indicate a near relative. Both in ancient and modern times, "brother" is employed to indicate a near and dear associate, even where there is no actual relationship. The apostles addressed the converts as "men and brethren," and we now speak of "brothers in the Lord."

Q.-Why did the people of Bethlehem show such pleasure when they heard that Boaz was about to marry Ruth, and say "the Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel?"

A.-They appear to have had an idea that this union would lead to results of great importance to the Israelitish nation; although we have no reason to suppose that they foresaw the coming of the Messiah of the line of David, the direct descendant of Boaz and Ruth.

Q-When Obed was born, why did the women say, "There is a son born to Naomi?"

A. As Ruth was her adopted daughter, she was considered as being in the position of grandmother to the child.

Q. Why was the child named Obed, and are there any others of the name mentioned in Scripture ? A.-The name signifies "serving." Some writers suppose that the name is given to express the service of love and duty the child would render to Naomi, the women thinking that she would bring him up as her own child. Four others of the name are mentioned in Scripture, besides Obed-edom, in the second book of Samuel. The name Obadiah (servant of the Lord) comes from the same Hebrew word.

When Samuel heard in still midnight
A voice amid God's presence bright,
He rose and said, on bended knee,

"Speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth Thee."

E'en such a voice I too may hear;
E'en such a light my soul may cheer;
Where'er He is, my prayer shall be,
"Speak, for Thy servant heareth Thee."

OW there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD were there.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: but unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the but the LORD had [given her no children.] And her adversary also provoked her sore for to make her fret.

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her: therefore she wept, and did not eat.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

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.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

Ánd she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued

praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for

ever.

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and

a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

my

And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

And Hannah prayed, and said,

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased so that the barren hath born seven; And she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

The LORD killeth and maketh alive. He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no

man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto

his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

Question.-Are the two Books of Samuel known by any other name?

Answer. They are also known as the First and Second books of Kings; the books which bear that title in the Bible we now use being also known as the Third and Fourth Books. The Book of Samuel, the two Books of Kings and the two Books of Chronicles contain the history of the Jewish people from the time of the birth of Samuel to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the great captivity in Babylon, a period of about 580 years. Q-What portions of that history are recorded in the books of Samuel?

A.-The life and ministry of Samuel the great prophet and judge of Israel, and the reigns of Saul and David, kings of Israel.

Q-Has the name of Hannah, Samuel's mother, any particular meaning?

A.—It means, "gracious" or "gracious gift ?" Q.-What is the meaning of the name Eli? A." A foster son," or, "adopted of the Lord." Q.-It is said that the priest Eli "sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord." Is there any other mention of a temple at Shiloh? A.-"Tabernacle" is a better translation of the Hebrew word. See the explanation of that word already given, page 84. The tabernacle at Shiloh was set up by Joshua.

Q-What was the nature of Hannah's vow? A.-It was that the child should be dedicated to the Lord as Samson was, in obedience to the command of the angel who visited Manoah and his wife. Hannah made a solemn promise that Samuel should be a Nazarene, she would give "him unto the Lord all the days of his life and no razor should come upon his head." Samson and Samuel are the only Nazarenes expressly mentioned in the Bible. By the law of Moses, she would not have been bound to keep her vow if her husband had on the same day forbidden her to do so. But Elkanah, the husband of Hannah, appears to have shared her wish that the child should be dedicated to the Lord.

Q.-Where was Ramah, to which Elkanah and Hannah returned after worshipping at Shiloh? A. It is another name for Ramaithaim-Zophim mentioned before.

Q.-Why did Hannah name her child Samuel? A. She gives the reason, "because I have asked him of the Lord." The name means "heard of God;" the child was given in answer to prayer.

Q-What was the meaning of the words used by Elkanah to his wife, “Only the Lord establish His word."

A. He appears to have had no doubt that Samuel was given in answer to the prayer of his wife, and that Eli, the priest, when he said, "The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him," spoke under Divine influence and that his words might be taken as an assurance that the Lord would accept the child. It would seem from the words of Elkanah that he had some fear that the Lord would be displeased if the child were not presented at the temple directly after its birth, the word "only" implying that he did not object to Samuel being kept at home for a time, if his wife was quite sure that she was doing right in so keeping him. She seems to have shared her husband's assurance that the Lord had heard her prayer, for, farther on, we read, that when she presented Samuel to Eli, she said, "The Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him."

Q.-What did Hannah mean by "I have lent him to

the Lord?"

A.-The words do not quite give the meaning of the original Hebrew. It would be better to read, "I have returned him whom I have obtained by petition." Q-Do the words "he worshipped the Lord there," mean that the little infant Samuel worshipped? A.-Jewish mothers did not wean their children so early as is the practice now, and Samuel might have been two years old, or perhaps more, when presented to Eli, and so able to speak a few words of prayer and praise, and to have an idea of what they meant. Perhaps we may understand by his being kept at home until he was weaned that his mother kept him until he was able to walk about; otherwise, he would have been a great burden to Eli, and have required his mother's constant attention. Some ancient versions of the Bible have these words " They worshipped," instead of "he wor shipped," and no doubt the father and mother both gave praise to the Lord. Q.-Should not the words, "Hannah prayed" be understood to mean, "made song of praise?" 4.-The Hebrews were a poetical people, and under strong emotions frequently spoke in a poetical form. Miriam, Moses, and Deborah uttered songs, or poetical compositions to celebrate great occasions, and, in the New Testament, Mary, the mother of Jesus, expressed her feelings in the same manner. There is a remarkable resemblance between this song of Hannah and that of Mary as given in the Gospel according to St. Luke. Q.-What is the meaning of the phrase, "my horn

is exalted?”

A.-It means, "I am made proudly happy." It is a figurative expression, derived originally, perhaps, from the manner in which horned animals carry their heads when pleased; and has reference also to the horned head-dress sometimes worn by distinguished persons on great occasions.