Wives are provided for BEFORE CHRIST JUDGES, XXI. the Benjamites that escaped. 48 And the men of Israel turned cir. 1406. again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. 2 Heb. was found. 3 Heb. were found. a ch. 20. 1. b ch. 20. 18, 26. 25. CHAPTER XXI. 1 The people bewail the desolation of Benja- OW the men of Israel had shall not any of us give his daughter 2 And the people came to the 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? C 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, 2 Sam. 24. and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. d ch. 5. 23. 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 came none to 1 Sam. 11. the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. 1. & 31. 11. 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hun-2 Heb. dred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. 13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to 5 call peaceably unto them. the lying with man. young virgins. 3 Heb. women h Josh. 18.1. 4 Heb. and called. spake and 1 ch. 20. 47. 5 Or, proclaim Deut. 20.10. 14 And Benjamin came again at peace. 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. 15 And the people *repented them ver. 6. for 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. 19 Then they said, Behold, there 20 Therefore they commanded the 21 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out m 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. 9 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 22 And it shall be, when their fa10 And the congregation sent thi-thers or their brethren come unto us ther twelve thousand men of the to complain, that we will say unto valiantest, and commanded them, them, "Be favourable unto them for saying, Go and smite the inhabi- our sakes: because we reserved not 1 Sam. 11.7. tants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge to each man his wife in the war: for of the sword, with the women and ye did not give unto them at this the children. time, that ye should be guilty. f ver. 5. & ch. 5. 23. f 11 And this is the thing that ye 23 And the children of Benjamin year. Heb. from year to Or, sunrising. toward the 8 Or, on. sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. ́And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 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 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. 1 ye 9 The LORD grant you that may find 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, m that they may be your husbands? BEFORE CHRIST 1 ch. 3. 1. cir. 1312. m Gen. 38. 11. Deut. 25. 5. 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 2 Or, if I also to night, and should also bear sons; were with an husband. 4 Heb. I have much bitterness. 13 Would ye 3 tarry for them till & Heb. hope. they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that "the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth Pclave unto her. n Judg. 2.15. Job 19. 21. Ps. 82. 4. 39.9, 10. Prov. 17. & 38. 2. & 17. & 18. 24. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return a Judg. 11. thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: "the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 6 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, Heb. then she left speaking unto her. 19 T So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came strengthened herself. Ruth gleaneth BEFORE CHRIST RUTH, II. cir. 1312. lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, "Is this Naomi ? y Matt. 21. 10. * See Is. 23. 7. Lam. 2. 15. 2 That is, Pleasant. 3 That is, Bitter. a Job 1. 21. Ex.9.31,32. 2 Sam. 21.9. ch. 2. 23. ■ ch. 3.2.12. b ch. 4. 21. 4 Called, Booz, Matt. 1. 5. in the fields of Boaz. to pass, when they were come to Beth-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. 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? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest. AND Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech ; and his name was bBoaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the Lev. 19. 9. field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. Deut. 24. 19. 6 Heb. hap happened. d Pa.129.7,8. Luke 1. 28. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 T And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, a The LORD be with you. And they 2Thess.3.16. answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? • ch. 1. 22. 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 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 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, & all that thou hast done unto thy sch. 1.14,16, 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. 19. 12 The LORD recompense thy 1 Sam. 24. work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, 1under whose wings thou art come trust. to 13 Then she said, 2k Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken 3 friendly unto thines handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 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. 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 1 ch. 1. 16. Ps. 17. 8. & 36.7. & 57. 1. & 63.7. 2 Or, I find favour. Gen.33.15. Heb. to the heart. 1 Sam. 1. 18. Gen. 34. 3. 11 Sam. 25. 41. Boaz acknowledgeth 1 Cor.7.86. 1 Tim. 5.8. b ch.1.9. ech. 2.8. 42Sam.14.2. 4 Or, lift up the clothes that are on his feet. Judg. 19.6, 9, 22. 28am.13.28. Esth. 1. 10. Or, took hold on. RUTH, III. f the right of a kinsman. name with whom I wrought to day handmaid: spread therefore thy is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, PBlessed be he of the LORD, who 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, r2one 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. CHAPTER III. 1 By Naomi's instruction, 5 Ruth lieth at Boaz's feet. 8 Boaz acknowledgeth the right of a kinsman. 14 He sendeth her away with six measures of barley. HEN Naomi her mother in law a shall I not seek brest for thee, that it be well with thee? may 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint 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. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and 'turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine therever. 9. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit m is a kinsman nearer than I. n m ch. 4. 1. Deut.25.5. Matt. 22. 24. ch. 4. 5. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform 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 thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until Judg.8.19. the morning. 14 ¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before said, P 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. Jer. 4. 2. Boaz taketh Ruth to wife. BEFORE CHRIST cir. 1312. 2 Heb. I said, I will reveal in thine car. c Jer. 32.7,8. RUTH, IV. elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 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: с 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of d Gen. 23.18. my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may eLev. 25.25. know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 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 Gen. 38. 3. dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. Deut.25.5,6. ch. 3. 13. Matt. 22. 21. g ch.3.12,13. h Deut. 25. 7,9. 6 ¶ 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 it. 7 Now this was the manner in former time 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. The generation of Pharez. and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. BEFORE CHRIST cir. 1312. & 128. 3. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the P. 127. & woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did 'build the house of Israel: and 2do thou worthily in Ephratah, and 3be famous in Beth-lehem : n Deut. 25.9. thee riches, or, power. Gen. 35. & Heb. proclaim thy Gen.33.29. 16, 19. 12 And let thy house be like them house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 13 ¶ So Boaz Ptook Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. name. 1 Chr. 2. 4. Matt. 1. 3. 20. 1 Sam. 2. P ch. 3. II. Gen.29.31. & 33. 5. Rom. 12.15. 14 And the women said unto Na-Luke 1.58. omi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a "kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 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. 8 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. Heb. cease unto caused to thee. 6 Or, nourish. redeemer. Heb. to Gen. 45.11. P. 55.22 gray hairs. 7 Heb. thy 1 Sam. 1.8. 59. 17 And the women her neigh- Luke 1.58, bours 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. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: "Pharez begat Hez-1 Chr. 2. ron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat 4, &c. Matt. 1.3. Nah-Num. 1.7. &c. 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchas-shon, and Nahshon begat 8 Salmon, ed to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritDeut. 25.6. ance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat 2 David. y Matt. 1.4, 8 Or Salmah. 21Chr. 2.15. Matt. 1.6. |