PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth
James Morison [1816-1893] · 70,259 words · 71 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED DY TIIB VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUOESTEB; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. RUT H. (!bposifion tmb Jomiltfics BY REV. JAMES MORISON, D.D., AUTIIOR OF 'COMKENTA.RY ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW,' Era, Jomilies hy •~1trio1ts ~ufgors: REV. W. M. STAT…
926 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 2
WM granted, And so Ruth went out of the house, passed out of the city gate, and, casUng hor eyes over the wide expo.nee of golden fields, right and left, ripe for the sickle, e.nd already nlivo with reapers a.nd binders a.nd gleaners, she was Inwardly guided to o. field that belonged to Boaz, a substantial yeoman, an…
1,134 wordsSECTION 3The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 3
nearest kinsman should have no desire to act the kinsman's part, then with joy would Boaz step into his place, and show respect to the deceased (vers. 12, 13). The watches of the night passed rapidly on, no doubt amid many mutual consultations and explanations. And just as the first thinning of the darkness into du…
1,084 wordsSECTION 4The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 4
when the Lord of glory humbled himself to become the "kinsman" and the "friend" of those whose name is" sinners." But in the genealogy that is appended to the Book of Ruth, the succession is carried no further down than to Ring David. The genealogy is thus, so far as the discoverable aim of the genealogist is concerne…
1,055 wordsSECTION 5The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 5
§ 4. DATE OF COMPOSITION. There is not the least likelihood that the little Book could have been written just immediately after the occurrence of the events narrated. For, in the first place, the write,, in the very opening sentence of the Book, comes down beyond the age of the Judges. He speaks of what came to pass "…
1,074 wordsSECTION 6The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 6
The specific reasons that are adduced in favour of the application of the postponing theory to the particular Book of Ruth are not to us of much or very weighty significance. One is that there are some coincidences of expres- sion discoverable in Ruth, on the one hand, and in the Books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kin…
1,135 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 7
of the 13ible, even the oldest of them, is comparatively modern. It is the sur- vival of a much older Hebrew. The manifold verbal abbreviations are evidence (see Raabe's 'Zuriickfiihrung des Hebriiischen Textes des Buches Ruth auf die ursprlinglichen W ortformen '). And nothing is more evident than that the expressions…
944 wordsSECTION 8The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 8
id est, Eucharistico, et de Maria virgine, in Ruth figurata,' 1614. Schleupner's liLtle 'Explicatio,' 1632, need not be overlooked. To English students the works of Edward Topsell, Richard Bernard, and Dr. Thomas Fuller, all of the seventeenth century, will afford more interest. The first and second are conspicuous fo…
1,020 wordsSECTION 9The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 9
litornry rcnsons and purposes, to be dateless. They are, firstly, Samuel Cox's Book of Ruth, a Popular Ex_position,' and Dr. Andrew Thomson's 'Hom& Life in Ancient Palestine, or Studies in the Book of Ruth,' both of them fresh o.nd charming little volumes. A very different and much more scholarly group of works consi…
481 wordsSECTION 10The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 10
Section 2 (eh. i. 6-14). The widowed mother of the family, Naomi, resolved to return to Bethlehem. Section 3 (eh. i. 15-22). Ruth, her Moabitish daug-hter--in-law, attaches herself indissolubly to Nnomi; and the two widows, sadly reduced in circumstances, journey on foot to Bethlehem, which they reach at the commencem…
933 wordsSECTION 11The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 11
There is only the apposition, for discrimin- but the vowel of union. The name woul<l ation's sake, of one geographical name to be originnlly significant of strong religion~ Another, just as we may say, in English, son~i!llents,. pe!haps mingl_cd wjt~ strong Foston, L;1u;o/nshire, or Ale.vandria, Dum- political prmc1…
978 wordsSECTION 12The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 12
elo~ont of bodily delicacy, was afflicted with that the step taken was blamable or blamed. feolmgs of morbid despondency, it is hard "No man ought," says Lawson, "to be con- to come to the conclusion that he would demned, whether dead or alive, witb.out deliberately stereotype his most hypochon- proofs of guilt; and no…
936 wordsSECTION 13The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 13
to be recognised by the Hebrews. The which, however, are treated by the ,viiter as Moabites, however, ]h;ng within the lines a mere blank in his story. He hastens on, or "coB.Sts" of their own distinct territory, Ver. 5.-And, to make a long story short stood in quite 1t different relation. And M:achlon and Chilion d…
974 wordsSECTION 14The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 14
On the Boole of Ruth.-That the Book of Ruth ie included in the canon of Scrip- ture need excite no surprise. l. IT IS A CHAPTER FROM THE HISTORY 01!' THE HUMAN HEART. Contrast it with the Book of Judges, to which it is a supplement, and which records feats of arms, deeds of heroism, treachery, violence, and murder. He…
785 wordsSECTION 15The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 15
Vers. 1, 2.-Famine and impoveruhment. The former scene one bright and joyous. An honest Hebrew, of the tribe of Judah, living upon the land of his inheritance, with the wife of his heart and the children of his youth. Thus were formed the bonds which prosperity could not dissolve and adversity could not snap. Here …
1,005 wordsSECTION 16The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 16
Ver. 4.-Marriage. The notes of time found in this narrative are meagre. It is not easy to decide to what the "ten years" here mentioned refer. After the death of Elimelech, the two sons were spared to be the occupation and the solace o-f the widow's life. Naomi saw them grow up to manhood. Then the young men" took them…
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fathe~IY: rel11t!onship is symbolica.1 of the Divine Fatherhood, and the monarchical of th~ D1ym~ Kmg, so the earthly Judge is to be the emblem of a Divine Ruler, whose reign 1s nghteousness, and who hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world •. There !1-re ~ch_oole of thought tl1~t question ~um~n responsibi…
819 wordsSECTION 18The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 18
Y C'rl!. 4, ~--A .foreign land. "And they dwelled there about ten years." Memor- nble years I Marriages and births had given place to separation and bereavement. Elimelech the father died; so also did the two sons Mahlon and Chilion. Thus we have the sad picture of three widows. I. \VE CAN FLY FROM FAMINE, BUT NOT …
881 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 19
enjo_ycd. Their chief prerogatives were those ~rie:ntaJ countries, it lay very particu- epmtunl and morn!. TheiJ were !vis Messi- larly withm the province of mothers to make anic people. That is the key to unlock the arrangements in reference tc, their daughters. secret of the whole Old Testament Scriptures. Me.y Yahve…
980 wordsSECTION 20The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 20
(T'l~rn;i). And she kissed them, locking (,er. 13) would ye therefore wait till they them lingeringly Rnd lonngly in a farewell grew up t would ye therefore 1hut youraelvea embrace. "Kissed them." The preposition up eo a1 not to have husband ■ t nay, my to, according to the customary Hebrew idiom, daughter•; for my …
983 wordsSECTION 21The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 21
sion. The Syrinc Pcshito, strange to sny, ably burdensome to the aged widow. f',,r- gives both translntions, "I feel very bitterly haps, too, she was not without fear that her for you, and to me it is more bitter than to o":'11 burden in a foreign land, amid strangers, you." might be too heavy to be borne. There is Vo…
1,096 wordsSECTION 22The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 22
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS._ Ver. 8.-Kindness. Tidings reached Naomi that peace and plenty had returned to Judah, and she resolved to return to Bethlehem. She acknowledged the Lord's goodness, who " had visited his people in giving them bread." Doubtless she sought the Lord's guid11nce with reference to her return…
1,259 wordsSECTION 23The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 23
Ver. 8.-Benedictions. The Hebrews were fond of beuodictions. "The Lord bless thee and keep thee." " And Jacob blessed Joseph, and said, The God whirh fed me all 16 THE BOOK OF RUTH. [en. 1. G-14. my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lnde. ' 1 "'l'he Lord bless thee out of Z…
943 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 24
enys the same writer, who is depicting the drift:-" The meadow-land whereon he plnyed in the innocent delights of childhood, has now become a mar~hy waste of sand. The garden where he gathered flowers, an offering of love and devotion to his parents, is now eown with aea-salt. The church where be offered up hi~ childis…
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is nlso ihe essence of mercy, and how God's kindness even on the cross shows that ju~tice and mercy blend with ench other. III. THE LORD LOOKS FOR OUR LOVE TO RI'M IN OUR LOVE TO EACH OTHER. If we love him we shall feed his lambs, forgive our enemies, and fulfil the whole law of love. Bow many there have been who, …
858 wordsSECTION 26The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 26
fn the mythology, or primitive theology, of extent of dimly admitting that the true wor- Moo.b, wo rorul both of Baal-Peor and of ship of the heart could reach the true Gori, Chemosl.t. As to the former, see Num. xxv. even when offensive names, and forms, anrl 3, 5 ; Dout. iv. 3; Ps. cvi. 28 ; Hosea ix. symbolisms w…
1,981 wordsSECTION 27The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 27
testified against me, and the Almighty has participle of the Hiphilic verb 1/)iJ employed brought evil upon me 1 She went forth by Naomi is always translated in King "full," with husband and sons, not to speak James's version evil doer, or wicked doer, of goods. She was under the necessity of or evil, or wicked. Nao…
886 wordsSECTION 28The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 28
nble to sny in her heart, 11 Farewell, Malehorn I Farewell, Chemosh I Farewell Moab I Welcome, Israel I Welcome, Canaan I Welcome, Bethlehem I" (Fuller)'. 6. She 'Wi~nes9ed a ~oo~ an~ most noble confe~sion of love and devotedness (see vers. 16, 11). She said, Insist not on me forsaking thee ; for whither thou goest …
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without nttractions for her. Could she leave the temples, the deities, the observances of her earliest days behind ? II. THERE WERIC MANIFESTATIONS OF PIOUS CONSTANCY IN RUTH'S RESOLVES. 1. She would go with Naomi, though by an unknown route. 2. She would dwell with Naomi, though in an unknown home. 3. She would die w…
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11 heart thRt fet'ls whnt limits there are to the power of resistance within us. Test rn11~· turn in unwise h11nds into overpowering tempt11tion, Naomi knew where to stop, and Ruth remains to us a picture of heroic devotion. Orpah failed in courage but was not destitute of affection, for her farewell is accompn.nied…
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It is made up. It is not open to every solicitation. It is negative to doubt and dis- trust. This is the right way, and nought can move it. The feeble and irresolute have a restless life. They are constantly balancing expediences and advantao-es. Christ our Divine Lord set hie face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem. The h…
881 wordsSECTION 32The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 32
to buy. Sh_e is coming home "empty," as many have done since Naomi did, in 1ill the generations. Be1;1t, and sad,. and grey, her worn dress te_lls of her poverty, her garb bespeaks the widow. All ma few years; all crowded mto these few opening verses. The pathway of the past is an avenue no,v, along which she looks …
915 wordsSECTION 33The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 33
'Thy will is sweetest to me when It triumphs at my cost" 1 _ We mny sing it ; but it is hard to live it. It is glorious to believe in God at such times at all, and to bow with the pain all through our hearts, and to say, "My Ood."-W. M. S. Ver. 22; ii. 1-3.-Naomi's history may now be carried on in the light of thes…
846 wordsSECTION 34The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 34
all weapons of fence, all means of consolation, all prosperity that shall not harm ~'our soul. So true, then, is the Bible to the real facts of human life. It is not a book of gaiety, for life is real and earnest, and its associations are mortal and mut- able. It consecrates home joy, and yet reminds us that every gard…
965 wordsSECTION 35The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 35
CHAPTER II. 1-9. wjdow's husband was a strong and :mbstan- tULl y_eoman. He was of the family or clan IT is by way of introduction to the re- o~ Ehmelech. The word family is conven- maining narrative that the writer says- tionally too narrow, and the word clan too Ver. 1.-And Naomi had, on her husband's broad, to re…
812 wordsSECTION 36The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 36
cornfield by means of walls e.nd hedges. A fell, then the wholo of them belon~d to the simplo furrow, with porhaps a stone here P)-opriet~r 5seo ~arpzov's 'Collegrnm Rnb- e.nd there, or a smill collection of stones, b1111co-B1bhcum, p. 242). Happily for Ruth, sufficed, ns in Switzerland Rt the present her steps were…
997 wordsSECTION 37The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 37
J nmo9'e English version, "the Monbitish the young women who bound the reaped damsol," it ie better, with Michaelis, Wright, corn into sheaves, moved onwarcl to thR Ro.a.be, to ndh&re to tho original indefinite- place where Ruth, keeping modeRtly far in ness, "a Moabitish maiden." Note the the rear, was gleaning. He en…
1,134 wordsSECTION 38The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 38
HOMILETICS. . Vers. 1-9.--:T~ harvest-field.. R~~~ WAS EAGER TO WORK (see ver. 2). 1. Work 1s honourable; 1t 1s wholesome; mspmtmg too; the best antidote to ennui. If not imm?de~ate, nothing is so effi_cacious in gi:ing full development to man's physi,que; nothmg 1s so potent to put rems upon pass10ns, and a curb o…
1,099 wordsSECTION 39The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 39
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ch. i. 22; ii. 3.-The gleaner. Bethlehem," the house of bread," was famous for the pastures of its hills, and for the rich cornfields in its fertile valleys. The barley-harvest usually happened in April, and it was then that Naomi and Ruth returned to the village of Judah with which their …
1,125 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 40
Though Boaz had not se@ her before, he knew her story and waR evidently plea 8 er! to meet ~er. His _judgments were just, his feelings we;e appropriate, his language was considerate, bis conduct was generous. The character of Boaz commands our respect; and his treatment of Ruth, from beginning to end, was not only blam…
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EXPOSITION. grew. And :Boaz answered a.nd said to her, CHAPTER II. 10-17. It has been fully showed to me, all that Ver. 10.-RUTH did not seize the oppor- thou hast done toward thy mother-in-law tunity for bewailing the hardship of the lot since the dea.th of thy husband : and tha.t to which she had been reduced, a…
613 wordsSECTION 42The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 42
Yahveh God of Israel, to trust under whose the specification of the male workers. ' And wings thou &rt oome. Alreacly there were he prepared for her a bunch of parched stronks of light shooting athwart Boaz's com. !:)~~'. is only conjecturally rendered horizon. His very phraseology is getting "reached'' in King James's…
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Yer. 16.-And she rose to glean: and to increase her gleanings, and yet to make Boa1 charged his young men, saying, Even them e.11 appear the fruit of her own in- between the sheaves let her glean, and do dustry." •' 'l'here are persons to be met not affront her. Boaz would probably thus with in social life who, whil…
1,077 wordsSECTION 44The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 44
HOMILETICS. Vere. 10-17.-The /UJ,rvest-.field again. Let us return to the Oriental harvest-field. Harvest-fields in general are lively scenes. Emphatically so in the East, where bright weather may be calculated on with almost absolute certainty. Pleasantry and work go hand in hand. Dr. W. M. Thomson, speaking of Phili…
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" All my trust on tliee is stayed ; All my help from thee I bring ; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of thy wing." 5. Just as Boaz WllB turning to complete the supervision of his harvest-field, Ruth, with delicate acknowledgments for the past, prefers a humble request for the future. "May I continue, sir,…
1,203 wordsSECTION 46The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 46
Vers. 12, 13.-" The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee." Here we see that the character of God is gloriously revealed. It is understood by Boaz that God is a God of "rewards," and we need not fear that a mistaken notion of rewards and punishments will prevail amongst students of the Bible. God's …
1,221 wordsSECTION 47The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 47
nuncintion of the render. Michaelis, however in view to remain, dimly visible, in the (' Mosnisches Recht,' § 137), 11nd Gesenius shade. No doubt, however, she refers to ('Thesaurus,' in voc. ), instead of regarding the reapers, binders, gleaners, and other the absence of the yod as an instance of workers who might hav…
1,086 wordsSECTION 48The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 48
HOMILETICS. Vers. 18-23.-Homefrom the haroest-.field. Evening begins to draw her curtains ar?un_d the l,i1ttle city of ~ethleh~m.. Let us look on this picture, and on tliat. 1 "On !his picture. See N aom1. She 1s wistfully and longingly looking out for her daughter- m-law's return. So many a matron looks, evening a…
1,204 wordsSECTION 49The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 49
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 20.-Kindred and kindness. When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem they could scarcely have found friends there, but they found kinsmen. They do not seem, in their circumstances, to have sought assistance from relatives, or even to have brought themselves under the notice of such. St…
1,095 wordsSECTION 50The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 50
winnowing barley on the threshing-:8.oor to- N.E. slope of a long rirlgc; another deep night. Literally, "Lo, he is winnowing the valley, Wady Ta.'amirah, being on the south threshing-floor of barley." The Hebrews side, which passes down north of the Frank could idiomatically speak of " the threshing- Mountain toward t…
947 wordsSECTION 51The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 51
R.ssume the.t, with unmistaking feminine ness a stronger resolution than ho had ev,t :intuition, she saw, on the one hand, that forn1ed befot·e to make known his affection. Tloa.z was nlrcady deeply attached to Ruth, At length he slept. 'l'ho Syrie.c translntct n.nd, on the other, the.t Ruth reciprocated adds interp…
1,007 wordsSECTION 52The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 52
"I e,m Ruth, thy hnnrlmaid." Whnt she !le had been an ~cquainta~cc, and the equal s1tid in continuE1nce h11B been very generally m years, of Rt1th s father-m-law, Elimelech e,nd by Driver, among others (' HobreV:. and the impression had got hold on him that Tenses,' p. 136), misapprehended. Not by the handsome young w…
995 wordsSECTION 53The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 53
posit.ion which, as BoRz's wife, she would be K'ri, though faithfully preserving it in C'tib. required to fill. There was no levity about The partielos, standing up and semi-isolated, hor, "no nonsense." She was earnest, in- palreolithic-wiso, miglit b~ accounted for in dustrious, virtuous, strenuous, brave. There s…
985 wordsSECTION 54The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 54
copulntivo, hns occasioned difficulty. It is ancient times, it is best to avoid a specific thoroughly Hcbrnistin. But of course it nnd to employ a generic translation, Whe~ doos not hero introduce to notico something Boaz said, "Give me the wrapper," he did merely added to whnt goes before, of the not ask that it shoul…
1,074 wordsSECTION 55The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 55
HOMILETICS. Ch. iii:-Nao~'s ma_ternal sol~e. This is one of those paragraphs of Scrip• ture w~1ch require delicate handlmg, but which, for that very reason, are full of sugg~stiveness that comes home to the_ bosom. Under strange, old-fashioned forms of thmgs there was often much real virtue and true nobility of cha…
738 wordsSECTION 56The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 56
lrnd noticed that he looked on Ruth with longing eyes. 2. It is also reasonable to suppose that, fro,n some cause or other, Boaz felt himself under an unconquerable spell of reticence. The cause seems to be revealed in his use again and again of the fatherly expression, My daugliter, as applied to Ruth. He was evidentl…
1,662 wordsSECTION 57The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 57
pathy, gmlitucle, and kinclness, but who clicl not wish, at that stage of the affair to raise u11co11clitione? expect!1tion _which might never be realised. _ ' Vor. 18.-Naomi, as 1t wore, sa1cl to Ruth ancl to her own heart, Peace,peace. All 11;itl be well. All is well. The hand of the Almighty is dealing" sweetly," n…
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discipline are, especially among the worki~ class, lamentably relaxed. Christian people should, in the interests alike of patnotism and religion, do all they can to strengthen these bonds. The text affords us a beautiful example of filial obedience. I. MOTIVES to filial obedience. Gratitude should lead the child to o…
1,000 wordsSECTION 59The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 59
Vers. 12, 13.-Respectfor others' rights. The situation in which Boaz found him- self was very singular. All that he bad heard and all that he had observed of this young Moabitess had impressed him favourably. His lang1.iage and his conduct show that Ruth had made an impression upon his heart. And it was honourable to h…
1,259 wordsSECTION 60The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 60
n_nd. com_rnerci11) Ii£? increases nnd creates ever new demands; hut the agricult,,rnl h~e IH still the bus1s of nil. Xou may make new threshing-machines, but you must still lrnve bread. It_ m(ly he wmnowed by steam or hand, but it must be winnowed. A ple(lsant Eastern sight; work done in the cool of the evening-" to-…
1,124 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.