The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 64

sion, "the wholo estate of Elimelech, ancl tho peculiar, ringing changes on the peculiar and whole estnto of Chilion nnd Mnchlon," there remarkable term that occurs both in eh. ii. is n. kind of legnl pnrticularity. There was 1 and in eh. iii. 11. The expression is of com·so but one estftte, but there was a S~p-i1l:1P,. The people rneanb, "Act thou succession in the proprietorship. Ver. 10.-And likewise Ruth the Moab- the part of a strong, substantial, worthy ltess, wife of Machlon, have I acquired to man." They added, in a kind of enthusi- myself to wife, to establish the name of the itstic exclamation, Proclaim thy name in deceased upon his inheritance, so that the Bethlehem. They had, however, no refo1·- name of the deoeaeed may not be cut off ence to any verbal proclamation, or tribute from among his brethreh, and from the gate of self-applause. The spirit of ideality had of his place : ye are witnesses this day. seized them. They meant, "Act the noble This, to Boaz, would be by far the most part-the part that will with<)Ut voice pro- delightful part of the day's proceedings. claim in Bethlehem its own intrinsic noble- His heart would swell with manly pride and ness." devout gratitude when he realised, amid all Ver. 12.-Alld may thy house be as the the cumbrous technicalities of old Hebrew house of Phe.rez, whom Tamar be.re to law, that Ruth was his. And he would re- Judah, (springing) from the seed which joice all the more, as, in virtue of her con- Yahveh will give to thee of this young nection with Machlon and Elimelech, both of woman! Pharez's descendants, the Phar- their names would still be encircled with zites, were particularly numerous, and hence honour, and might, by the blessing of Yah- the good wishes of Boaz's fellow-townsmen veh, be linked on distinguishingly and (see Nnm. xxvL 20, 21). lovingly to future generations. Note the Ver. 13.-And Boaz took Ruth, and she expression, "that the name of the deceased became to him his wife; and he went in to may not be cut off from among his brethren, her, and Yahveh gave her conception, and and from the gate of hu place." The she bore e. son. people who assembled at the gate might on Ver. 14.-And the women said to Naomi, some future day be able to say, "This boy Blessed be Ye.hveh, who has giveu thee a is the heir of Machlon and Elimelech, who kinsman this day! May his name become once migrated to Moab." famous in Israel. Of course it is Ruth's Ver. 11.-And all the people who were in son who is the kinsman referred to, the the gateway, and the elders, ea.id, Wit- nearest kinsman, still nearer than Boaz. nesses! May Yahveh grant that the wife The kinsman was given, said the women, who has come into thy houae may be as "this day," the day when the child was Rachel and Leah, who built, the two of born. The expression which we have ren- them, the house of Israel! The people of dered, "who has given thee a kinsman," is, the city in general, and the venerable elders literally, "who has not caused to fail to thee in particular, were pleased with every step e. kinsman." The sympathetic women who that Boaz had taken. They felt that he had had gathered together in Boaz's house were acted a truly honourable part, at once in sanguine, or at least enthnsie.stically desirous, reference to Naomi, and to Ruth, and to the that e. son so auspiciously given, after most nee.rest kinsman, and likewise in reference peculiar antecedents, would yet become a to themselves as the representatives of the famous name in Israel Canon Cook supposes general population. Blessings rose up within that the kinsman referred to by the womeu their hearts, ascended into heaven, and came was not the child, but his father, Boaz down----<:harged with something Divine o.s (' Speaker's Commentary, in loc.). Yet it is well as something human and humane-in obvious that the kinsman specified was the showers upon his head, and upon the head one who, as they said, had been given, or of his bride. When they prayed that the had not been caused to fail, " that day." woman who was the choice of their fellow- He was, moreover, the one of whom they citizen's heart should be as Rachel and went on to say, "May his name becomo Leah, they simply gave expression to the famous in Israel, and may he be to thee a intensest desire that Israelites could cherish restorer of life, and for the support of thine in reference to an esteemed sister. When old age," &c. Dr. Cook's objections are they spoke of Rachel and Leah-the mothers founded on a too narrow view of the func- of Israel-as "building up the house of tions devolving on, and of the privileges Israel," they first of oll compared the accruing to, a goel. people to e. household, and then they passed Ver. 15.-And may he be to thee a re- over from the idea of a household to the storer of life, and for the support of thine idea of a house o.s containing the house- old age: for thy daughter - in - law, who hold. They added, more particularly in loved thee, hath borne him, and she is reference to Boaz himself, Do thou manfully better to thee than seven sons. The nll.Illber in Ephrata.h. The expression is somewhat seven suggested 11n ide11 of fulness, com•  THE BOOK OF RUTH. [CH. lV. 1-22.