THE BOOK OF RUTH
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INTRODUCTION.
This
short book, "the idyl of David's great-grandmother," tells the charming
story of Ruth the Moabitess, who lived in the days when the Judges
ruled in Israel, a more exact fixing of the time being almost
impossible. "One of the sweetest stories in the Bible, showing that
even in the blackest period God has men and women who love and serve
Him. In Boaz we have the model rich man of his age; every act and word
shows his deep faith in God. In Ruth we have an example of modesty and
patience, coupled with a remarkable belief in the true God. In Naomi we
have a specimen of a good woman, whose religion shows itself in
fidelity to all her duties." (Sell.) "One chief purpose of the book
seems to be the tracing of the genealogy of David to the Moabitess
Ruth, whose name it bears." (Robertson.) "This information gains in
significance if we remember that the genealogy of David is at the same
time that of Jesus Christ. The story therefore goes to show how Ruth
the Moabitess, by birth an alien to Israel, was chosen to become an
ancestress of the Savior. Her reception into the communion of Israel
also testified to the fact that even in the days before Christ Gentiles
might be admitted to the kingdom of God if only they received the
promises of the covenant in true faith. - As the genealogy here
recorded ends with David's name, it is improbable that the book should
have been written before David had become a person of influence and
renown among the people of the covenant. We find an additional reason
for this assumption in chap. 4, 7, where the author explains a peculiar
custom, which had fallen into disuse in his days. - The author remains
unknown to us; but it has been suggested that David himself might well
have penned this account of a significant episode in his family
history," and the record concerning Christ's ancestors was thus
completed.
Paul E.
Kretzmann