HOW UNDER ELI'S GOVERNMENT OF THE ISRAELITES BOOZ MARRIED RUTH, FROM WHOM CAME OBED THE GRANDFATHER OF DAVID. FJAJ 5.98
1. NOW after the death of Samson, Eli the high priest was governor of
the Israelites
Under him, when the country was afflicted with a famine,
Elimelech of Bethlehem, which is a city of the tribe of Judah, being not
able to support his family under so sore a distress, took with him Naomi
his wife, and the children that were born to him by her, Chillon and Mahlon,
and removed his habitation into the land of Moab; and upon the happy prosperity
of his affairs there, he took for his sons wives of the Moabites, Orpah
for Chillon, and Ruth for Mahlon
But in the compass of ten years, both
Elimelech, and a little while after him, the sons, died; and Naomi being
very uneasy at these accidents, and not being able to bear her lonesome
condition, now those that were dearest to her were dead, on whose account
it was that she had gone away from her own country, she returned to it
again, for she had been informed it was now in a flourishing condition.
However, her daughters-in-law were not able to think of parting with her;
and when they had a mind to go out of the country with her, she could not
dissuade them from it; but when they insisted upon it, she wished them
a more happy wedlock than they had with her sons, and that they might have
prosperity in other respects also; and seeing her own affairs were so low,
she exhorted them to stay where they were, and not to think of leaving
their own country, and partaking with her of that uncertainty under which
she must return
Accordingly Orpah staid behind; but she took Ruth along
with her, as not to be persuaded to stay behind her, but would take her
fortune with her, whatsoever it should prove. FJAJ 5.99
2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz, who
was near of kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when Naomi was so called
by her fellow citizens, according to her true name, she said, "You
might more truly call me Mara." Now Naomi signifies in the
Hebrew tongue happiness, and Mara, sorrow
It was now reaping
thee; and Ruth, by the leave of her mother-in-law, went out to glean, that
they might get a stock of corn for their food
Now it happened that she
came into Booz's field; and after some thee Booz came thither, and when
he saw the damsel, he inquired of his servant that was set over the reapers
concerning the girl
The servant had a little before inquired about all
her circumstances, and told them to his master, who kindly embraced her,
both on account of her affection to her mother-in-law, and her remembrance
of that son of hers to whom she had been married, and wished that she might
experience a prosperous condition; so he desired her not to glean, but
to reap what she was able, and gave her leave to carry it home
He also
gave it in charge to that servant who was over the reapers, not to hinder
her when she took it away, and bade him give her her dinner, and make her
drink when he did the like to the reapers
Now what corn Ruth received
of him she kept for her mother-in-law, and came to her in the evening,
and brought the ears of corn with her; and Naomi had kept for her a part
of such food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon her
Ruth also
told her mother-in-law what Booz had said to her; and when the other had
informed her that he was near of kin to them, and perhaps was so pious
a man as to make some provision for them, she went out again on the days
following, to gather the gleanings with Booz's maidservants. FJAJ 5.100
3. It was not many days before Booz, after the barley was winnowed,
slept in his thrashing-floor
When Naomi was informed of this circumstance
she contrived it so that Ruth should lie down by him, for she thought it
might be for their advantage that he should discourse with the girl
Accordingly
she sent the damsel to sleep at his feet; who went as she bade her, for
she did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any command
of her mother-in-law
And at first she lay concealed from Booz, as he was
fast asleep; but when he awaked about midnight, and perceived a woman lying
by him, he asked who she was; - and when she told him her name, and desired
that he whom she owned for her lord would excuse her, he then said no more;
but in the morning, before the servants began to set about their work,
he awaked her, and bid her take as much barley as she was able to carry,
and go to her mother-in-law before any body there should see that she had
lain down by him, because it was but prudent to avoid any reproach that
might arise on that account, especially when there had been nothing done
that was ill
But as to the main point she aimed at, the matter should
rest here, - "He that is nearer of kin than I am, shall be asked whether
he wants to take thee to wife: if he says he does, thou shalt follow him;
but if he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law." FJAJ 5.101
4. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were very glad
of it, out of the hope they had that Booz would make provision for them.
Now about noon Booz went down into the city, and gathered the senate together,
and when he had sent for Ruth, he called for her kinsman also; and when
he was come, he said, "Dost not thou retain the inheritance of Elimelech
and his sons?" He confessed that he did retain it, and that he did
as he was permitted to do by the laws, because he was their nearest kinsman.
Then said Booz, "Thou must not remember the laws by halves, but do
every thing according to them; for the wife of Mahlon is come hither, whom
thou must marry, according to the law, in case thou wilt retain their fields."
So the man yielded up both the field and the wife to Booz, who was himself
of kin to those that were dead, as alleging that he had a wife already,
and children also; so Booz called the senate to witness, and bid the woman
to loose his shoe, and spit in his face, according to the law; and when
this was done, Booz married Ruth, and they had a son within a year's time.
Naomi was herself a nurse to this child; and by the advice of the women,
called him Obed, as being to be brought up in order to be subservient
to her in her old age, for Obed in the Hebrew dialect signifies a servant.
The son of Obed was Jesse, and David was his son, who was king, and
left his dominions to his sons for one and twenty generations
I was therefore
obliged to relate this history of Ruth, because I had a mind to demonstrate
the power of God, who, without difficulty, can raise those that are of
ordinary parentage to dignity and splendor, to which he advanced David,
though he were born of such mean parents. FJAJ 5.102