Jewish commentary on the book of ruth

It is set in the time of the judges not the best ones, if we. We must not be weary of welldoing, because in due season we shall reap. Appealing to scholars and laypersons alike, jpss bible commentary on the book of ruth follows a similar pattern to the volumes dealing with jonah, esther, and ecclesiastes published. The book of ruth, the second of the tanakhs five scrolls to be read on shavuot, turns on at. It celebrates the loyalty and reward of a young moabite widow ruth who chooses to follow her israelite motherinlaw naomi back to bethlehem after naomi was bereaved of her own husband and two sons. Naomis plight shapes the narrative, and her plan brings it to resolution.

The book of ruth, which is poetically idyllic in character, although the narrative is in the form of prose, contains an episode from the period of the judges. Jewish bible commentaries merrimack valley havurah. While the books of ruth and esther each focus on a heroine, they depict very different pictures of jewish life. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. Ruths son oved is the father of yishai, the father of david. Likewise, boazs response signifies that his thoughts were consistent with hers. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ.

The jewish publication societys highly acclaimed bible commentary series provides a critical linebyline commentary of the biblical text, which is presented in its original hebrew, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, as well as the jps english translation the moving story of ruth, with its themes of loyalty, loving kindness hesed, and redemption, is one. Jun 12, 2005 the book of ruth, the second of the tanakhs five scrolls to be read on shavuot, turns on at least one of these mandated forms of charity. And a certain man of bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. Ruth is the ancestor of king david, and consequently the matriarch of the messianic line. Let us work the works of him that sent us, while it is day. The book of leviticus comes to life here, with its injunctions to leave part of the harvest for the needy, and with all of its concern and compassion for the underprivileged within the society. It has been called the most beautiful short story ever. May 14, 2002 see the commentary of the gaon of vilna on the book of ruth. The book of ruth does not mention that boaz had a wife and children. The book of ruth, the second of the tanakhs five scrolls to be read on shavuot, turns on at least one of these mandated forms of charity. Residing in seattle, washington, her days are spent between multitasking illustrations and being a mom. She did not make an excuse to sit still, or go home, till the evening.

For this reason it is placed in the septuagint after the book of judges. Ruth s name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of historical fiction set in the time of the judges. Broch book of ruth, as reflected in rabbinic literature new york, philipp feldheim, 1975. Ruth, esther and judith, israel drazin, gefen publishing. The book of ruth provides a contrast to the last two narratives in the book of judges. Ruth is a moabite woman who marries a judean immigrant named mahlon 1. There elimelech died, and the two sons married, mahlon taking ruth as his wife, and chilion taking ophraboth women of moab. When providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. Background of the book of ruth most conservative authorities accept samuel as the probable author of ruth. The chaldee paraphrase thus relates the debate between naomi and ruth. Ruth deserves to become part of the jewish royal family which will eventually produce the messiah, and be an eternal light for the jewish people and the world.

Naomi said, we are commanded to keep sabbaths and good days, on which we may not travel above 2000 cubitsa sabbathdays journey. From a christian point of view, the first two explicit old testament references to king david are in this book, and the way in which ruth, as a gentile woman, gets incorporated into israel. She took care not to lose time, for she gleaned until evening. Both the torah, which was given on shavuot, and ruth are all about kindness and generosity hesed. Events in this book occur during the time of the judges in israel ruth 1. The book of ruth is one of two in the hebrew bible that bears a womans name the other is esther. We, who were all present as a nation at mount sinai, who experienced the revelation of god and became jews by nature of the overwhelming force of that revelation, have much to learn from ruth, who converted on her own and whose whole life was. Anyone reading the story of ruth is immediately struck by the strength of her dedication to her mother in law, naomi. Ruths kindness as noted in the book of ruth by boaz is seen in the jewish tradition as in rare contradistinction to the peoples of moab where ruth comes from and amon in general, who were noted by the torah for their distinct lack of kindness. This list is adapted from the jps commentary on ruth, by tikva frymerkensky and tamara cohn eskenazi. Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, for i will be a proselyte. She lived long enough to see her greatgrandson david, who became the l. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ruth in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Jan 03, 2016 rabbi matalon delivers an informative introduction to the book of ruth, based on the commentary of the gaon from vilna.

Among historical narratives in scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty and dramatic effectiveness an exquisitely wrought jewel of hebrew narrative art. Rabbi david gedzelman explores the book of ruth with an eye. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. In addition, ruths bold proposal to boaz as her kinsman redeemer ruth 3 indicates that she no longer saw herself as a foreigner, but as one subject to the jewish laws and traditions. Ruth s kindness as noted in the book of ruth by boaz is seen in the jewish tradition as in rare contradistinction to the peoples of moab where ruth comes from and amon in general, who were noted by the torah for their distinct lack of kindness. According to a rabbinical tradition, boaz was a nephew of elimelech. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. Elimelech, a man of bethlehemjudah, with his wife, naomi, and his two sons, mahlon and chilion, went in time of famine and sojourned in the land of moab. Ruths joining naomi is seen by the rabbis, in different texts, as the process of full.

Jewish sources offer six explanations for the custom of reading the book of ruth on shavuot, the festival commemorating the giving of the torah at sinai. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. Boaz goes beyond obligation to show kindness to ruth and naomi. The time of year is early spring, the beginning of the barley harvest ruth 1. She was dissatisfied with the idolworship of her own people, and when the opportunity arose, she gladly gave up the privileges of royalty in her land and accepted a life of poverty among people she admired. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Why we read the book of ruth on shavuot my jewish learning. Ruth, naomi and boaz all occupy the stage in turn, and gods. An easytoread english rendition of the book of ruth. The text indicates the direct lineage of king david. Naomis plight shapes the narrative, and her plan brings it. Ruth presents a very different view of that era, in which people lead peaceful lives and help one another.

The book of ruth is read on shavuot, the holiday celebrating the giving of the torah on mount sinai. The book of ruth abbreviated rth is included in the third division, or the writings ketuvim. Read the full text of the book of ruth in hebrew and english on sefaria. Uncover his feet remove the clothes which are upon his feet. Who is this woman, special enough to have an entire book in the bible named for her, which we read on shavuot, the epic day on which the torah was given to the jewish people. This commentary by tamara cohn eskenazi and tikva frymerkensky is an important addition to the extant scholarship on this biblical book. Boaz commonly taken to mean, strength is in him compare 1 kings 7. But the hebrew word is not the same as that rendered kinsman in ruth 2. Ruths name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old. Both ruth and naomi, her motherinlaw, have returned to israel from moab widowed and forlorn. Are there any miracles in the books of esther and ruth. Ruth 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.

Though the story takes its name from the younger woman, the older is the dominant character. While quite obvious at first glance, this theme does present a major difficulty on closer examination. Ruth offers herself to boaz and encourages him to become her redeemer. Rabbi matalon delivers an informative introduction to the book of ruth, based on the commentary of the gaon from vilna. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. See the full text of the book of ruth in hebrew and english with rashis commentary. Whereas there are few traditional commentaries on jonah, we are fortunate to. The book of ruth is a vignette of the land of israel a few hundred years after the. And david, as you know, was the youngest son of jesse. Introduction to ruth as a book of chesed the hebrew nerd. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Posted on june 12, 2005 5765 main commentary holidays.

Ruth, the newest in the jps bible commentary series, is a magnificent achievement. From alienation to monarchy maggid studies in tanakh yael ziegler, koren, 2015. The latest in the jps bible commentary series, 2011 national jewish book award winner, barbara dobkin award in womens studies the moving story of ruth, with its themes of loyalty, loving kindness hesed, and redemption, is one of the great narratives of the bible. David, daniel, hananiah, mishael, azariah, and the messiah. Had ruth acted in any respect that in those days was judged indecent or immodest, it is most likely she would have highly displeased such a grave. The book of ruth, which appears in the third section of the hebrew bible, ktuvim, writings, is a beautiful folktale written in four short chapters.

It has been called the most beautiful short story ever written. Shavuot commemorates the acceptance of the torah by the jewish people, and the book of ruth describes the acceptance of the torah by a single individual through an act of conversion. The book of ruth also functions liturgically, as it is read during the jewish holiday of shavuot weeks. Sefira ross is a freelance designer and illustrator whose original creations grace many pages. In traditional settings, the book of ruth is read on the second day of shavuot. Jewish law assigns this book to the festival of shavuot for various reasons. Ruth was a moabite princess of very fine character, who became the. It is set in the time of the judges not the best ones, if we assign it to the period of gideon and samson and it attempts to define the rights of widows and aliens within a society fallen upon hard times. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther.

The much beloved story of ruth is told with a consummate skill that most likely reflects a long process of polishing through repeated retellings. Ruths name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of historical fiction set in the time of the judges. Jewish traditions say that the six measures of barley given as a gift to ruth were a sign of six pious men who would descend from her, endowed with six spiritual gifts. Lessons from the book of ruth jewish theological seminary. The book of ruth, which appears in the third section of the hebrew bible, ktuvim, writings, is a. The impression one gains from the end of judges is that of a nation in chaos, with no moral compass or sense of right and wrong. Upon his death she becomes a childless widow who chooses to accompany her motherinlaw, naomi, to judah. Rediscovering judaism ruth wisse, commentary magazine. She was a moabite princess who converted to judaism in the 10th century. Because they the peoples of amon and moab did not greet you with bread and water on.

Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post. According to the talmud jewish tradition, the prophet samuel wrote the book of ruth. The book of ruth summary ruth was a moabite princess of very fine character, who became the greatgrandmother of king david. The jps bible commentary ruth, commentary by tamara cohn eskenazi and tikva frymerkensky, jewish publication society, 2011, 178 pp. Ruth depicts the struggles of naomi and ruth for survival in a patriarchal environment. For ruth and boaz had a son named obed, who became the father of jesse. The text itself says nothing of the author, but whoever wrote it was a skilled storyteller. As if in answer, we have the recently published first book of allen hoffman, a collection of short stories named for the longest of them, kagans superfecta. The book of ruth is a hebrew short story, told with consummate skill.