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 * Jesse.
  1Sa 16:1  Isa 11:1 
 * David.
  1Ch 2:15  Mt 1:6  Lu 3:31 



              CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF RUTH.

 This book is evidently a supplement to the book of Judges, and
 an introduction to that of Samuel, between which it is placed
 with great propriety.  In the ancient Jewish canon, it formed a
 part of the book of Judges; but the modern Jews make it one of
 the five Megilloth, which they place towards the end of the Old
 Testament.  This book has been attributed to various authors;
 but the best founded and generally received opinion, and in
 which the Jews coincide, is that which ascribes it to the
 prophet Samuel; before whose time it could not have been
 written, as is evident from the genealogy recorded in ch.
 4:17-22.  The time in which the events detailed in this book
 happened is involved in much obscurity and uncertainty.
 Augustine refers it to the time of the regal government of the
 Hebrews; Josephus to the administration of Eli; Moldenhawer,
 after some Jewish writers, to the time of Ehud; Rabbi Kimichi,
 and other Jewish authors, to the time of Ibzan; Bps. Patrick and
 Horne to the judicature of Gideon; Lightfoot to the period
 between Ehud and Deborah; and Usher, who is followed by most
 chronologers, to the time of Shamgar.  The authenticity and
 canonical authority of this sacred book cannot be questioned;
 and the Evangelists, in describing our Saviour's descent, have
 followed its genealogical accounts.  To delineate part of this
 genealogy appears to be the principal design of the book; it had
 been foretold that the Messiah should be of the tribe of Judah,
 and it was afterwards revealed that he should be of the family
 of David; and therefore it was necessary, to prevent the least
 suspicion of fraud or design, that the history of that family
 should be written before these prophecies were revealed.  And
 thus this book, these prophecies, and their accomplishment,
 serve mutually to illustrate each other.  The whole narrative is
 extremely interesting and instructive, and is written with the
 most beautiful simplicity.  The distress of Naomi; her
 affectionate concern for her daughter-in-law; the reluctant
 departure of Orpah; the dutiful attachment of Ruth; and the
 sorrowful return to Bethlehem, are very beautifully told.  The
 simplicity of manners, likewise, which is shown in the account
 of Ruth's industry and attention to Naomi; of the elegant
 charity of Boaz; and of his acknowledgement of his kindred with
 Ruth, afford a very pleasing contrast to the turbulent scenes
 described in the preceding book.  And while it exhibits, in a
 striking and affecting manner, the care of Divine Providence
 over those who sincerely fear God, and honestly aim at
 fulfilling his will, the circumstance of a Moabitess becoming an
 ancestor of the Messiah seems to have been a pre-intimation of
 the admission of the Gentiles into his church.  It must be
 remarked, that in the estimation of the Jews, it was disgraceful
 to David to have derived his birth from a Moabitess; and Shimei,
 in his revilings against him, is supposed by them to have
 tauntingly reflected on his descent from Ruth.  This book,
 therefore, contains an intrinsic proof of its own verity, as it
 reveals a circumstance so little flattering to the sovereign of
 Israel; and it is scarcely necessary to appeal to its admission
 into the canon of Scripture, for a testimony of its authentic
 character.  Add to which, that the native, the amiable
 simplicity in which the story is told, is sufficient proof of
 its genuineness.  There are several sympathetic circumstances
 recorded which no forger could have invented:  there is too much
 of nature to admit any thing of art.

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