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(^321) Critics differ widely as to the exact time when the events recorded in the Book of
Ruth took place. Keil makes Boaz a contemporary of Gideon; but we have seen no
reason to depart from the account of Josephus, who lays this history in the days of Eli.
(^322) The Book of Ruth occupies an intermediate position between that of the Judges and
those of Samuel - it is a supplement to the former and an introduction to the latter. So
much "romance" has been thrown about the simple narrative of this book, as almost to
lose sight of its real purport.
(^323) The Book of Ruth numbers just eighty-five verses. In the Hebrew Bible it is placed
among the Hagiographa, for dogmatic reasons on which it is needless to enter. In
Hebrew MSS. it is among the five Megilloth "rolls" (Song, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes, and Esther). Among the Jews it is very significantly read on the feast of
weeks.
(^324) Professor Cassel in his Introduction to the Book of Ruth.
(^325) The rendering of the names by Josephus is evidently fanciful. The widely differing
translations, which we have given in the text, show the divergence of critics, who derive
the name from so very different roots.
(^326) Professor Cassel renders Ruth "the rose;" and Orpah "the hind." The Midrash makes
Ruth a daughter of king Eglon.
(^327) The Hebrew text significantly marks "they said," "call me not" (Ruth 1:20) with the
feminine gender.
(^328) Professor Cassel quotes parallel passages from Genesis to show that Shaddai means
specially the God Who gives fruitfulness and increase.
(^329) Not, as in the Authorized Version, "a kinsman of her husband's." The Rabbis make
him a nephew of Elimelech, with as little reason as they represent Naomi and Ruth
arriving just as they buried the first wife of Boaz! The derivation of the word Boaz is
matter of dispute. We still prefer that which would render the name: "in him strength."
(^330) May we ask those who doubt the early authorship of Deuteronomy, how they
account for this circumstance?
(^331) Professor Cassel has pointed out the distinction between the expression "in the
sheaves" (2:7) and "between the sheaves" (ver. 15), the former being after the reapers,
the latter among them.
(^)