_Gate, where justice was administered. --- Calling. Hebrew Ploni Almoni. (Calmet) --- Protestant, " Ho! such a one." (Haydock) --- This form of speech is used concerning a person whose name we know not, or will not mention, 1 Kings xxi. 2. (Calmet) --- The name of this man is buried in eternal obliv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Here, as witnesses, not as judges, ver. 9. (Calmet) --- This number was requisite in matters of consequence. (Grotius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will sell. Some Latin copies read, "sells, or has sold." But the sequel shews that she was only now disposed to do it. But what right had Noemi or Ruth to the land, since women could not inherit? The latter might indeed retain her title, as long as she continued unmarried. But Noemi only acted in h... [ Continue Reading ]
_This. Hebrew, "I thought to uncover thy ear," or to admonish thee. Virgil (frag.) uses a similar expression, Mors aurem vellens, vivite, ait, venio: "Death pulls the ear; live now, he says, I come." --- Not. Hebrew printed erroneously, "But if he will not redeem it." (Kennicott)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_When. Hebrew again corruptly, "On the day thou buyest the land of the hand of Noemi, I will also buy it of Ruth," &c. It ought to be, conformably to some manuscripts and the ancient versions, "thou must also take Ruth," ver. 10. (Capel, p. 144, and 362.) (Kennicott) (Haydock) --- We see here the ob... [ Continue Reading ]
_Family. Hebrew, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I spoil my own inheritance." He was afraid of having too many children, and sensible that the first son that should be born of the proposed marriage, would not be counted as his. (Haydock) --- The miserable Onan had the same pretext, Genesis xxxv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. Hebrew, "and this was the testimony in Israel." The ceremony here specified is very different from that which the law prescribed, Deuteronomy xxv. 7. But Josephus says, that they complied with all the regulations of the law, and that Ruth was present on this occasion. (Calmet) --- Perhaps t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chelion. As Orpha, his widow, took no care to comply with the law, all his possessions devolved on his brother's posterity. (Menochius) --- It was presumed that she would marry some Moabite. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moabitess. The sons of Elimelech were excused in taking such women to wife, on account of necessity, and to avoid the danger of incontinence, which is a greater evil. Booz was under another sort of necessity, and was bound to comply with the law; (Calmet) so that he was guilty of no sin, as Beza wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel, by a numerous posterity. --- That she. Hebrew, "mayst thou acquire riches," &c. (Calmet). --- Protestant, "do thou (Booz) worthily in," &c. (Haydock). --- Ephrata: another name of Bethlehem. (Challoner)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phares. His family was chief among the five, descended from Juda. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Successor. Hebrew, "redeemer, that his (Booz, or the Lord's) name," &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Comfort. Hebrew, "to make thy soul revive."_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IV.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Obed; "serving," to comfort the old age of Noemi, (ver. 15,) who gave him this' name. (Serarius, q. 14,) at the suggestion of her neighbours. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_These. Hence the design of the sacred writer becomes evident, (Calmet) to shew the genealogy of David, from whom Christ sprang, as it had been foretold. See Genesis xlix., and Matthew i.; &c. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aram. He is called Ram in Hebrew and 1 Paralipomenon ii. 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrew and Chaldean, Salma, (Haydock) though we read Salmon in the following verse. (Calmet) --- This is one argument adduced by Houbigant, to shew that this genealogy is now imperfect. He concludes that Salma ought to be admitted, as well as Salmon; and, as the reason for calling the first son of R... [ Continue Reading ]
David, the king, whom Samuel crowned, though he did not live to see him in the full enjoyment of his power, (Haydock) as he died before Saul. (Calmet) --- Thus the greatest personages have people of mean condition among their ancestors, that none may be too much elated on account of their high birth... [ Continue Reading ]