Ruth 4:12

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Ver. 12. And let thy house be like the house of Pharez.] That breach maker, as the midwife called him, because he would needs be born before his brother, and carried away the first birthright: and afterwards became happy in a numerous and honourable posterity, though he were basely begotten, and that in incest also. Genesis 38:15 ; Genesis 38:18 ; Gen 38:29 See Trapp on " Mat 1:3 " This prayer of the people for Boaz and Ruth God graciously heard and granted: for they: had children, and wealth, and honour: of them came many and mighty kings, yea, "Messiah the Prince," "who is over all, God blessed for ever, Amen." Rom 9:5

Of the seed which the Lord shall give thee.] Children are called seed: as if the parents were but the husk only. Here I cannot but insert what I read in the Life of Luther, a that he being present at the marriage of Philip, duke of Pomerania, with Mary, daughter to the elector of Saxony, prayed heartily for a blessing thereupon; and taking Philip by the hand, said, The Lord God be with you, and keep your posterity from failing. But his wife continuing barren four years, all his male stock was like to be extinct. Yet at length, by God's blessing, according to Luther's prayer, he had seven sons by her, which wonderfully enlarged that noble family.

a Luth. Life, by Mr Clark.