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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Five
Chapter 9
How Under Eli's Government Of The Israelites
Booz Married Ruth, From Whom Came Obed The Grandfather Of David
1. Now after the death of Samson, Eli the high priest was
governor of the Israelites. Under him, when the country was
afflicted with a famine, Elimelech of Bethlehem, which is a city
of the tribe of Judah, being not able to support his family
under so sore a distress, took with him Naomi his wife, and the
children that were born to him by her, Chillon and Mahlon, and
removed his habitation into the land of Moab; and upon the happy
prosperity of his affairs there, he took for his sons wives of
the Moabites, Orpah for Chillon, and Ruth for Mahlon. But in the
compass of ten years, both Elimelech, and a little while after
him, the sons, died; and Naomi being very uneasy at these
accidents, and not being able to bear her lonesome condition,
now those that were dearest to her were dead, on whose account
it was that she had gone away from her own country, she returned
to it again, for she had been informed it was now in a
flourishing condition. However, her daughters-in-law were not
able to think of parting with her; and when they had a mind to
go out of the country with her, she could not dissuade them from
it; but when they insisted upon it, she wished them a more happy
wedlock than they had with her sons, and that they might have
prosperity in other respects also; and seeing her own affairs
were so low, she exhorted them to stay where they were, and not
to think of leaving their own country, and partaking with her of
that uncertainty under which she must return. Accordingly Orpah
staid behind; but she took Ruth along with her, as not to be
persuaded to stay behind her, but would take her fortune with
her, whatsoever it should prove.
2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz,
who was near of kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when
Naomi was so called by her fellow citizens, according to her
true name, she said, "You might more truly call me Mara." Now
Naomi signifies in the Hebrew tongue happiness, and Mara,
sorrow. It was now reaping thee; and Ruth, by the leave of her
mother-in-law, went out to glean, that they might get a stock of
corn for their food. Now it happened that she came into Booz's
field; and after some thee Booz came thither, and when he saw
the damsel, he inquired of his servant that was set over the
reapers concerning the girl. The servant had a little before
inquired about all her circumstances, and told them to his
master, who kindly embraced her, both on account of her
affection to her mother-in-law, and her remembrance of that son
of hers to whom she had been married, and wished that she might
experience a prosperous condition; so he desired her not to
glean, but to reap what she was able, and gave her leave to
carry it home. He also gave it in charge to that servant who was
over the reapers, not to hinder her when she took it away, and
bade him give her her dinner, and make her drink when he did the
like to the reapers. Now what corn Ruth received of him she kept
for her mother-in-law, and came to her in the evening, and
brought the ears of corn with her; and Naomi had kept for her a
part of such food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon
her. Ruth also told her mother-in-law what Booz had said to her;
and when the other had informed her that he was near of kin to
them, and perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision
for them, she went out again on the days following, to gather
the gleanings with Booz's maidservants.
3. It was not many days before Booz, after the barley was
winnowed, slept in his thrashing-floor. When Naomi was informed
of this circumstance she contrived it so that Ruth should lie
down by him, for she thought it might be for their advantage
that he should discourse with the girl. Accordingly she sent the
damsel to sleep at his feet; who went as she bade her, for she
did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any
command of her mother-in-law. And at first she lay concealed
from Booz, as he was fast asleep; but when he awaked about
midnight, and perceived a woman lying by him, he asked who she
was; and when she told him her name, and desired that he whom
she owned for her lord would excuse her, he then said no more;
but in the morning, before the servants began to set about their
work, he awaked her, and bid her take as much barley as she was
able to carry, and go to her mother-in-law before any body there
should see that she had lain down by him, because it was but
prudent to avoid any reproach that might arise on that account,
especially when there had been nothing done that was ill. But as
to the main point she aimed at, the matter should rest here, "He
that is nearer of kin than I am, shall be asked whether he wants
to take thee to wife: if he says he does, thou shalt follow him;
but if he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law."
4. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were
very glad of it, out of the hope they had that Booz would make
provision for them. Now about noon Booz went down into the city,
and gathered the senate together, and when he had sent for Ruth,
he called for her kinsman also; and when he was come, he said,
"Dost not thou retain the inheritance of Elimelech and his
sons?" He confessed that he did retain it, and that he did as he
was permitted to do by the laws, because he was their nearest
kinsman. Then said Booz, "Thou must not remember the laws by
halves, but do every thing according to them; for the wife of
Mahlon is come hither, whom thou must marry, according to the
law, in case thou wilt retain their fields." So the man yielded
up both the field and the wife to Booz, who was himself of kin
to those that were dead, as alleging that he had a wife already,
and children also; so Booz called the senate to witness, and bid
the woman to loose his shoe, and spit in his face, according to
the law; and when this was done, Booz married Ruth, and they had
a son within a year's time. Naomi was herself a nurse to this
child; and by the advice of the women, called him Obed, as being
to be brought up in order to be subservient to her in her old
age, for Obed in the Hebrew dialect signifies a servant. The son
of Obed was Jesse, and David was his son, who was king, and left
his dominions to his sons for one and twenty generations. I was
therefore obliged to relate this history of Ruth, because I had
a mind to demonstrate the power of God, who, without difficulty,
can raise those that are of ordinary parentage to dignity and
splendor, to which he advanced David, though he were born of
such mean parents.
Continue on to
Book
Five,
Chapter 10,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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