Digital Logos Edition
The Book of Ruth contains one of the Bible’s best-known and most-loved stories. This major commentary by Robert L. Hubbard shows how the author of Ruth used, with great literary artistry, the story of Ruth and Naomi to convey important theological themes.
In his introduction, Hubbard discusses issues of text, canonicity, literary criticism, authorship and date, purpose, setting, genre, legal background, and themes and theology and concludes with an outline of the book and a thorough bibliography. The commentary proper is based on Hubbard’s own fresh translation and is accented by copious footnotes on textual, philological, and literary matters.
Gleaning the best from recent research on Ruth, Hubbard gives the story’s rich literary, grammatical, and theological dimensions a careful, rigorous treatment. He allows for the possibility that the anonymous author was a woman and argues that the narrative itself aims to counter opposition to the Davidic monarchy in Israel and Judah during Solomon’s reign. Throughout, Hubbard’s sensitivity to the literary genius of Ruth’s author and his coherent explication of the outworking of the book’s theological themes make this volume an invaluable tool for anyone desiring to explore the beautiful story of Ruth in depth.
With Logos, the NICOT will integrate into the Passage Guide. Whenever you enter your passage and click go, results from the NICOT will appear on the text you’re studying. This gives you instant access to exactly what you’re looking for—in far less time than it would take you to walk over to the bookshelf and begin flipping through a print volume, let alone find the information you need.
“The dominant theme is God’s gracious rescue of Elimelech’s family from extinction by provision of an heir.” (Page 39)
“An ancient town, its name (bêṯ leḥem, lit. ‘house of bread’) was well earned: wheat, barley, olives, almonds, and grapes grew plentifully in the area.12 How ironic that the ‘house of bread’ failed to feed this family!” (Page 85)
“Certainly, given the man’s situation, one cannot overlook the irony of this name: that one whose ‘god is king’ must flee that king’s territory because of famine. Are we thus to follow the story asking, Where is God in all this?” (Page 88)
“Ruth’s renunciation foreshadows Jesus’ teaching: to be his disciple requires one to renounce all family ties for the sake of the kingdom of God (Matt. 8:21; 10:37; 19:29).” (Page 118)
“Her choice only highlights how extraordinary was Ruth’s conduct. That is the narrator’s point: Orpah did the sensible, expected thing, Ruth the extraordinary and unexpected.17 Thus, Ruth models an adventurous faith, one willing to abandon the apparently sensible and venture into unknown territory. Whatever her motives—deep affection, a sense of loyalty, misguided idealism—she sacrificed her destiny to ‘cling to’ an aged, hopeless mother-in-law. One may understand Orpah; one must emulate Ruth.” (Pages 115–116)
It is safe to say that this will remain, for some considerable time to come, one of the most useful and enlightening commentaries available on the lovely little book of Ruth.
This commentary is a pleasure to work with. . . . Hubbard gives clarity to this beautiful portion of God’s word, and by so doing strengthens the faith of its user.
—Vox Reformata
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1/30/2023
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