The Book of Ruth (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament | NICOT)

by Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 1988

Overview

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.

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Key Features

• Verse-by-verse commentary
• In-depth discussion of textual and critical matters
• Introduction to the authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology of Ruth

Contents

Top Highlights

“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)

Praise for the Print Edition

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.

—Themelios

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

Product Details

• Title: The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Ruth
• Author: Robert L. Hubbard Jr.
• Series: New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT)
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 1989
• Pages: 331

About Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Robert L. Hubbard Jr. (PhD, Claremont Graduate School) is a professor of Biblical literature at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He also taught at Denver Seminary and served as a chaplain on active duty in the United States Navy and in the United States Naval Reserve. Dr. Hubbard is author of The Book of Ruth: New International Commentary on the Old Testament, which received the Christianity Today Critics Choice Award as the best commentary of 1989. He co-authored Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, with William Klein and Craig Blomberg, and is currently writing commentaries on Esther and Lamentations for the New International Commentary on the Old Testament, a series on which he serves as general editor.