Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1
RVTHS Recompence: OR, A COMMENTARIE VPONUPON THE BOOKE OF RVTH.
THe booke of RVTH.] This is the title of this part of Scripture: and hereby is ſhewed of whom it chiefly intreateth, euen of Ruth, the vertuous and godly young woman and widow, a Heathen and Idolater by her countrey and birth, but by the Lords call a gracious Saint at length, a mother in Iſrael, and one of whom Chriſt came. The titles of the Bookes of holy Writ, ſhew either the principall matter thereof, as Geneſis, Exodus, Leuiticus, Numbers, Pſalmes, Prouerbs, and many other, or who were the Pen-men, as the Bookes of Samuel, Eſdras, or what perſon chiefely is there ſpoken of, as Iob, Eſter, Nehemiah, and Ruth here; who though but a woman, and of that weake ſexe, yet being truly religious, ſee how the Lord doth her honour to all poſterities: a ſingular incouragement vntounto vertue and godlineſſe.
Who penned this, is not certaine: but certaine it is by the Genealogie, Chap. 4. 18, 22. that the Scribe liued in Dauids time, and therefore is it held to be Samuels by ſome. But it is not neceſſary euer to know the Penners of eueryevery booke of Scripture, eſpecially of Hiſtoricall and Dogmaticall, whoſe truth and authority depend not vponupon the writer or ſpeaker, as Propheticall bookes doe, but vponupon the veritie of the things ſpoken, and written. The Scribes name is concealed, the Lords pleaſure was not to hauehave it mentioned, and therefore after hidden things wee will not make further enquirie, eſpecially in a matter of no more moment.
The booke is diuided into foure Chapters, being, as it were, the parts of the booke: the firſt ſheweth Ruths iournying to Iudah, with the occaſions thereto, and cauſes thereof: the ſecond, her entertainement, and her carriage and paines there: the third, her contract with Boaz, a Noble man of Bethlehem, and how it was procured: and the fourth, her ſolemne marriage, with the ioyfull iſſue thereof.
CHAP. I.
THis chapter telleth vsus how Ruth came to Bethlehem, who being marryed to a mans ſonne of Iudah, in her owne countrey, for the grace of Religion in her heart, and the louelove ſhee bare to her mother in law, after the death of her husband and father in law, forſooke her people, countrey, and idolatrie, and went into the Land of Iudah, to dwell with Gods people, and came thither with her mother in law, in the beginning of Barley harueſt.