Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 4 · Verse 2
Verſe 2. And hee tooke ten men of the Elders of the Citie, and ſaid, Sit yee downe heere. And they ſate downe.
HEre is ſet downe the Aſsiſtants in this buſineſſe: how many, what they were, whence taken, and their ſitting downe in the place of Iudgement with Boaz and the Kinſman, after that Boaz had willed them ſo to doe.
And he tooke ten men.] The Elders and people were gathered together, it may ſeeme, before vntounto the Gate: whether it was that they were eſpecially ſent for; or that they hearing that Boaz was gone vp to the Gate of the Citie, and ſo came voluntarily (as it was perhaps their manner ſo to doe, when they heard of any to goe vp to the place of Iudgement) it is not certaine; but the Elders were there, and the people alſo, verſe the 11. and of the Elders hee choſe onelyonly ten, to ſit in the place of Iudgement: why onelyonly ten is no reaſon giuen; it may be, the number was choſen according to the ten yeeres of Naomi her abſenceChap. 1. 4. in Moab, or according to the number of the ten Commandements, to put them in mind of their duety; or for what elſe, I will not further coniecture: it was a number thought fit in this caſe, for the hearing and determining of the matter. This wee note, in Boaz taking of theſe men, men of authority, that publicke cauſes are to bee handled Deut. 25. 7. Ioſ. 20. 4.before publicke perſons, and of them a competent number for the determining thereof: for therefore are ſuch appointed, publicke perſons for publicke cauſes; and by ſuch as hauehave authority to end matters, the thing in hand is more firmely eſtabliſhed: and if there hauehave beene before, or might after contention ariſe, the ſame hereby is cut off and preuented. And therefore in ſuch caſes let ſuch fit perſons and ſo many bee Iudges, as may by their authority end buſineſſes betweene one anther.
Of the Elders.] Here I will note, Firſt, what Elders were. Secondly, of whom choſen. Thirdly, of what ſort of perſons. Fourthly, why ſet ouer the people. And laſtly, why called Elders. For the firſt, Elders were men of authority, diſtinguiſhed1. King 20. 7, 8. from the people, and ioyned with others, ſo as it is ſaid, the Princes and Elders, Eſdra. 10. 8. Iudg. 8. 6, 14, 16. Iudges and Elders, Deut. 21. 2. Elders and Officers, Num. 11. 16. vnderunder this name were the chiefe in the Common-wealth comprehended, both out of Iſrael, Ioſ. 9. 11. Num. 22. 7. and in Iſrael, as in many places it fully appeareth: and2. Chro. 5. 2. Eſdra. 5. 9, 10. 1. Sam. 15. 30. 2. Sam. 3. 17. & 5. 3. and 17. 15. Exod. 4. 29 and 17. 5. and 24. 1. therefore Princes are included in Elders, Iudg. 8. 6, 14, 16. and Rulers and Elders made one, Eſdra. 5. 9, 10. and 6. 7, 8. The chiefe of the Kings houſe were called Elders, 2. Sam. 12. 17. and ſuch as in eueryevery city bare rule, Deut. 21. 3, 19, 20. for thoſe which were appointed in eueryevery city to be Iudges and Officers in Deut. 16. 18. are eueryevery where after called by the name of the Elders of the city, Deut. 21. 20. and 22. 15, 18. Thus the Lord ordeined Gouerners to rule his people. For the ſecond, they were choſen by the people, and admitted by Moſes, as himſelfe in a place witneſſeth,Deut. 1. 13. which was to them a great libertie and freedome. For the third, they were of the beſt, able and fitteſt men, thus to be qualified, firſt, to bee men ofExod. 18. 21. See Zipper. de Lege Moſ. …. 3. ca. 9. Deut. 1. 13. Eſai. 3. 4. 2. Chro. 19. 11. 2. Sam. 23. …. 2. Chro. 19. 7. Exod. 18. 21. wiſedome and vnderſtanding, and not childiſh and ſimple perſons; for that is a puniſhment vponupon the people, to hauehave ſuch ouer them. Secondly, to be good men, religious, and fearing God: for ſuch ſhould rule ouer men, as hauehave conſcience towards God, vnderunder whom, and for whoſe glory they are to rule, and with thoſe the Lord will be, 2. Chron. 19. 11. Thirdly, to be men of truth, asExod. 18. 21. Gen 42. 11. Iethro aduiſeth, that is, true men, as Ioſephs brethren call themſelues; ſuch as are that which they ſeeme to bee, not pretending one thing, and intending another, but in the courſe of iuſtice doe follow the truth of the cauſe, as the truth thereof ſhall appeare vntounto them. Fourthly, to bee menDeut. 16. 19. Prou. 1. 19. Ezech 2…. 27. 1. Sam. …. 3. hating couetouſneſſe; elſe will they take bribes, and louelove diſhoneſt gaine, and peruert iuſtice. Fifthly, to be knowne men in theſe things, Deut. 1. 13. When ſuch are ſet ouer a people, let vsus praiſe God and reioyce: where ſuch bee wanting, pray to God to ſend them: and where the contrary be, lament and bewaile the eſtate of ſuch a people. Touching the fourth, why they bee ſet ouer a people? For the praiſe of the good, and the puniſhment1. Pet. 2. 15, 14. 2. Chron. 9. 8. of the bad, and to rule in iuſtice and in iudgement, and to gouerne the people: for that we bee all of a rebellious nature, ſince the fall of Adam. Now, to gouerne well, Magiſtrates and men in authority muſt doe two things: Firſt, theyDeut. 13. 12. Iob 29. 16. Deut. 17. 4. muſt find out offences, they muſt enquire, and ſearch out the ſame diligently: for one rebellious Ionah may hazard many mens liues, and the ſinkingIonah 1. Ioſ. 7. of the ſhip; ſo one Achan may weaken a whole Armie: and therefore it is neceſſary to ſeeke them out, that ſinne may be puniſhed, and Gods wrath appeaſed. Secondly, they muſt iuſtly proceed againſt offences, and that thus: firſt, they muſt ſet Gods feare before them, as Iehoſhaphat 2. Chron. 19. 7.exhorts. Secondly, they muſt doe it in the ſpirit of courage, not fearing the face of any, thoughDeut. 1. 17. 2. Chro. 19. 11. Iob 29. 17. and 31. 34. Deut. 1. 17. and 16. 18, 19. many, though mightie. Thirdly, they muſt deale equally without reſpect of perſon, hearing the ſmall, as well as the great, not wreſting iudgement, but iudge the people with iuſt iudgement. For the laſt, why called Elders? It may be, they were choſen of the ancient of the people, or for the moſt part of ſuch: for the Hebrew word hereforeign commeth of the Verbe which ſignifieth to bee waxen old: and the Aſſembly of the Elders is called the Synedrion of the old men, by the Grecians;foreign. and of theſe is it moſt meet that Iudges and Magiſtrates be choſen: firſt, for their wiſedome and experience, though wiſedome doth not alwaiesIob 32. 9. abide with the aged. Secondly, for that ſuch giuegive counſell with more mature deliberation, and hauehave not the force of affection to ouer-ſway them as youth hath, which therefore is raſh, and giueth often ill counſell; of which Rehoboam taſted and repented. Thirdly, for the grauitie of their countenance, which giueth grace and credit to their authority, and ſo are not ſo ſubiect to contempt, as the young in yeeres be: for the hoarie head isLeuit. 19. 32. Prou. 16. 31. to bee honoured, and age is a Crowne of glory, if it be found in the way of righteouſnes. Fourthly, becauſe they hauehave a ſtrong motiue to perſwade them to vpright dealing, euen their old age and the nighneſſe of death. This made ſome Heathen to be vpright and ſtout againſt the mightie, as Solon againſt Piſistratus; and Cecilius againſt Caeſar: …t. lib. Anſeni ſit gerenda Resp. L…rt. Tul. de ſenect. Val. Max.the former ſaid, his old age made him ſo to withſtand the attempts of the Tyrant; & the latter told his friends, that his old age, and being alſo childleſſe, made him dare to ſpeake ſo roundly and freely againſt Caeſar. We ſee then what reaſon there is, that the Gouernours ſhould bee ancient men, ſuch as well might bee called Elders, not onelyonly for authority, but for their yeeres and grauitie.
Of the Citie.] To wit, of Bethlehem: for in eueryevery Citie by Gods appointmēt there were OfficersDeut. 16 18. Eſdra. 10. 14. 2. Chron. 19. 5. and Iudges, the Elders of the people: how many were in eueryevery citie is not certaine: in this, beſides Boaz and the Kinſman, were ten. And it is ſaid tenne of them, implying more. In SuccothIud. 8. were Princes and Elders threeſcore and ſeuenteene. It may ſeeme, that the number of them was either greater or leſſer, according to the populouſneſſe of the Inhabitants, and largeneſſe of the Cities: onelyonly in Ieruſalem was the great Synedrion conſiſting of the Seuentie two Elders conſtantly. In eueryevery City were Courts of iuſtice, and eueryevery matter came before thoſe Elders; as matters concerning idolatrie, rebellion, and obſtinacieDeut. 17. 3, 5. & 21. 18. & 19. 11. and 22. 21, …4. Exo. 22. Deut. 22. 14, 18 of children giuen to ryotouſneſſe; alſo murther, adulterie, theft, and iniuries offered, and ſlander; ſo matters of marriage, and ſale of land, as here in this place. The puniſhments which they inflicted, were pecuniarie ſometime, ſometimeDeut. 22. 19. and 25. 2. Leuit. 19. 20. Deut. 13. 10. & 17. 5. and 22. 21, 24. Ioſ. 7. beating and whipping, and ſometime death it ſelfe; likewiſe to this death were put inticers to idolatrie, and ſuch as committed it; alſo a young woman that ſhould play the whore in her fathers houſe; and thoſe that committed adultery; likewiſe the ſacrilegious perſon, theLeuit. 24. 14. & 21. 9. & 20 14. blaſphemer, the wizzard, and the obſtinate gluttonous and drunken ſonne, all were ſtoned. Some were to bee burnt, as the Prieſts daughter playing the whore, and the inceſtuous perſon; and this death may ſeeme to bee before the Law forDeut. 21. 22. whoredome. Some were hanged for ſome offences: but before the puniſhment was inflicted, and before ſentence was pronunced, there wasDeut. 17. 4. and 19. 15, 19. diligent enquiry of the fact, and alſo competent witneſſes to iuſtifie the ſame: for not one, but two or three witneſſes were to eſtabliſh a matter; and if any falſe witneſſes were found, that was done to them, which they had thought to hauehave done to another. Thus we ſee, how theſe Elders proceeded in iuſtice, from whom there was no appeale in any matter, but in that which was too hard, and then were the parties to goe to Ieruſalem vntounto the Prieſts, the Leuites and Iudges there, and abide that Sentence without gaine-ſaying, and that vponupon perill of their life. From the conſideration of theſe things afore deliuered, touching ſuperiority, and Courts of iuſtice eueryevery where, and ſuch a Court from which could bee no appeale; wee may obſerue; Firſt, that ſuperioritie of ſome aboue the rest, is the ordinance of God, for the well gouerning of a Common-wealth; the chiefe and beſt is that which is Monarchicall, when a King ruleth ouer the people, ſo he bee asDeu. 17. 19, 20. 1. Sā. 8. 11, 18. Moſes deſcribeth, and not as Samuel: for God ſet firſt one, euen King Moſes, as he is called ouerDeut. 33. 5. the people, and Moſes prayeth that one might be ſet ouer the people, leſt that the Iſraelites ſhould bee as Sheep without a Shepheard, yea though then there were Captaines ouer thouſands, hundreds, and tens, and the ſeuentie Elders vponupon whom the Lord had put his Spirit. Againe, we reade that the Lord ſaued his people by IudgesIud. 3. & 4. and 6. or Princes, raiſed vp to lead them & to be Iudges ouer them. Futhermore, when the Iſraelites were ſeated in Canaan, & that there were the ſeuentie two Elders, alſo in eueryevery citie Elders, yet is it ſaid, That eueryevery one did what ſeemed him good, becauſeIudg. 17 and 18. and 22. there was no King in Iſrael. Moreouer, Iſrael neuer came to bee renowned, freeing themſelues from all their Enemies, and ſubduing them which were round about them, till they had a King ouer them. Laſtly, it is the wiſedome of1. Sam. 8. 5. nations both ciuill and barbarous Heathen, beſides the Church of God, to allow of this kind of gouernment, ſuch as the Lord hath now placed ouer vsus, that ſo eueryevery man may not doe what he liſteth: and therefore are wee to reſt thankefull therewith, and praiſe the Name of our God. Secondly, that in well gouerned Common-wealths (like that of Iſrael, ordred by the wiſedome of God himſelfe) there ſhoud be many Courts of iustice, and ſo many, and ſo …re the townes and villages, that the people might hauehave ſpeedy recourſe thither to end any cauſe, which might fall out among them. In eueryeveryDeut. 16. 16. citie in Iſrael, in eueryevery Tribe and city thereof, were Courts of iuſtice. In Iudah were an hundred and twelue Cities, which was but a little Circuit, euen ſo many Courts for iuſtice and iudgement, to which the townes and villages reſorted which belonged to them, and in them, as is before noted, were all matters handled, without going any farther. This would preuent long iourneyes, and ſo great expences of ſubiects; this would ſooner bring cauſes to the hearing, and matters to an end: this were the way to hauehave ſinne more eaſily and ſooner puniſhed. The Iſraelites did not ſtay till quarter Seſsions, till Aſſiſes eueryevery halfe yeere; till which time cauſes muſt reſt, priſoners lye and dye in priſon, or elſe learn ſuch villanies there, as they will be euer the worſe for, when they be deliuered. The Iſraelites were not conſtrained to take long iourneyes eueryevery Terme to the chiefe City of their Kingdome to try matters, as wee doe, and as wee were wont to doe, euen to go much farther, to Rome from England heretofore; but all had Courts for eueryevery matter, for all offences, for controuerſies of eueryevery nature, hard at hand, and daily kept for any to hauehave acceſſe vntounto. Which I thus ſpeake of, onelyonly not to condemne vtterly our courſes, but to ſet out the politicall eſtate of the Iewes; a plat-forme of gouernment deuiſed by God himſelfe, and therefore worthy imitation of all nations, and that before any other whatſoeuer: for the wiſedome of no lawgiuer can be compared to the wiſdome of this Heauenly Lawgiuer. Thirdly, that it is meet, that ſuch a Court of iustice bee in eueryevery well ordered state, whoſe ſentence ſhould be definitiue, and with which men ſhould rest. So was it in Iſrael;Deut. 17. 11, 12 from which none might decline vponupon paine of death. This would curbe contentions and vnquiet ſpirits, which be full of moleſtations, when by their purſe they can maintaine their will, bringing cauſes from Court to Court, and about againe, onelyonly to make the weaker partie wearie, and ſo to wring from him his right, or elſe to bee vtterly vndone in following the ſute: a grieuous ſin, & that which cryeth alowd in the eares of the Lord, though Lawyers fill their purſes by ſuch deuiliſh deuices. Their money periſh with them, which make themſelues rich by ſuch iniquities.
And hee ſaid, Sit yee downe here.] Thus ſpake hee to the ten Elders, when the kinſman was ſet downe. Which ſheweth, that as Boaz was a great man, ſo alſo the kinſman was of greater place than they, ſeeing he was placed before them: yet they did not of themſelues doe any thing, neither did enter vponupon the buſineſſe, before theſe were ſet: ſo did hee eſteeme of them and their authority. Whence may be noted, that wiſe men in gouernment doe ſo behaue themſelues, as they will take heed to do nothing that might weaken the authority of ſuch as be fellowes in office, Iudges, Iustices, and Officers with them: for they know, that what they derogate from them, they take from themſelues, as they be Magiſtrates. And therefore muſt Magiſtrates vphold ſuch as be in authority with them; though ſome perhaps for their perſon bee vnworthy, yet muſt they bee regarded for the place they beare: and this ſhall they do, if, as Boaz heere, they giuegive them place with them, then not preſume to handle matters apart without them, equally belonging to all: and thirdly, to be content to hauehave their owne cauſes heard and iudged by them: the contrary hereto doth argue light eſteeme of fellowes in cōmiſſion, if not contempt.
And they ſate downe.] Here was no exception taken againſt Boaz in any thing: he commanded in a ſort, and they obeyed: for the ſpirit of enuie and pride were baniſhed; elſe the matter had not thus been done in ſuch peace and quietneſſe: for where one taketh no more vponupon him than he may; and other yeeld what they ought, being humble and not hauty, there eueryevery thing is done peaceably, as wee ſee here: but where a Moſes meeteth with a rebellious-ſpirited proud Corah and his company, there all things fall out contrarily. The word to ſit, is vſed ſometime to conſider of, to aduiſe, to take care of; and the geſture of ſitting, which was the geſture of Kings and Iudges, is a geſture of1. King. 1. 46. Prou. 20. 8. Mat. 19. 28. 2. Sam. 7. 1. reſt, quietneſſe and peace: to teach this, that men in the ſeat of Iudgement ſhould be aduiſed, conſiderate, carefull what they doe, and of a quiet ſpirit without perturbation. Such a one was Ioſhua in his proceeding againſt Achan, hee ſpake mildly, louingly,Ioſ. 7. 19, 25. without paſſion, without words of bitterneſſe, or contempt, yet did hee not neglect to execute iuſtice vponupon him, as hee well deſerued, and the cauſe required: he derided not the priſoner, hee railed not vponupon him; but with a fatherly grauitie and words of like authority he ſpake vntounto him: his example is for imitation, and a checke to ſome deriding and ſcoffing ſpirits, ſitting as Iudges vponupon life and death.