The Benjamites are smitten. CHAPTER XXI. rose up out of their place, and 34 And there came against Gi- 14. Is. 47. 35 And the LORD smote Benja-IL min before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin Baw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait. which they had set beside Gibeah. 15. Jos. 8. 37 dAnd the liers in wait hasted, d Jos. 8. and rushed upon Gibeah; and 19. the liers in wait drew them-Or, selves along, and smote all the made a city with the edge of the sword. long 6.5. Or, time. 13. † Heb. was found. were found. ach.20.1. b ch. 20. 18, 26. Benjamin's desolation bewailed the sword; all these were men of valour. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that fcame to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. CHAPTER XXI. The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin, 1. 8 By the destruction of Jabesh-gilead they provide them four hundred wives. 16 They advise them to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh. JOW the men of Israel had Nsworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2 And the people came bto the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel? 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose C2 Sa. 24. early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings. 25 38 Now there was an appointed sound Jsign between the men of Israel with the fand the liers in wait, that they trum should make a great flame with pets.Jos. smoke rise up out of the city. 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the t Heb. men of Israel about thirty per- with. sons: for they said, Surely they † Heb. are smitten down before us, as elevain the first battle. 40 But when the flame began † Heb. to to arise up out of the city with smite the a pillar of smoke, the Benja- wounded & ch.5.23. mites "looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven. tion. 20. Jos. 8. Heb. con- tion. 41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil iwas come upon them. 42 Therefore they turned their ↑ Heb. backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; them. but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. touched 43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down [with ease fover against Gibeah || Or, toward the sun-rising. 1 Sa. 11. from Me- 1.&31.11. 44 And there fell of Benjamin nuchah, eighteen thousand men; all &c. these were men of valour. † Heb. 45 And they turned and fled to- unto ward the wilderness unto the over rock offRimmon: and theyglean-against. ed of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard 32. after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. 46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty sad five thousand men that drew Jos. 15. fver. 5. 11. 7. 8 Nu. 31. 5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. 6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 7 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD, that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? 8 TAnd they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly. 9 For the people were numbered, and behold there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 10 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. 11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, & Ye shall utterly de The Benjamites surprise RUTH. B. C. cir. 1406. cir. 1406. Or, on. stroy every male, and every woman that fhath lain by man. 12 And they found among the Heb. inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four knoweth hundred tyoung virgins that had the lying known no man by lying with any with male: and they brought them man. unto the camp to hShiloh, which † Heb. is in the land of Canaan. young 13 And the whole congregation women sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin i that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them. virgins. Jos.18. † Heb. ich.20.47. 14 And Benjamin came again at and that time; and they gave them pake wiveswhich they had savedalive and of the women of Jabesh-gilead: called. and yet so they sufficed them not. 15 And the people k repented them for Benjamín, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. 16 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? Or, proclaim peace. De.20.10. ver. 6. 1 ver. 1. ch. 11.35. 17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin,that atribe be not destroyed out of Israel. 18 Howbeit, we may not give them wives of our daughters: Ifor the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that year to giveth a wife to Benjamin. 19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh tyearly in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the † Heb. from year. I Or, toward SeeEx. 15.20. ch. 11. 34. Sa. 18. 6. Je.31. 13. I Or, us in them. the virgins of Shiloh. east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. 20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards; 21 And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourGratify able unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty. 23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto n See ch. their inheritance, and "repaired the cities, and dwelt in them. 20. 48. ch.17.6. &18.1. & 19. 1. 24 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. 25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: Pevery man did the sun-P De. 12. that which was right in his own rising. 8.ch.17.6. eyes. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 1312.6 T Then she arcse with her daughters-in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in Egiving them bread. fEx.4.31. Lu. 1. 68. EPs. 132. 15.Mat.6. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. bSeeJos. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return 11. 24, 15. Ruth goeth to Beth-lehem, each to her mother's house: ithe CHAPTER II. B. C. and gleaneth in Boaz's fields. CHAPTER II. LORD deal kindly with you, as ye cir. 1312. cir. 1312. Ruth gleaneth in the fields of Boaz, 1. have dealt with the dead, and i2Ti.1.16. with me. 17, 18. 9 The LORD grant you that yek ver. 5. 4 Boaz taking knowledge of her, 8 sheweth her great favour. 18 That which she got, she carrieth to Naomi ND Naomi had a kinsman may find rest, each of you in the ch. 2. 20. ch. 3. 2. of her husband's, a mighty house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, "that they may be your husbands? Ich.3.1. 12. beh. 4.21. Called, Booz, Mat. 1. 5. Le. 19.9. De.24.19. 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to Or, if It Heb. have an husband. If I should say, were hap hap I have hope, if I should have an with a pened. husband also to-night, and should husband also bear sons; ↑ Heb. Ju.2.15. 13 Would ye ftarry for them hope. till they were grown? would yet Heb. stay for them from having hus- I have bands? nay, my daughters; for much fit grieveth me much for your bittersakes, that "the hand of the ness. LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their Job19.21. Voice, and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth Pclave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto "her gods: return thou after thy sister-inlaw. 16 And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: 'thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: "the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that shetwas steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her; 19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, "Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almigh-" ty hath afflicted me? Ps. 32. 4. 39.9,10. P Pr. 17. 17. & 18.j 24. 24. Ju. 11. See Jos. 24.15, 19. 2 Ki. 2. 2. Lu.24.28. 1 Or, Be not against me. 2Ki.2. 2, 4,6. tch. 2. 11, 12. "1 Sa. 3 17. & 25. 22. 2 Sa. 19. 13. 2 Ki. 6. 31. dPs. 129. 7,8. Lu.1. 28.2Th.3. 16. ch.1.22. man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was b Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her thap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 T And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, dThe LORD be with you: and they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she ffell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shew ed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a h1 Sa. 24. people which thou knewest not heretofore. 19. ich. 1. 16. 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-Job1.21. law withher, which returned out b Ex. 9. Ps. 17. 8. of the country of Moab: and they 31,32. ch. & 36.7.& came to Beth-lehem bin the be- 2.23. 2Sa. 57.1.&63. ginning of barley-harvest. 17. 21. 9. Boaz sheweth Ruth great favour. 13 Then she said, kLet me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken tfriendly unto thine handmaid, Ithough I be not like unto one of thy handmaidens. cir. 1312. cir. 1312. with thee? Or, I find favour k Ge. 33. 15. ISa. 1. 14 And Boaz said unto her. At 18. meal-time come thou hither, and; Heb. eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and "was sufficed, and left. 15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and treproach her not: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley. to the heart. Ge. 34. 3. Ju. 19. 3. 11 Sa. 25. 41. mver. 18. † Heb. shame her not. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned and she brought forth, and gave to her "that she had re- "ver. 14. served after she was sufficed. ver. 10. Ps. 41. L. 19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did "take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, PBlessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left Pch.3. 10. off his kindness to the living and 2 Sa. 2. 5. to the dead. And Naomi said Job 29. unto her, The man is near of kin 13. unto us, one of our next kins men. 9 Pr. 17. 17. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess rch. 3. 9. said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. ch. 2. 8. d2 Sa.14. 2. Or, hft up the clothes that are on his feet. Ju.19.6, 9,22. 2Sa. 13.28. Es. 1. 10. Or, took hold on. 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, dand anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6 TAnd she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and this heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 TAnd it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and be hold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: fspread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near Or, one thathath kinsman, right to redeem. fEz.16. 8. Sch.2. 20 & ver. 12. hel.2.20. i ch. 1. 8. t Heb. gute. kPr. 12.4. & 4. 6. Or, one that hath Iver. 9. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth right to 10 And he said, hBlessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kind ness in the latter end than iat the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art ka virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy Inear kinsman: how beit her daughter-in-law, it is good, redeem: ch.4. 1. there is a kinsman nearer 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morn P Ro. 12. 17. & 14. ing. 16. 1 Co. 14 And she lay at his feet 10. 32. 2 until the morning: and she rose Co.8.21.1 up before one could know anTh. 5. 22. other. And he said, "Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. a1 Co. 7. Or, sheet, or, apron. THEN Naomi her mother-in- 36. 1Ti. 5. said unto her, My 8. daughter shall I not seek brest bch. 1.9. 15 Also he said, Bring the #vail |