Chilion, Naomi's sons, died; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab.'-RUTH i.

OND Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law,

Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord

deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them: and they lifted up their voices, and wept. And they said unto her, We will surely return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters; why will ye go with me? Go your way; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. And they lifted up their

RUTH IN THE FIELDS OF BOAZ.

95

voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-inlaw; but Ruth clave unto her. And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods return thou after thy sister-in-law. 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: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-inlaw, with her; and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.'-RUTH i.

R

ND Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech ; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth 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. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 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. Then she fell 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? And Boaz said unto her, It hath fully been showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband.'-RUTH ii.

their inheritance, and Boaz her kinsman now stood

forth as a friend in need and a friend indeed. Having first apprised a nearer relative than himself of the affair, and found that he was unable to redeem the possession, he transacted the business himself, and married Ruth also, as related in the fourth chapter of this narrative. 'Now this was the manner in former time in Israel, concerning redeeming, and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; A man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour and this was a testimony Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee: so he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover,

:

G

Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife.'RUTH iv.

H

HANNAH DEDICATES SAMUEL.

ANNAH the wife of Elkanah continued childless,

which was accounted a great affliction amongst the Hebrew women. She therefore spread her complaint and her request before God. As she prayed, Eli the priest, who sat upon a seat by a post of the temple, seeing her lips to move, but hearing not the sound of her voice, looked upon her as a mere drunken mutterer. 'And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken ? put away thy wine from thee.' Hannah having explained her grief, the prophet compassionated her, and said, 'Go in peace and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition.'