Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a thorough but readable study of the book of Ruth. It pays close attention to the details of the text, including issues of language and cultural background, yet it's also strong on theological matters, which won't be true of many commentaries on Ruth.

Hubbard argues that the most likely setting of the book is from the early monarchy during the reign of David or somewhat soon thereafter. His exploration of the obscure practices that may lie behind this book (kinsman-redeemer, Levirate marriage, etc.) are fascinating and thorough, yet he isn't dogmatic on every issue, realizing the difficulties in understanding all the details.

Overall, his careful drawing out of the message in this book about God's providence and loving covenant care and the significant effect people will have if they display the same for others is well done.

This is one of the best books I have ever read and as a commentary it is as good as Wenham's Genesis commentary (WBC) and Block's Judges commentary (NAC). Longman says that it is one of the very best of the NICOT series and gives it 5 stars.

The introduction is 80 pages long and alone is worth the price of the commentary. In addition to topics such as authorship, date, and canonicity, he covers God's character and God's activity and how it relates to human activity. Concerning this last point, Hubbard says that a key theological assumption of the book of Ruth is the intimate link between human action and divine action.

What I particularly enjoyed were the profound insights that are throughout the commentary, on topics such as God's providence, the Hebrew word "hesed" (usually translated "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love"), and (so-called) luck. These insights offer practical applications for our lives.

For example, concerning the Hebrew word "hesed" Hubbard says, "Though rare, risky, and restrictive, the practice of loyal, compassionate devotion - in a word, hesed - pleases God so much that one may reasonably expect repayment in kind from him. Such reward is the generous gift of a sovereign lord who graciously chooses to honor human hesed. Only those who do it may receive it."

Are you lucky in life? Commenting on Ruth 2:3 where Ruth "happened upon" a field belonging to Boaz, Hubbard writes, "The reader is probably to react smilingly, `Accident? Of course not!' If so, the writer offered a brief peek at Yahweh's hidden, providential hand behind the accident. He had carefully guided Ruth's steps to the right place. By the same token, believers today would do well to observe similar accidents more closely; perhaps they might find the same divine hand at work."

Fabulous. Highly recommended

This was a gift for my father. It arrived in great condition with a nice paper cover.