afflicted with a famine； Elimelech of Bethlehem； which is a city
of the tribe of Judah； being not able to support his family under
so sore a distress； took with him Naomi his wife； and the
children that were born to him by her； Chillon and Mahlon； and
removed his habitation into the land of Moab； and upon the happy
prosperity of his affairs there； he took for his sons wives of
the Moabites； Orpah for Chillon； and Ruth for Mahlon。 But in the
compass of ten years； both Elimelech； and a little while after
him； the sons； died； and Naomi being very uneasy at these
accidents； and not being able to bear her lonesome condition； now
those that were dearest to her were dead； on whose account it was
that she had gone away from her own country； she returned to it
again； for she had been informed it was now in a flourishing
condition。 However； her daughters…in…law were not able to think
of parting with her； and when they had a mind to go out of the
country with her； she could not dissuade them from it； but when
they insisted upon it； she wished them a more happy wedlock than
they had with her sons； and that they might have prosperity in
other respects also； and seeing her own affairs were so low； she
exhorted them to stay where they were； and not to think of
leaving their own country； and partaking with her of that
uncertainty under which she must return。 Accordingly Orpah staid
behind； but she took Ruth along with her； as not to be persuaded
to stay behind her； but would take her fortune with her；
whatsoever it should prove。
2。 When Ruth was come with her mother…in…law to Bethlehem； Booz；
who was near of kin to Elimelech； entertained her； and when Naomi
was so called by her fellow citizens； according to her true name；
she said； 〃You might more truly call me Mara。〃 Now Naomi
signifies in the Hebrew tongue happiness； and Mara； sorrow。 It
was now reaping thee； and Ruth； by the leave of her
mother…in…law； went out to glean； that they might get a stock of
corn for their food。 Now it happened that she came into Booz's
field； and after some thee Booz came thither； and when he saw the
damsel； he inquired of his servant that was set over the reapers
concerning the girl。 The servant had a little before inquired
about all her circumstances； and told them to his master； who
kindly embraced her； both on account of her affection to her
mother…in…law； and her remembrance of that son of hers to whom
she had been married； and wished that she might experience a
prosperous condition； so he desired her not to glean； but to reap
what she was able； and gave her leave to carry it home。 He also
gave it in charge to that servant who was over the reapers； not
to hinder her when she took it away； and bade him give her her
dinner； and make her drink when he did the like to the reapers。
Now what corn Ruth received of him she kept for her
mother…in…law； and came to her in the evening； and brought the
ears of corn with her； and Naomi had kept for her a part of such
food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon her。 Ruth
also told her mother…in…law what Booz had said to her； and when
the other had informed her that he was near of kin to them； and
perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision for them；
she went out again on the days following； to gather the gleanings
with Booz's maidservants。
3。 It was not many days before Booz； after the barley was
winnowed； slept in his thrashing…floor。 When Naomi was informed
of this circumstance she contrived it so that Ruth should lie
down by him； for she thought it might be for their advantage that
he should discourse with the girl。 Accordingly she sent the
damsel to sleep at his feet； who went as she bade her； for she
did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any
command of her mother…in…law。 And at first she lay concealed from
Booz； as he was fast asleep； but when he awaked about midnight；
and perceived a woman lying by him； he asked who she was； … and
when she told him her name； and desired that he whom she owned
for her lord would excuse her； he then said no more； but in the
morning； before the servants began to set about their work； he
awaked her； and bid her take as much barley as she was able to
carry； and go to her mother…in…law before any body there should
see that she had lain down by him； because it was but prudent to
avoid any reproach that might arise on that account； especially
when there had been nothing done that was ill。 But as to the main
point she aimed at； the matter should rest here； … 〃He that is
nearer of kin than I am； shall be asked whether he wants to take
thee to wife： if he says he does； thou shalt follow him； but if
he refuse it； I will marry thee； according to the law。〃
4。 When she had informed her mother…in…law of this； they were
very glad of it； out of the hope they had that Booz would make
provision for them。 Now about noon Booz went down into the city；
and gathered the senate together； and when he had sent for Ruth；
he called for her kinsman also； and when he was come； he said；
〃Dost not thou retain the inheritance of Elimelech and his sons？〃
He confessed that he did retain it； and that he did as he was
permitted to do by the laws； because he was their nearest
kinsman。 Then said Booz； 〃Thou must not remember the laws by
halves； but do every thing according to them； for the wife of
Mahlon is come hither； whom thou must marry； according to the
law； in case thou wilt retain their fields。〃 So the man yielded
up both the field and the wife to Booz； who was himself of kin to
those that were dead； as alleging that he had a wife already； and
children also； so Booz called the senate to witness； and bid the
woman to loose his shoe； and spit in his face； according to the
law； and when this was done； Booz married Ruth； and they had a
son within a year's time。 Naomi was herself a nurse to this
child； and by the advice of the women； called him Obed； as being
to be brought up in order to be subservient to her in her old
age； for Obed in the Hebrew dialect signifies a servant。 The son
of Obed was Jesse； and David was his son； who was king； and left
his dominions to his sons for one and twenty generations。 I was
therefore obliged to relate this history of Ruth； because I had a
mind to demonstrate the power of God； who； without difficulty；
can raise those that are of ordinary parentage to dignity and
splendor； to which he advanced David； though he were born of such
mean parents。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning The Birth Of Samuel； And How He Foretold The Calamity
That Befell The Sons Of Eli。
1。 And now upon the ill state of the affairs of the Hebrews； they
made war again upon the Philistines。 The occasion was this： Eli；
the high priest； had two sons； Hophni and Phineas。 These sons of
Eli were guilty of injustice towards men； and of impiety towards
God； and abstained from no sort of wickedness。 Some of their
gifts they carried off； as belonging to the honorable employment
they had； others of them they took away by violence。 They also
were guilty of impurity with the women that came to worship God
at the tabernacle； obliging some to submit to their lust by
force； and enticing others by bribes； nay； the whole course of
their lives was no better than tyranny。 Their father therefore
was angry at them for such their wickedness； and expected that
God would suddenly inflict his punishments upon them for what
they had done。 The multitude took it heinously also。 And as soon
as God had foretold what calamity would befall Eli's sons； which
he did both to Eli himself and to Samuel the prophet； who was yet
but a child； he openly showed his sorrow for his sons'
destruction。
2。 I will first despatch what I have to say about the prophet
Samuel； and after that will proceed to speak of the sons of Eli；
and the miseries they brought on the whole people of the Hebrews。
Elcanah； a Levite； one of a middle condition among his fellow
citizens； and one that dwelt at Ramathaim； a city of the tribe of
Ephraim； married two wives； Hannah and Peninnah。 He had children
by the latter； but he loved the other best； although she was
barren。 Now Elcanah came with his wives to the city Shiloh to
sacrifice； for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed；
as we have formerly said。 Now when； after he had sacrificed； he
distributed at that festival portions of the flesh to his wives
and children； and when Hannah saw the other wife's children
sitting round about their mother； she fell into tears； and
lamented herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness；
and suffering her grief to prevail over her husband's
consolations to her； she went to the tabernacle to beseech God to
give her seed； and to make her a mother； and to vow to consecrate
the first son she should bear to the service of God； and this in
such a way； that his manner of living should not be like that of
ordinary men。 And as she continued at her prayers a long time；
Eli； the high priest； for he sat there before the tabernacle； bid
her go away； thinking she had been disordered with wine； but when
she said she had drank water； but was in sorrow for want of
children； and was beseeching God for them； he bid her be of good
cheer； and told her that God would send her children。
3。 So she came to her husband full of hope； and ate her meal with
gladness。 And when they had returned to their own country she
found herself with child； and they had a son born to them； to
whom they gave the name of Samuel； which may be styled one that
was asked of God。 They therefore came to the tabernacle to offer
sacrifice for the birth of the child； and brought their tithes
with them； but the woman remembered the vows she had made
concerning her son； and delivered him to Eli； dedicating him to
God； that he might become a prophet。 Accordingly his hair was
suffered to grow long； and his drink was water。 So Samuel dwelt
and was brought up in the temple。 But Elcanah had other sons by
Hannah； and three daughters。
4。 Now when Samuel was twelve years old； he began to prophesy：
and once when he was asleep； God called to him by his name； and
he； supposing he had been called by the high priest； came to him：
but when the high priest said he