Ruth

A Handbook on the Hebrew Text

Robert D. Holmstedt

baylor university press

© 2010 by Baylor University Press, Waco, Texas 76798

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of Baylor University Press.

Cover Design by Pamela Poll

Cover photograph by Bruce and Kenneth Zuckerman, West Semitic Research, in collaboration with the ancient biblical Manuscript Center. Courtesy Russian National Library (Saltykov-Shchedrin).

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Holmstedt, Robert D.

Ruth: a handbook on the Hebrew text / Robert D. Holmstedt.

p. cm.—(Baylor handbook on the Hebrew Bible)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-932792-91-1 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Bible. O.T. Ruth--Criticism, Textual. 2. Bible. O.T. Ruth. Hebrew--Versions. 3. Bible. O.T. Ruth--Language, style. 4. Hebrew language--Grammar. 5. Hebrew language--Discourse analysis. I. Title.

BS1315.52.H65 2009

222>.35066--dc22

2009027671

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

§1 Introduction

§2 Linguistic Background to the Grammatical Commentary on Ruth

§3 The Role of Linguistic Features in Dating the Book

§4 The Use of Language to Color Characters’ Speech

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Bibliography

Author Index

Subject Index

acknowledgments

The writing of this commentary proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated. Though I have taught through the book of Ruth in numerous biblical Hebrew courses, when I was forced to comment on the grammar of each verse I realized how many interesting features that even a self-proclaimed grammarian overlooks. It is thus appropriate that I acknowledge my students from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Wheaton College, and the University of Toronto. Without their curiosity and persistence in asking questions, I would not have been as keenly prepared for this project.

I am also indebted to the research assistance provided by Brauna Doidge and Laurel Perkins, both of whom aided me by pouring through commentaries on Ruth, from medieval to modern (many of which did not make it into the text or bibliography) to look for specifically grammatical comments. As they developed as researchers and Hebrew readers, they pushed me to greater clarity in my explanations.

Another pair whose discussions on sundry verses and linguistic issues were invaluable to me is Cynthia L. Miller and John A. Cook. What insight there is in this work would be significantly less had they not answered my many email queries.

Finally, my wife Rachel and our four children deserve credit for putting up with the hours I spent scowling at the text of Ruth. Much of the sensitivity I have gained to the fulness of the story of Ruth, bits of which may come out in the more literary comments, are because I live with an אשׁת חיל like Ruth, ...