Surely There

Is A Future

A Commentary on the Book of

Ruth

E. John Hamlin

wm. b. eerdmans publishing co., grand rapids

the handsel press ltd, edinburgh

© 1996 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

First published 1996 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,

255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

and

The Handsel Press Limited

The Stables, Carberry EH21 8PY, Scotland

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hamlin, E. John.

Surely there is a future: a commentary on the book of Ruth /

E. John Hamlin.

p. cm.—(International theological commentary)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-8028-4150-3 (paper: alk. paper)

1. Bible. O.T. Ruth—Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series.

BS1315.3.H36 1996

222′3507—dc20

95–44352

CIP

Handsel Press ISBN 1–871828–30–9

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, used by permission.

Contents

Abbreviations

Editors’ Preface

Author’s Preface

Introduction

THE REMNANT (1:1–5)

THE RETURN OF THE REMNANT (1:6–22)

HARVEST JOY (2:1–23)

A DARING ENCOUNTER (3:1–18)

HOPE FULFILLED (4:1–22)

INTERPRETING THE STORY OF RUTH TODAY

Selected Bibliography

Abbreviations

JB Jerusalem Bible

KJV King James (or Authorized) Version

LXX Septuagint

NAB New American Bible

NEB New English Bible

NIV New International Version

NJPS New Jewish Publication Society version

NRSV New Revised Standard Version

RSV Revised Standard Version

REB Revised English Bible

TEV Today’s English Version

Editors’ Preface

The Old Testament alive in the Church: this is the goal of the International Theological Commentary. Arising out of changing, unsettled times, this Scripture speaks with an authentic voice to our own troubled world. It witnesses to God’s ongoing purpose and to God’s caring presence in the universe without ignoring those experiences of life that cause one to question God’s existence and love. This commentary series is written by front-rank scholars who treasure the life of faith.

Addressed to ministers and Christian educators, the International Theological Commentary moves beyond the usual critical-historical approach to the Bible and offers a theological interpretation of the Hebrew text. Thus, engaging larger textual units of the biblical writings, the authors of these volumes assist the reader in the appreciation of the theology underlying the text as well as its place in the thought of the Hebrew Scriptures. But more, since the Bible is the book of the believing community, its text has acquired ever more meaning through an ongoing interpretation. This growth of interpretation may be found both within the Bible itself and in the continuing scholarship of the Church.

Contributors to the International Theological Commentary are Christians—persons who affirm the witness of the New Testament concerning Jesus Christ. For Christians, the Bible is one Scripture containing ...