11 Boaz answered her, "People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband died. They told me how you left your father and mother and the country where you were born. They also told me how you came to people that you didn't know before. 12 May Yahweh reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from Yahweh Elohim of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter."

13 Ruth replied, "Sir, may your kindness to me continue. You have comforted me and reassured me, and I'm not even one of your own servants."

14 When it was time to eat, Boaz told her, "Come here. Have some bread, and dip it into the sour wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he handed her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his servants, "Let her gather grain even among the bundles. Don't give her any problems. 16 Even pull some grain out of the bundles and leave it for her to gather. Don't give her a hard time about it."

Ruth and Naomi Talk about Boaz 17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she separated the grain from its husks. She had about half a bushel of barley. 18 She picked it up and went into the town, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Ruth also took out what she had left over from lunch and gave it to Naomi.

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Just where did you work? May the man who paid attention to you be blessed."

So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the person with whom she worked. She said, "The man I worked with today is named Boaz."

20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May Yahweh bless him. Yahweh hasn't stopped being kind to people-living or dead." Then Naomi told her, "That man is a relative of ours. He is a close relative, one of those responsible for taking care of us."

21 Ruth, who was from Moab, told her, "He also said to me, 'Stay with my younger workers until they have finished the harvest.'"

22 Naomi told her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It's a good idea, my daughter, that you go out to the fields with his young women. If you go to someone else's field, you may be molested."

23 So Ruth stayed with the young women who were working for Boaz. She gathered grain until both the barley harvest and the wheat harvest ended. And she continued to live with her mother-in-law.

Naomi's Plan for Ruth's Marriage 3 1 Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, shouldn't I try to look for a home that would be good for you? 2 Isn't Boaz, whose young women you've been working with, our relative? He will be separating the barley from its husks on the threshing floora tonight. 3 Freshen up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. Don't let him know that you're there until he's finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will make it clear what you must do."

5 Ruth answered her, "I will do whatever you say."

Ruth at the Feet of Boaz 6 Ruth went to the threshing floor and did exactly as her mother-in-law had directed her. 7 Boaz had eaten and drunk to his heart's content, so he went and lay at the edge of a pile of grain. Then she went over to him secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8 At midnight the man was shivering. When he turned over, he was surprised to see a woman lying at his feet. 9 "Who are you?" he asked.

She answered, "I am Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me because you are a close relative who can take care of me."

10 Boaz replied, "May Yahweh bless you, my daughter. This last kindness-that you didn't go after the younger men, whether rich or poor-is better than the first. 11 Don't be afraid, my daughter. I will do whatever you say. The whole town knows that you are a woman who has strength of character. 12 It is true that I am a close relative of yours, but there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay here tonight. In the morning if he will agree to take care of you, that is good. He can take care of you. But if he does not wish to take care of you, then, I solemnly swear, as Yahweh lives, I will take care of you myself. Lie down until morning."

Ruth Returns to Bethlehem 14 So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. Then she got up early before anyone could be recognized. At that moment Boaz thought to himself, "I hope that no one will ever know that this woman came to the threshing floor."

15 Then Boaz told Ruth, "Stretch out the cape you're wearing and hold it tight." So she held it tight while he measured out six measures of barley. Then he placed it on her back and went into the town.

16 When Ruth returned, her mother-in-law Naomi asked, "How did things go, my daughter?"

Ruth told Naomi everything the man had done for her. 17 She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley and told me not to come back to you empty-handed."

18 Naomi replied, "Stay here, my daughter, until you know how it turns out. The man won't rest unless he settles this matter today."

Boaz Assumes Responsibility for Ruth 4 1 Boaz went to the city gate and sat there. Just then, the relative about whom he had spoken was passing by. Boaz said, "Please come over here and sit, my friend." So the man came over and sat down.

2 Then Boaz chose ten men who were leaders of that city and said, "Sit here." So they also sat down.

3 Boaz said to the man, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I said that I would inform you. Buy it in the presence of these men sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of our people. If you wish to buy back the property, you can buy back the property. But if you do not wish to buy back the property, tell me. Then I will know that I am next in line because there is no other relative except me."

The man said, "I'll buy back the property."

5 Boaz continued, "When you buy the field from Naomi, you will also assume responsibility for the Moabite Ruth, the dead man's widow. This keeps the inheritance in the dead man's name."

6 The man replied, "In that case I cannot assume responsibility for her. If I did, I would ruin my inheritance. Take all my rights to buy back the property for yourself, because I cannot assume that responsibility."

7 (This is the way it used to be in Israel concerning buying back property and exchanging goods: In order to make every matter legal, a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man. This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel.) 8 So when the man said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," he took off his sandal.

9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and to all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 In addition, I have bought as my wife the Moabite Ruth, Mahlon's widow, to keep the inheritance in the dead man's name. In this way the dead man's name will not be cut off from his relatives or from the public records. Today you are witnesses."

11 All the people who were at the gate, including the leaders, said, "We are witnesses. May Yahweh make this wife, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built our family of Israel. So show your strength of character in Ephrathah and make a name for yourself in Bethlehem. 12 Also, from the descendant whom Yahweh will give you from this young woman, may your family become like the family of Perez, the son whom Tamar gave birth to for Judah."

Ruth Gives Birth to David's Ancestor 13 Then Boaz took Ruth home, and she became his wife. He slept with her, and Yahweh gave her the ability to become pregnant. So she gave birth to a son.

14 The women said to Naomi, "Praise Yahweh , who has remembered today to give you someone who will take care of you. The child's name will be famous in Israel. 15 He will bring you a new life and support you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law who loves you is better to you than seven sons, because she has given birth."

16 Naomi took the child, held him on her lap, and became his guardian.

17 The women in the neighborhood said, "Naomi has a son." So they gave him the name Obed.

He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

The Ancestry of David 18 This is the account of Perez and his family.

Perez was the father of Hezron.

19 Hezron was the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab.

20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.

Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

21 Salmon was the father of Boaz.

Boaz was the father of Obed.

22 Obed was the father of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David.

a 3:2 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

Introduction to 1 SAMUEL.

The story so far: God called Abraham, promising him land and descendants. His grandson Jacob, renamed Israel, founded a great nation. Moses rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, leading them for forty years in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. The chaotic period of the judges followed. The books of Samuel and Kings recount the next chapter in Israel's story: the monarchy, which began a few years before 1000 BC.

Perhaps the liveliest of the four books, 1 Samuel covers the transition from the last judge and great prophet, Samuel, to the celebrated founder of Israel's royal line, David. The book's other major characters include Saul, Israel's first king who goes spectacularly wrong; Hannah, who, jealous of her husband's other wife, desperately wants a son; Eli, the fat, blind old priest with good-for-nothing sons; and Jonathan, David's best friend though the son of his enemy.

The book is full of dramatic stories. The woman of Endor conjures up Samuel, who predicts Saul's death. Childless Hannah prays, and Samuel is born. God bypasses Eli the priest and speaks to the child Samuel in the night. David, hiding in a cave, plays a trick on his pursuer. And, halfway through the book, the most amazing story of all-the battle of David and Goliath.

The books of Samuel and Kings continue the theme begun in Deuteronomy: obedience to God brings blessing, but disobedience brings a curse. Eli's sons steal and fornicate, and the ark is captured. Saul repeatedly flouts God's commands, and the kingship is given to his rival. As Samuel explains to Saul, "To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams" (15:22).

In a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving for the birth of her son, Hannah praises the all-powerful God who "safeguards the steps of his faithful ones" (2:9). "He raises the poor from the dust," she says; "he lifts the needy from the trash heap in order to make them sit with nobles and even to make them inherit a glorious throne" (verse 8). As God told Samuel, "Elohim does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but Yahweh looks into the heart" (16:7). It was not the tall and impressive Saul who would found Israel's dynasty, but the humble shepherd David. His story will continue in 2 Samuel.

Key Names of God in 1 Samuel Yahweh LORD Elohim God Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts Ruach Yahweh the LORD'S Spirit Ruach Elohim the Spirit of God El Chay Living God 1 SAMUEL.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30.

31.

Samuel's Birth 1 1 There was a man named Elkanah from Ramathaim Zophim in the mountains of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, grandson of Elihu, greatgrandson of Tohu, whose father was Zuph from the tribe of Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Every year this man would go from his own city to worship and sacrifice to Yahweh Tsebaoth at Shiloh. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served there as priests of Yahweh.

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he would give portions of it to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. 5 He would also give one portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though Yahweh had kept her from having children. 6 Because Yahweh had made her unable to have children, her rival Peninnah tormented her endlessly in order to make her miserable. 7 This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to Yahweh's house, Peninnah would make her miserable, and Hannah would cry and not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would ask her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why haven't you eaten? Why are you so downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

9 One day, after Hannah had something to eat and drink in Shiloh, she got up. (The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the door of Yahweh's temple.) 10 Though she was resentful, she prayed to Yahweh while she cried. 11 She made this vow, "Yahweh Tsebaoth , if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head." 12 While Hannah was praying a long time in front of Yahweh, Eli was watching her mouth. 13 She was praying silently. Her voice couldn't be heard; only her lips were moving. Eli thought she was drunk.

14 "How long are you going to stay drunk?" Eli asked her. "Get rid of your wine." 15 Hannah responded, "No sir. I'm not drunk. I'm depressed. I'm pouring out my heart to Yahweh. 16 Don't take me to be a good-for-nothing woman. I was praying like this because I've been troubled and tormented."

17 Eli replied, "Go in peace, and may the Elohim of Israel grant your request."

18 "May you continue to be kind to me," she said. Then the woman went her way and ate. She was no longer sad.a 19 Early in the morning Elkanah and his family got up and worshiped in front of Yahweh. Then they returned home to Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and Yahweh remembered her. 20 Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel [God Hears], because she said, "I asked Yahweh for him."

Samuel's Childhood 21 To keep his vow, Elkanah and his entire household again went to offer the annual sacrifice to Yahweh. 22 But Hannah didn't go. She told her husband, "I'll wait until the boy is weaned. Then I'll bring him and present him to Yahweh, and he'll stay there permanently."

23 "Do what you think is best," her husband Elkanah told her. "Wait until you've weaned him. May Yahweh keep his word." The woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24 As soon as she had weaned Samuel, she took him with her. She also brought a three-year-old bull,b half a bushel of flour, and a full wineskin. She brought him to Yahweh's house at Shiloh while the boy was still a child.

25 Then the parents butchered the bull and brought the child to Eli. 26 "Sir," Hannah said, "as sure as you live, I'm the woman who stood here next to you and prayed to Yahweh. 27 I prayed for this child, and Yahweh granted my request. 28 In return, I am giving him to Yahweh. He will be dedicated to Yahweh for his whole life."

And they worshiped Yahweh there.

Hannah

Hannah's persistent prayers were answered with the birth of her son Samuel. She called out to God as Yahweh Tsebaoth (1 Sam. 1:11) Yahweh (1 Sam. 1:15) Tsur (1 Sam. 2:2) Elohim (1 Sam. 2:2)

Hannah's Prayer 2 1 Hannah prayed out loud, "My heart finds joy in Yahweh.

My head is lifted to Yahweh.

My mouth mocks my enemies.

I rejoice because you saved me.

2 There is no one holy like Yahweh.

There is no one but you, O LORD.