The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 130
8:35 q Judg. 9:16–18
Judges 9
9:1 a Judg. 8:31, 35
9:2 b Judg. 8:30; 9:5, 18
9:2 c Gen. 29:14
9:3 d Gen. 29:15
9:4 e Judg. 8:33
9:4 f Judg. 11:3; 2 Chr. 13:7; Acts 17:5
9:5 g Judg. 6:24
9:5 h Judg. 8:30; 9:2, 18; 2 Kin. 11:1, 2
9:7 i Deut. 11:29; 27:12; Josh. 8:33; John 4:20
9:8 j 2 Kin. 14:9
9:8 k Judg. 8:22, 23
9:9 l (John 5:23)
9:13 m Ps. 104:15
9:15 n Is. 30:2; Dan. 4:12; Hos. 14:7
9:15 o Num. 21:28; Judg. 9:20; Ezek. 19:14
9:15 p 2 Kin. 14:9; Is. 2:13; Ezek. 31:3
9:16 q Judg. 8:35
9:16 1 Lit. according to the doing of his hands
9:17 r Judg. 7
9:17 s Judg. 8:22
9:18 t Judg. 8:30, 35; 9:2, 5, 6
9:18 u Judg. 8:31
9:19 v Is. 8:6; (Phil. 3:3)
9:20 w Judg. 9:15, 45, 56, 57
9:21 x Num. 21:16
9:23 y 1 Kin. 12:15; Is. 19:14
9:23 z 1 Sam. 16:14; 18:9, 10; 1 Kin. 22:22; 2 Chr. 18:22
9:23 a Is. 33:1
9:24 b 1 Kin. 2:32; Esth. 9:25; Matt. 23:35, 36
9:24 c Num. 35:33
9:25 2 Lit. liers-in-wait for
9:27 d Judg. 9:4
9:27 3 rejoiced
9:28 e 1 Sam. 25:10; 1 Kin. 12:16
9:28 f Gen. 34:2, 6; Josh. 24:32
9:29 g 2 Sam. 15:4
9:29 4 Lit. hand
9:29 5 So with MT, Tg.; DSS they; LXX I
9:32 6 Set up an ambush
9:33 7 Lit. as your hand can find
9:34 8 Set up an ambush
9:37 9 Heb. Meonenim
9:38 h Judg. 9:28, 29
9:41 10 exiled
9:43 11 Lit. struck
9:45 i Judg. 9:20
9:45 j Deut. 29:23; 2 Kin. 3:25
9:46 k Judg. 8:33
9:46 12 fortified room
9:48 l Ps. 68:14
9:49 13 fortified room
9:50 14 besieged
9:53 m 2 Sam. 11:21
9:54 n 1 Sam. 31:4
9:55 15 home
9:56 o Judg. 9:24; Job 31:3; Prov. 5:22
9:57 p Judg. 9:20
Judges 10
10:1 a Judg. 2:16
10:4 b Judg. 5:10; 12:14
10:4 c Deut. 3:14
10:4 1 Lit. Towns of Jair, Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14
10:6 d Judg. 2:11; 3:7; 6:1; 13:1
10:6 e Judg. 2:13
10:6 f Judg. 2:12
10:6 g 1 Kin. 11:33; Ps. 106:36
10:7 h Judg. 2:14; 4:2; 1 Sam. 12:9
10:7 i Judg. 13:1
10:7 j Judg. 3:13
10:8 k Num. 32:33
10:8 2 Lit. shattered
10:10 l Judg. 6:6; 1 Sam. 12:10
10:10 m Deut. 1:41
10:11 n Ex. 14:30
10:11 o Num. 21:21, 24, 25
10:11 p Judg. 3:12, 13
10:11 q Judg. 3:31
10:12 r Judg. 1:31; 5:19
10:12 s Judg. 6:3; 7:12
10:12 t Ps. 106:42, 43
10:12 3 LXX mss. Midianites
10:13 u (Deut. 32:15; Judg. 2:12; Jer. 2:13)
10:14 v Deut. 32:37, 38
10:15 w 1 Sam. 3:18; 2 Sam. 15:26
10:16 x 2 Chr. 7:14; Jer. 18:7, 8
10:16 y Ps. 106:44, 45; Is. 63:9
10:17 z Gen. 31:49; Judg. 11:11, 29
10:18 a Judg. 11:8, 11
Judges 11
11:1 a Heb. 11:32
11:1 b Judg. 6:12; 2 Kin. 5:1
11:2 c Gen. 21:10; Deut. 23:2
11:3 d 2 Sam. 10:6, 8
11:3 e 1 Sam. 22:2
11:4 f Judg. 10:9, 17
11:7 g Gen. 26:27
11:7 1 trouble
11:8 h Judg. 10:18
11:8 i (Luke 17:4)
11:8 j Judg. 10:18
11:8 2 returned
11:10 k Gen. 31:49, 50; Jer. 29:23; 42:5
11:11 l Judg. 11:8
11:11 m Judg. 10:17; 20:1; 1 Sam. 10:17
11:12 n 2 Sam. 16:10
11:13 o Num. 21:24–26
11:13 p Josh. 13:9
11:13 q Gen. 32:22
11:15 r Deut. 2:9, 19
11:16 s Num. 13:26; 20:1
11:17 t Num. 20:14
11:17 u Num. 20:14–21
11:17 v Josh. 24:9
11:17 w Num. 20:1
11:18 x Deut. 2:9, 18, 19
11:18 y Num. 21:4
11:19 z Num. 21:21; Deut. 2:26–36
11:19 a Num. 21:22; Deut. 2:27
11:20 b Num. 21:23; Deut. 2:27
11:21 c Josh. 24:8
11:21 d Num. 21:24, 25
11:21 3 Lit. struck
11:22 e Deut. 2:36, 37
11:23 4 driven out
11:24 f Num. 21:29; 1 Kin. 11:7; Jer. 48:7
11:24 g (Deut. 9:4, 5; Josh. 3:10)
11:25 h Num. 22:2; Josh. 24:9; Mic. 6:5
11:26 i Num. 21:25, 26
11:26 j Deut. 2:36
11:27 k Gen. 18:25
11:27 l Gen. 16:5; 31:53; (1 Sam. 24:12, 15)
11:29 m Judg. 3:10
11:30 n Gen. 28:20; Num. 30:2; 1 Sam. 1:11
11:31 o Lev. 27:2, 3, 28; 1 Sam. 1:11
11:31 p Ps. 66:13
11:33 q Ezek. 27:17
11:33 5 Lit. struck
11:33 6 Lit. Plain of Vineyards
11:34 r Judg. 10:17; 11:11
11:34 s Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6; Ps. 68:25; Jer. 31:4
11:35 t Gen. 37:29, 34
11:35 u Eccl. 5:2, 4, 5
11:35 v Num. 30:2
11:35 7 Lit. opened my mouth
11:35 8 Lit. take it back
11:36 w Num. 30:2
11:36 x 2 Sam. 18:19, 31
11:37 9 lament
11:37 10 companions
11:39 y Judg. 11:31
11:39 11 Remained a virgin
11:40 12 commemorate
Judges 12
12:1 a Judg. 8:1
12:1 1 were summoned
12:3 b 1 Sam. 19:5; 28:21; Job 13:14
12:4 c 1 Sam. 25:10
12:5 d Josh. 22:11
12:6 e Ps. 69:2, 15
12:6 2 Lit. a flowing stream; used as a test of dialect
12:6 3 Lit. speak so
12:14 f Judg. 5:10; 10:4
12:15 g Judg. 3:13, 27; 5:14
Judges 13
13:1 a Judg. 2:11
13:1 b Judg. 10:7; 1 Sam. 12:9
13:2 c Josh. 19:41; Judg. 16:31
13:3 d Judg. 6:12
13:4 e Num. 6:2, 3, 20; Judg. 13:4; Luke 1:15
13:5 f Num. 6:5; 1 Sam. 1:11
13:5 g Num. 6:2
13:5 h 1 Sam. 7:13; 2 Sam. 8:1; 1 Chr. 18:1
13:6 i Gen. 32:24–30
13:6 j Matt. 28:3; Luke 9:29; Acts 6:15
13:6 k Judg. 13:17, 18
13:6 1 appearance
13:14 l Num. 6:3, 4; Judg. 13:4
13:15 m Gen. 18:5; Judg. 6:18
13:18 n Gen. 32:29
13:19 o Judg. 6:19–21
13:20 p Lev. 9:24; 1 Chr. 21:16; Ezek. 1:28; Matt. 17:6
13:21 q Judg. 6:22
13:22 r Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:20; Deut. 5:26; Judg. 6:22, 23
13:24 s Heb. 11:32
13:24 t 1 Sam. 3:19; Luke 1:80
13:25 u Judg. 3:10; 1 Sam. 11:6; Matt. 4:1
13:25 v Josh. 15:33; Judg. 18:11
13:25 w Judg. 16:31
13:25 2 Lit. Camp of Dan, Judg. 18:12
Judges 14
14:1 a Gen. 38:13; Josh. 15:10, 57
14:1 b Gen. 34:2
14:2 c Gen. 21:21
14:3 d Gen. 24:3, 4
14:3 e Gen. 34:14; Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3
14:3 1 Lit. she is right in my eyes
14:4 f Josh. 11:20; 1 Kin. 12:15; 2 Kin. 6:33; 2 Chr. 10:15
14:4 g Deut. 28:48; Judg. 13:1
14:6 h Judg. 3:10
14:9 i Lev. 11:27
14:12 j 1 Kin. 10:1; Ezek. 17:2
14:12 k Gen. 29:27
14:12 l Gen. 45:22; 2 Kin. 5:22
14:13 m Ezek. 17:2
14:15 n Judg. 16:5
14:15 o Judg. 15:6
14:15 2 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Syr. fourth
14:16 p Judg. 16:15
14:19 q Judg. 3:10; 13:25
14:20 r Judg. 15:2
14:20 s John 3:29
Judges 15
15:1 a Gen. 38:17
15:2 b Judg. 14:20
15:6 c Judg. 14:15
15:8 d 2 Chr. 11:6
15:9 e Judg. 15:19
15:10 1 Lit. bind
15:11 f Lev. 26:25; Deut. 28:43; Judg. 13:1; 14:4; Ps. 106:40–42
15:13 g Judg. 16:11, 12
15:14 h Judg. 3:10; 14:6
15:14 2 Lit. were melted
15:15 i Lev. 26:8; Josh. 23:10; Judg. 3:31
15:17 3 Lit. Jawbone Height
15:18 j Ps. 3:7
15:19 k Gen. 45:27; Is. 40:29
15:19 4 Lit. Jawbone, Judg. 15:14
15:19 5 Lit. Spring of the Caller
15:20 l Judg. 10:2; 12:7–14
15:20 m Judg. 16:31
15:20 n Judg. 13:1
Judges 16
16:1 a Josh. 15:47
16:2 b 1 Sam. 23:26; Ps. 118:10–12
16:5 c Josh. 13:3
16:5 d Judg. 14:15
16:11 e Judg. 15:13
16:11 1 Lit. with which work has never been done
16:15 f Judg. 14:16
16:16 2 Lit. impatient to the point of
16:17 g (Mic. 7:5)
16:17 h Num. 6:5; Judg. 13:5
16:19 i Prov. 7:26, 27
16:19 3 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX he began to be weak,
16:20 j Num. 14:9, 42, 43; (Josh. 7:12); 1 Sam. 16:14; 18:12; 28:15, 16; 2 Chr. 15:2
16:21 k 2 Kin. 25:7
16:21 4 Lit. bored out
16:23 l 1 Sam. 5:2
16:24 m Dan. 5:4
16:25 n Judg. 9:27
16:27 o Deut. 22:8
16:28 p Jer. 15:15
16:31 q Judg. 13:25
16:31 r Judg. 15:20
Judges 17
17:1 a Judg. 18:2
17:2 b Lev. 5:1
17:2 c Gen. 14:19
17:3 d Ex. 20:4, 23; 34:17; Lev. 19:4
17:4 e Is. 46:6
17:5 f Judg. 18:24
17:5 g Judg. 8:27; 18:14
17:5 h Gen. 31:19, 30; Hos. 3:4
17:5 1 Heb. teraphim
17:6 i Judg. 18:1; 19:1
17:6 j Deut. 12:8; Judg. 21:25
17:7 k Josh. 19:15; Judg. 19:1; Ruth 1:1, 2; Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1, 5, 6
17:7 l Deut. 18:6
17:10 m Judg. 18:19
17:10 n Gen. 45:8; Job 29:16
17:12 o Judg. 17:5
17:12 p Judg. 18:30
17:12 2 Lit. filled the hand of
17:13 q Judg. 18:4
Judges 18
18:1 a Judg. 17:6; 19:1; 21:25
18:1 b Josh. 19:40–48
18:2 c Judg. 13:25
18:2 d Num. 13:17; Josh. 2:1
18:2 e Judg. 17:1
18:4 f Judg. 17:10, 12
18:5 g 1 Kin. 22:5; (Is. 30:1); Hos. 4:12
18:5 h Judg. 1:1; 17:5; 18:14
18:6 i 1 Kin. 22:6
18:6 1 Lit. The LORD is before the way in which you go
18:7 j Josh. 19:47
18:7 k Judg. 18:27–29
18:7 l Judg. 10:12
18:7 2 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX with Syria
18:8 m Judg. 18:2
18:9 n Num. 13:30; Josh. 2:23, 24
18:9 o 1 Kin. 22:3
18:10 p Judg. 18:7, 27
18:10 q Deut. 8:9
18:12 r Josh. 15:60
18:12 s Judg. 13:25
18:12 3 Lit. Camp of Dan
18:13 t Judg. 18:2
18:14 u 1 Sam. 14:28
18:14 v Judg. 17:5
18:16 w Judg. 18:11
18:17 x Judg. 18:2, 14
18:17 y Judg. 17:4, 5
18:19 z Job 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Mic. 7:16
18:19 a Judg. 17:10
18:23 b 2 Kin. 6:28
18:24 c Gen. 31:30; Judg. 17:5
18:24 4 idols
18:25 5 Lit. bitter of soul
18:27 d Josh. 19:47
18:28 e Judg. 18:7
18:28 f Num. 13:21; 2 Sam. 10:6
18:29 g Josh. 19:47
18:29 h Judg. 20:1; 1 Kin. 12:29, 30; 15:20
18:30 i 2 Kin. 15:29
18:30 6 LXX, Vg. Moses
18:31 j Deut. 12:1–32; Josh. 18:1, 8; Judg. 19:18; 21:12
Judges 19
19:1 a Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 21:25
19:1 b Judg. 17:7; Ruth 1:1
19:3 c Gen. 34:3; 50:21
19:3 1 Lit. to her heart
19:5 d Gen. 18:5; Judg. 19:8; Ps. 104:15
19:9 2 Lit. to your tent
19:10 e Josh. 18:28; 1 Chr. 11:4, 5
19:11 f Josh. 15:8, 63; Judg. 1:21; 2 Sam. 5:6
19:12 g Josh. 18:28
19:13 h Josh. 18:25
19:15 i Matt. 25:43
19:16 j Ps. 104:23
19:18 k Josh. 18:1; Judg. 18:31; 20:18; 1 Sam. 1:3, 7
19:20 l Gen. 43:23; Judg. 6:23; 1 Sam. 25:6
19:20 m Gen. 19:2
19:21 n Gen. 24:32; 43:24
19:21 o Gen. 18:4; John 13:5
19:22 p Judg. 16:25; 19:6, 9
19:22 q Gen. 19:4, 5; Judg. 20:5; Hos. 9:9; 10:9
19:22 r Deut. 13:13; 1 Sam. 2:12; 1 Kin. 21:10; (2 Cor. 6:15)
19:22 s Gen. 19:5; (Rom. 1:26, 27)
19:22 3 Lit. sons of Belial
19:23 t Gen. 19:6, 7
19:23 u Gen. 34:7; Deut. 22:21; Judg. 20:6, 10; 2 Sam. 13:12
19:24 v Gen. 19:8
19:24 w Gen. 34:2; Deut. 21:14
19:24 4 Lit. his
19:25 x Gen. 4:1
19:28 y Judg. 20:5
19:29 z Judg. 20:6; 1 Sam. 11:7
19:29 5 Lit. with her bones
19:30 a Judg. 20:7; Prov. 13:10
Judges 20
20:1 a Josh. 22:12; Judg. 20:11; 21:5
20:1 b Judg. 18:29; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 3:10; 24:2
20:1 c Josh. 19:2
20:1 d Judg. 10:17; 1 Sam. 7:5
20:2 e Judg. 8:10
20:4 f Judg. 19:15
20:5 g Judg. 19:22
20:5 h Judg. 19:25, 26
20:6 i Judg. 19:29
20:6 j Josh. 7:15
20:7 k Judg. 19:30
20:9 l Judg. 1:3
20:12 m Deut. 13:14; Josh. 22:13, 16
20:13 n Deut. 13:13; Judg. 19:22
20:13 o Deut. 17:12; 1 Cor. 5:13
20:13 1 Lit. sons of Belial
20:15 p Num. 1:36, 37; 2:23; 26:41
20:16 q Judg. 3:15; 1 Chr. 12:2
20:18 r Judg. 20:23, 26
20:18 s Num. 27:21
20:18 t Judg. 1:1, 2
20:18 2 Or Bethel
20:21 u (Gen. 49:27)
20:23 v Judg. 20:26, 27
20:25 w Judg. 20:21
20:26 x Judg. 20:18, 23; 21:2
20:26 3 Or Bethel
20:27 y Josh. 18:1; 1 Sam. 1:3; 3:3; 4:3, 4
20:28 z Num. 25:7, 13; Josh. 24:33
20:28 a Deut. 10:8; 18:5
20:29 b Josh. 8:4
20:31 c Judg. 21:19
20:34 d Josh. 8:14; Job 21:13; Is. 47:11
20:34 4 Lit. they
20:35 5 Lit. struck
20:36 e Josh. 8:15
20:37 f Josh. 8:19
20:38 g Josh. 8:20
20:39 6 Lit. to strike the slain ones
20:40 h Josh. 8:20
20:42 7 fled
20:45 i Josh. 15:32; 1 Chr. 6:77; Zech. 14:10
20:45 8 LXX the rest
20:46 9 valiant warriors
20:47 j Judg. 21:13
Judges 21
21:1 a Judg. 20:1
21:2 b Judg. 20:18, 26
21:2 1 Or Bethel
21:4 c Deut. 12:5; 2 Sam. 24:25
21:5 d Judg. 20:1–3
21:8 e 1 Sam. 11:1; 31:11
21:10 f Num. 31:17; Judg. 5:23; 1 Sam. 11:7
21:11 g Num. 31:17; Deut. 20:13, 14
21:12 h Josh. 18:1; Judg. 18:31
21:13 i Judg. 20:47
21:15 j Judg. 21:6
21:18 k Judg. 11:35; 21:1
21:19 l Lev. 23:2
21:19 m Deut. 12:5; Josh. 18:1; Judg. 18:31; 1 Sam. 1:3
21:19 n Judg. 20:31
21:21 o Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; 1 Sam. 18:6
21:23 p Judg. 20:48
21:25 q Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1
21:25 r Deut. 12:8; Judg. 17:6
Introduction to Ruth
Title
Ancient versions and modern translations consistently entitle this book after Ruth the Moabitess heroine, who is mentioned by name 12 times (1:4 to 4:13). Only two OT books receive their names from women—Ruth and Esther. The OT does not again refer to Ruth, while the NT mentions her just once—in the context of Christ’s genealogy (Matt. 1:5; cf. Ruth 4:18–22). “Ruth” most likely comes from a Moabite and/or Hebrew word meaning “friendship.” Ruth arrived in Bethlehem as a foreigner (2:10), became a maidservant (2:13), married wealthy Boaz (4:13), and was included in the physical lineage of Christ (Matt. 1:5).
Author and Date
Jewish tradition credits Samuel as the author, which is plausible since he did not die (1 Sam. 25:1) until after he had anointed David as God’s chosen king (1 Sam. 16:6–13). However, neither internal features nor external testimony conclusively identify the writer. This exquisite story most likely appeared shortly before or during David’s reign in Israel (1011–971 B.C.), since David is mentioned (4:17, 22) but not Solomon. Goethe reportedly labeled this piece of anonymous but unexcelled literature as “the loveliest, complete work on a small scale.” What Venus is to statuary and the Mona Lisa is to paintings, Ruth is to literature.
Background and Setting
Aside from Bethlehem (1:1), Moab (the perennial enemy of Israel, which was E of the Dead Sea), stands as the only other mentioned geographic/national entity (1:1, 2). This country originated when Lot fathered Moab by an incestuous union with his oldest daughter (Gen. 19:37). Centuries later the Jews encountered opposition from Balak, king of Moab, through the prophet Balaam (Num. 22–25). For 18 years Moab oppressed Israel during the time of the judges (3:12–30). Saul defeated the Moabites (1 Sam. 14:47) while David seemed to enjoy a peaceful relationship with them (1 Sam. 22:3, 4). Later, Moab again troubled Israel (2 Kin. 3:5–27; Ezra 9:1). Because of Moab’s idolatrous worship of Chemosh (1 Kin. 11:7, 33; 2 Kin. 23:13) and its opposition to Israel, God cursed Moab (Is. 15, 16; Jer. 48; Ezek. 25:8–11; Amos 2:1–3).
Moab to Bethlehem
The story of Ruth occurred in the days “when the judges ruled” Israel (1:1), ca. 1370 to 1041 B.C. (Judg. 2:16–19), and thus bridges time from the judges to Israel’s monarchy. God used “a famine in the land” of Judah (1:1) to set in motion this beautiful drama, although the famine does not receive mention in Judges, which causes difficulty in dating the events of Ruth. However, by working backward in time from the well known date of David’s reign (1011–971 B.C.), the time period of Ruth would most likely be during the judgeship of Jair, ca. 1126–1105 B.C. (Judg. 10:3–5).
