March 22, 2010 finish Ruth read 1Samuel ch1

Boaz seemed to take a fancy to Ruth. He took care of her needs and safety. When it got dark, Ruth retutned to Naomi and gave her the grain she had gleaned. When Naomi asked the name of their benefactor, she realized they were related. Ruth continued at Boaz's field until the harvest was over. Naomi wanted to secure a comfortable future for Ruth and thought that Boaz would do well for her. She had Ruth wash and perfume herself and go to the threshing floor, and wait unitl Boaz lay down to sleep and uncover his feet and lie at his feet. Naomi told Ruth that Boaz would tell her what to do. So Ruth did just as Naomi told her. When Boaz was startled awake he noticed her and asked who she was. She told him and he blessed her. He knew that he wanted to purchase Naomi's inheritance and marry Ruth, but a closer relative had first dibs. He was unable to take the property and Ruth, so he told Boaz he could make the transaction. With all the elders as witnesses Boaz and Ruth were married. She had a baby boy, named Obed, but everyone called him Naomi's boy. It becomes clear why in Genesis 28 (Jan 9) the history about Judah and Tamar was included, because we learn that their son Perez was the ancestor of an important line: Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David.

The First Book of Samuel begins by describing the story of his birth. His father, Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, Samuel's mother. Hannah was barren and Peninnah made life harder for Hannah by rubbing her face in the fact that she had many children. Sort of like Abraham, Hagar and Sarah... or Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Every year they went to Shiloh to the Lord's temple and brought burnt offerings and prayed. Hannah spent much of her time feeling depressed and in tears. Elkanah gave her double portions of food, becuase she was too sad to eat much and he loved her. When they were visiting the temple Hannah was praying without sound, but moving her mouth and Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk! She told him she was praying and how anguished she was. Eli told her that he was sure the Lord would bless her and answer her prayers. Then she felt better. They went back home and the Lord answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord and took him to Shiloh to Eli when he was weaned along with a burnt offering, a grain offering and a drink offering. So Samuel grew up in the Lord's house in Shiloh.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 2-4