Verse 11
11. All the people… and the elders, said, We are witnesses “And thus,” says Clarke, “the business was settled without lawyers or legal casuistry. A question of this kind in one of our courts of justice, in these enlightened times, would require many days’ previous preparation of the attorney, and several hours’ arguing between Counsellor Botherum and Counsellor Borum, till even an enlightened and conscientious judge would find it extremely difficult to decide whether Naomi might sell her own land, and whether Boaz or Peloni might buy it! O glorious uncertainty of modern law!”
Like Rachel and like Leah The two wives of Jacob, who were accounted mothers of all the tribes of Israel. Genesis 29:30.
Which two did build the house of Israel That is, bore him offspring to establish his name. “By a common oriental metaphor, house is transferred to a family and children; and whoever begets children is said to build a house. Hence בן , son, comes from the idea of building; that is, of begetting. The same metaphor is elegantly carried out in Plautus, Mostellaria, 1, 2, 37.” Gesenius. So in modern times great lineal families are designated by this word; as, house of Bourbon, house of Brunswick. The passage in Plautus to which Gesenius here refers is as follows: “Now this I will say, that ye men may be compared to buildings, as long as parents are chiefly builders of children, and the foundation of children they do lay,”
Do thou worthily Acquire power and influence.
Be famous Literally, Call out a name. That is, perpetuate thy name by means of a numerous posterity.
Ephratah… Beth-lehem Different names of the same place, (Genesis 35:19,) used here in the way of poetic parallelism.
Be the first to react on this!
