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Through New Eyes Bible Commentary
Ruth Through New Eyes: Under His Wings
With references to Old Testament gleaning laws and to the concept of the kinsman-redeemer, the small book of Ruth contains numerous hints critical to understanding how Yahweh brings rest to the women in the story and ultimately to His bride, the Church, through Jesus Christ, the Greater Boaz and kinsman-redeemer. In this commentary, Pastors Uri Brito and Rich Lusk tease out the nuances of Old and New Testament typology and show how the book of Ruth fits in Yahweh's redemption of His people, the land and the world. Whether discussing levirate law or the place of grace and good works in relation to Yahweh's covenant faithfulness, this commentary is sure to bring renewed interest in the study of Ruth for pastors and parishioners alike.
142 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2024
Very helpful!
January 15, 2020
The "Through New Eyes" commentary series is self-consciously, and at least in this volume, explicitly dependent upon the interpretive framework that James B. Jordan has helped advance. With this in mind--Lusk and Brito work hard to interpret the book of Ruth with a strong emphasis on biblical authority, interpretive maximalism--every word matters, leveraging biblical theology--connecting the book to the rest of Scripture, all through the lense that Jesus is the interpretive lens through which all Scripture must be understood.
One of the more important themes that the authors highlight is the command in Deuteronomy 23:2 that forbids anyone "born of a forbidden union" to enter the assembly of the Lord. The attentive reader will recall this and know that the line of Judah was a line born of a bastard (Perez--born of Judah and Tamar). This prevented anyone in the line of Judah from ruling as a king to the tenth generation. But in Ruth we see that this line is restored and the line of David preserved through the Moabite, Ruth, and David is the tenth generation.
This is instructive, because it again reminds us of the fact that Saul's kingship was a sort of Adamic seizing sin--seeking the forbidden fruit in an autonomous, high-handed way. Israel wanted a king at a time, and in a manner, that excluded the promised kingly seed of Judah.
Lusk and Brito do a great job explaining the kinsman-redeemer and levirate. I was surprised and persuaded by their reading of Ruth's midnight visitation of Boaz on the threshing floor. They argue that Ruth went there with the expectation that Boaz would sleep with her that very night, sealing the levirate marriage bond then and there. They argue this based upon Deuteronomy 25:25, which indicates the very act of consummation is the way the brother is to "take her as his wife." This interpretation does take most of the difficulties of Ruth 3 away.
There are several helpful appendices at the end, making the book longer, and doing some additional biblical and systematic theological work as well. I found this very helpful, and encourage others to read it as they study the book of Ruth.
One of the more important themes that the authors highlight is the command in Deuteronomy 23:2 that forbids anyone "born of a forbidden union" to enter the assembly of the Lord. The attentive reader will recall this and know that the line of Judah was a line born of a bastard (Perez--born of Judah and Tamar). This prevented anyone in the line of Judah from ruling as a king to the tenth generation. But in Ruth we see that this line is restored and the line of David preserved through the Moabite, Ruth, and David is the tenth generation.
This is instructive, because it again reminds us of the fact that Saul's kingship was a sort of Adamic seizing sin--seeking the forbidden fruit in an autonomous, high-handed way. Israel wanted a king at a time, and in a manner, that excluded the promised kingly seed of Judah.
Lusk and Brito do a great job explaining the kinsman-redeemer and levirate. I was surprised and persuaded by their reading of Ruth's midnight visitation of Boaz on the threshing floor. They argue that Ruth went there with the expectation that Boaz would sleep with her that very night, sealing the levirate marriage bond then and there. They argue this based upon Deuteronomy 25:25, which indicates the very act of consummation is the way the brother is to "take her as his wife." This interpretation does take most of the difficulties of Ruth 3 away.
There are several helpful appendices at the end, making the book longer, and doing some additional biblical and systematic theological work as well. I found this very helpful, and encourage others to read it as they study the book of Ruth.
February 18, 2024
Good resource to read when studying the book of Ruth.
December 9, 2025
Excellent commentary, pulling on a lot of the biblical-theological threads that run through the book of Ruth. 4 essays attached as appendix help enlighten some of the key phrases in Ruth.
January 26, 2021
This is a phenomenal book.
A 'commentary', but one which is highly readable, attentive to both the detail and the sweep of the book of Ruth, conversant with the whole of the Bible, and points to Jesus in a careful way which causes the reader to rejoice.
The scene with Ruth on the threshing floor is explained in a way that actually makes sense, unlike other attempts I have read or heard. The old testament context of almost every element of Ruth is explained brilliantly. The writers pay attention to the names of characters, and the small details of the text, demonstrating that they believe that the Holy Spirit does not waste words. And while the writers suggest that a primary purpose of the book is to show the legitimacy of David's kingship, they are not confined by that, and are happy to suggest that the book is also a parable of the gospel, a story of the inclusion of the gentiles, and a book about covenental love.
4 appendices at the back provide additional helpful background on themes in the book - one on a theology of land in the bible (gold dust), another on a theology of wings, another on the concept of a kinsman redeemer and levirate marriage (very useful) and another on grace and good works (which was the only part of the book I wasn't so sure about).
This will be a book I return to every time I look at Ruth.
A 'commentary', but one which is highly readable, attentive to both the detail and the sweep of the book of Ruth, conversant with the whole of the Bible, and points to Jesus in a careful way which causes the reader to rejoice.
The scene with Ruth on the threshing floor is explained in a way that actually makes sense, unlike other attempts I have read or heard. The old testament context of almost every element of Ruth is explained brilliantly. The writers pay attention to the names of characters, and the small details of the text, demonstrating that they believe that the Holy Spirit does not waste words. And while the writers suggest that a primary purpose of the book is to show the legitimacy of David's kingship, they are not confined by that, and are happy to suggest that the book is also a parable of the gospel, a story of the inclusion of the gentiles, and a book about covenental love.
4 appendices at the back provide additional helpful background on themes in the book - one on a theology of land in the bible (gold dust), another on a theology of wings, another on the concept of a kinsman redeemer and levirate marriage (very useful) and another on grace and good works (which was the only part of the book I wasn't so sure about).
This will be a book I return to every time I look at Ruth.
November 15, 2024
(3.5 stars)
This is a pretty good commentary on Ruth. Its strengths are that it is non-technical and so understandable and doesn’t get bogged down in details and arguments over disagreements between commentators. In addition it does a good job of connecting the book with the broader story of the Bible. What, for instance, does Tamar and her story have to do with Ruth? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
On the weak side, the commentary sometimes draws parallels that, in my opinion, are a little bit tenuous. In addition, 40% of the book is a bunch of appendixes, some of them are apropos and some of them read like hobby horses. Appendix A is a sudden launch into a theology of the land of Israel, which is interesting, but not necessarily something that is closely connected to the book of Ruth.
The author also draws assumptions in the text that may, or may not be warranted. Elimelech and his family leave Bethlehem during a time of famine, does this mean he is abandoning the covenant, as the author seems to think. Perhaps, although we cannot tell from what the author of Ruth writes, maybe Elimelech was concerned mainly about keeping his family alive.
This is a pretty good commentary on Ruth. Its strengths are that it is non-technical and so understandable and doesn’t get bogged down in details and arguments over disagreements between commentators. In addition it does a good job of connecting the book with the broader story of the Bible. What, for instance, does Tamar and her story have to do with Ruth? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
On the weak side, the commentary sometimes draws parallels that, in my opinion, are a little bit tenuous. In addition, 40% of the book is a bunch of appendixes, some of them are apropos and some of them read like hobby horses. Appendix A is a sudden launch into a theology of the land of Israel, which is interesting, but not necessarily something that is closely connected to the book of Ruth.
The author also draws assumptions in the text that may, or may not be warranted. Elimelech and his family leave Bethlehem during a time of famine, does this mean he is abandoning the covenant, as the author seems to think. Perhaps, although we cannot tell from what the author of Ruth writes, maybe Elimelech was concerned mainly about keeping his family alive.
April 15, 2020
Great, accessible commentary on Ruth
It is not uncommon to reading individual books of the Bible in isolation from the canon of scripture. This commentary provides some help in helping see the connections and threads with connect the book of Ruth with the rest of scriptures. It is very easy to read and would whet your appetite for a whole-bible literary approach to interpreting the Bible. I recommend this highly!
It is not uncommon to reading individual books of the Bible in isolation from the canon of scripture. This commentary provides some help in helping see the connections and threads with connect the book of Ruth with the rest of scriptures. It is very easy to read and would whet your appetite for a whole-bible literary approach to interpreting the Bible. I recommend this highly!
October 15, 2024
Real Life Lessons
While not a complete commentary, this book does a terrific job with teaching the practical application. If you want to learn life lessons from the book of Ruth, then this is the book for you.
While not a complete commentary, this book does a terrific job with teaching the practical application. If you want to learn life lessons from the book of Ruth, then this is the book for you.
November 11, 2025
I was genuinely surprised by how much I learned from this book. If you want a simultaneously broad and deep overview of covenant theology, I'd recommend this after Federal Husband, The Lord's Service, and A House for My Name.
Don't skip the appendices, they are GOLD
Don't skip the appendices, they are GOLD
November 5, 2019
The best treatment of the book of Ruth I have read. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2019
This commentary on Ruth is top notch. You will have the book of Ruth opened up to you in a way that leaves you worshiping our Kinsman-Redeemer! Excited to read other commentaries from this series.
November 2, 2020
Muito bom!
December 6, 2023
This was a lovely book that brought a lot of understand to the book of Ruth. Read for a women's Bible study at my church.
August 24, 2024
I read this aloud to my husband during our evening devotional time. It was a very thorough and interesting exploration of the themes and theology in the book of Ruth. There were times when we felt the authors had been a little too free in their assumptions, treating them almost as fact when there was no basis in the text for doing so. However, for the most part, we enjoyed the book and learned a lot about the role and agency of a “goel” and a kinsman redeemer. The appendices were all quite interesting and informative as well.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews