The Book of Ruth is one of the most appealing texts to modern biblical interpreters, touching as it does on so many subjects of current concern: the emergence of female equality, the significance of legal evolvement, the acceptance of the “outsider,” to name a few.

Following a verse-by-verse commentary, this volume offers a new overview of the Book of Ruth, a series of revolutionary changes described as a “once-upon-a-time” ideal: a former time when all seemed perfect, if only for a moment. At that time and place, women assumed an equal role in societal leadership, foreigners were to be accepted and welcomed, historical limitations could be overcome, the law bent to humane societal concerns, kindness was rewarded, and God’s will was carried out by men and women.

Benjamin Segal, author of earlier biblical commentaries (on the Song of Songs, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes,) here undertakes the difficult and controversial task of deciphering the original literary import of this exciting engaging book.

• • – Hardcover

• • – 144 pages

• • – Explores biblical use of form and structure to communicate subtle meaning