RUTH

 

To the City Gate and Back (3)

Ruth 4

 

iii.        THE MENU OF DAVID’S GENEALOGY (Ruth 4:18-22)

Lesson Fifteen

Victor M Eskew

 

III.     THE MENU OF DAVID’S GENEALOGY (Ruth 4:18-22)

 

A.   Introduction

1.     By retracing the lineage of David, the claims of verse 17 are substantiated.

2.    “Genealogies served the purpose of establishing family origins and were extremely important when confirming the legitimacy of the priesthood or monarchy” (Stewart, 186).

3.     The genealogy of Ruth 4 is selective, skipping numerous generations.  “Block explains, ‘…the aim of linear lineages is not necessarily to offer a complete account of the line.  Their function is rather to legitimate the claims of the last person named to certain rights, privileges, roles, and power that come with membership in this direct line” (as quoted by Stewart, 186).

4.    The genealogy covers a period of about 900 years.

5.    “It is significant that the redeemer Boaz is placed in the seventh position…while king David completes the list in the tenth position.  The numbers seven and ten designate perfection and completeness…” (Stewart, 186).

 

B.   Now these are the generations of Pharez… (Ruth 4:18a)

1.     This is a common expression that begins genealogies.

2.    Other versions have “descendants, family line, and family history.”

 

C.   The names in the genealogy (Ruth 4:18b-22)

 

…Pharez began Hezron, and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

 

1.     Pherez

a.    It is interesting that Pharez is chosen to start the genealogy instead of Judah.  It was Judah who had been given the blessing of kingship coming through his lineage (Gen. 49:10).

b.    Pherez, however, is the one who closely resembles Obed.

c.    “Pharez means breach or to break away.  The midwife could not have known how appropriate this name would be for this tiny baby.  From this point on, the promised kingly line would break away from the other descendeants of Judah and follow the line of Pharez” (Peipman, 298).

2.    Hezron

a.    His name may mean “enclosure” or “blooming.”

b.    He is the eldest son of Pharez.

c.    Hezron went down into Egypt being numbered with Jacob’s family (Gen. 46:8, 12).

3.     Ram

a.    His name means “high” or exalted.”

b.    He would be born in Egypt.

4.    Amminadab

a.    His name means “my kinsman is noble.”

b.    There was most likely a gap between Ram and Amminadab that would account for part of the 430 years of Egyptian bondage.

c.    Amminadab was the father-in-law of Aaron, who married Aaron’s daughter Elisheba (Exo. 6:23).

5.    Nahshon

a.    Stewart says that his name may mean “serpent” and Peipman says it may mean “peace.”

b.    He was born in Egyptian slavery, but he experienced the Exodus.

c.    When the census was taken after the Exodus, Nahshon was named as the prince or captain of the tribe of Judah (Num. 2:3).

 

And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies:  and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

 

6.    Salmon

a.    His name means strength or firmness.

b.    Salmon married Rehab who had been incorporated into Isarel (Matt. 1:5; Josh. 6:25).

7.    Boaz

a.    Providentially God used Boaz to help the poor among his clan and is used as part of the story of man’s salvation also.

b.    “We have seen that this particular line of the family of Judah has been composed of godly leaders and we can now understand a little better why Boaz has become the man he is and the exemplary character he displays” (Peipman, 300).

8.    Obed

a.    Obed is clearly the legal heir of Elimelech and Mahlon (4:10).

b.    But, he is also the son of Boaz (I Chron 2:12; Matt. 1:5; Luke 3:32).

9.    Jesse

a.    His name may mean “the Lord exists” or “wealthy.”

b.    He was an Ephrathite who lived in Bethlehem.

c.    He was the father of eight sons and owned a flock of sheep (I Sam. 16:1-3; 17:12-18).

d.    He is usually connected to David with these words:  “Jesse, the father of David” (I Sam. 16:18; 20:27, 30-31; 22:7-9, 13; 25:10; II Sam. 20:1; 23:1; I Kings 12:6).

10.  David

a.    His name means “beloved.”

b.    Neilson:  “Just as the book begins with Elimelech, ‘God is king,’ so it ends with David, God’s chosen king” (as quoted by Stewart, 190).

c.    Ruth is set in the period of the judges (Ruth 1:1).

1)     Judges ends with the notation that there was no king in Israel (Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

2)    Ruth, however, ends with the name David, who will be God’s chosen and serve as an example for all kings to follow.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   David did become the king of Israel (II Sam. 2:4).

 

B.   Solomon, his son, took the throne after him and built the temple.  One of the pillars of the temple was named Boaz (I Kings 7:21).

 

C.   From David came the King of kings (Matt. 1:1).

1.     He, too, was born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2; Luke 2:4, 6-7).

2.    This Jesus would become the kinsman redeemer for all of mankind (Heb. 2:14; Eph. 1:7).

 

D.   God wants all men to reap the benefits of this divine kinsman redeemer.  This can only be done through obedience to the gospel of Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4; II Thess. 1:7-9; Rom. 6:17-18)