Ruth is permeated with God’s providential care for Ruth and her family. The New International Commentary: The Book of Ruth draws from recent scholarship to carefully address the book of Ruth’s literary, grammatical, and theological aspects. Hubbard highlights the literary mastery and distinct theological views within Ruth in order to offer a new date and purpose for it. By acknowledging Ruth and Naomi’s success as divine providence, says Hubbard, the author of Ruth was countering challenges to the Davidic monarchy during Solomon’s kingship.

This long-beloved story is now accompanied with in-depth notes on matters of context, literary criticism, genre, setting, canonicity, themes, and theology—not to mention Hubbard’s original translation of the original Hebrew text. Hubbard also provides a bibliography for readers who want to go further in their study of this enduring, redemptive, and truly wonderful story of God’s devoted love.

New International Commentary on the Old Testament - Series Editor: Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Maneuvering through Levitical laws, bloodshed in Joshua, or Daniel's apocalyptic visions, sincere readers often wonder what the Old Testament means and how it can be the Word of God. For several decades the New International Commentary on the Old Testament has helped countless people traverse this difficult literary terrain.

All the NICOT volumes combine superior scholarship, an evangelical view of Scripture as the Word of God, and concern for the life of faith today. Each volume features an extensive introduction treating the biblical book's authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. The author's own translation of the original Hebrew and verse-by-verse commentary follow. The commentary itself carefully balances coverage of technical matters with exposition of the biblical text's theology and implications.