Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:18-22 Genealogy: Extended Blessing. Looking backward and forward, this genealogy (cf. 1 Chron. 2:5-15) shows how the Lord repaid and rewarded Ruth, as Boaz desired (Ruth 2:12): the Lord brought about a new family line which became, through David, the greatest in all Israel. The 10 names in Ruth's new family more than fill her 10 years of childlessness (see notes on 1:4; 4:11). Noah's and Abraham's genealogies also have 10 names (Gen. 5:3-32; 11:10-26). (In a genealogy, the word "fathered" can mean fathered an ancestor; thus biblical genealogies, including this one, may skip generations when the number of names is more important than recording every single member.) The Lord made everlasting, universal covenants with Noah concerning all creation (Gen. 9:16-17), with Abraham regarding Israel and the nations (Gen. 12:2-3; 17:4, 7, 16), and with David concerning his dynasty (2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:4). All three are examples of the blessing received by faith (Noah: Gen. 6:8; Heb. 11:7; Abraham: Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:2-3, 9; Gal. 3:8-9; David: Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:6). Christ is the "son" of Noah (Luke 3:36), Abraham, and David (Matt. 1:1). Jesus' genealogy includes three foreign women--Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth--all related to this genealogy (Matt. 1:3, 5; see notes on Ruth 4:12; 4:21).