Reviewed by: Ruth by Daniel I. Block Eric D. Reymond daniel i. block, Ruth ( Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament 8; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015). 291 Pp. $27.99. The book under review is part of a new series from Zondervan that aims to provide "serious students of Scripture, as well as those charged with preaching and teaching the Word of God" (p. 9) with an explanation of biblical texts that is attuned to their rhetorical dimensions and especially to the significance of the text's larger structure (i.e., its movement from paragraph to paragraph, chapter to chapter) and its meaning within the Bible as a whole. In addition, the commentaries in this series attempt to make sense of "the messages of Scripture as biblical authors intended them to be heard" (p. 10). To these ends, each section of the commentary (usually covering just a few verses) includes a short paragraph describing the main idea of the verses under discussion; this is followed by a short description of how the verses fit into the wider narrative. The verses are then outlined in Hebrew and English and another short paragraph explains their structure and coherence. A long and thorough explanation of each verse and significant word or phrase follows this and constitutes the real meat of the commentary. In addition, the commentary offers a section called "Canonical and Practical Significance" at the conclusion of each major part of the narrative (Ruth 1:1-5; 1:6-22; 2:1-23; 3:1-18; 4:1-17; 4:18-22). These explications are lengthy. Block's commentary on Ruth offers many insightful notes on the Hebrew text of Ruth. Each significant word and phrase is unpacked as to its meaning and how it relates and contributes to the larger message of the book. Even the particles and conjunctions are explained, with references to many recent works that treat the syntax and linguistics of Hebrew and more particularly those of Ruth. Although the commentary is aimed at those with some knowledge of the ancient languages, the explanations will be mostly comprehensible to those with no knowledge of Hebrew. For example, B. explains the name "Ruth" as likely deriving from "a root rwh (רוה), 'to soak, irrigate, refresh'" (p. 72). The Hebrew words are almost always translated into English. Furthermore, the notes include information for those less familiar with common terms; for example, one note explains that "levirate" (as in the phrase "levirate marriage") does not derive from the name Levi but from the Latin word levir, "brother-in-law" (p. 89 n. 36). [End Page 319] The commentary is generally reliable on individual words and phrases, though there are errors and inconsistencies. For example, why is Jehoiada's bigamy considered "negative" in the context of ancient Israel (p. 72 n. 61)? B.'s treatment of the larger meaning and significance of the book, however, seem unconvincing and even poorly argued. He states that the "primary point" of the Book of Ruth is "honoring David by remembering the noble characters in his family history" (p. 38). Hence, the introduction is titled, "The King is Coming." At another point, B. comments, "To be sure, the book is about David" (p. 56). What of the figures who occupy the majority of the narrator's attention, that is, the women Naomi and Ruth? B. has this to say: "While the experiences of Ruth and Naomi and Boaz interest hearers greatly, and in their responses they serve as models of ḥesed for all who claim membership in the covenant community, the lives of these women are significant primarily for the part they play in the eventual emergence of David" (p. 35). What of Boaz? Is his life of more significance than those of the women? This statement and the underlying argument of the entire commentary seem to undercut the importance of the biblical book's close focus on resourceful women and, especially, its inversion of gender roles and ethnic stereotypes (e.g., Ruth, the Moabite woman, demands that Boaz protect her). Although B. does describe the extraordinariness of Ruth and her various speeches and actions, her courage and her resourcefulness, the repeated emphasis that the book's...