o they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly
solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city
of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to
Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.

21:20. And they commanded the children of Benjamin and said: Go, and lie
hid in the vineyards,

21:21. And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the
custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch
you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.

21:22. And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall
begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have
pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or
conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the
fault was committed on your part.

21:23. And the children of Benjamin did as they had been commanded: and,
according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his
wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession, and
built up their cities, and dwelt in them.

21:24. The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and
families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel:
but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

THE BOOK OF RUTH

This Book is called RUTH, from the name of the person whose history is
here recorded: who, being a Gentile, became a convert to the true faith,
and marrying Booz, the great-grandfather of David, was one of those from
whom Christ sprung according to the flesh, and an illustrious figure of
the Gentile church. It is thought this book was written by the prophet
Samuel.

Ruth Chapter 1

Elimelech of Bethlehem going with his wife Noemi, and two sons, into the
land of Moab, dieth there. His sons marry wives of that country and die
without issue. Noemi returneth home with her daughter in law Ruth, who
refuseth to part with her.

1:1. In the days of the judges, when the judges ruled, there came a
famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Juda, went to
sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

1:2. He was named Elimelech, and his wife Noemi: and his two sons, the
one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Juda. And
entering into the country of Moab, they abode there.

1:3. And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with h