And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ver. 17. And the women her neighbours gave it a name.] Those good women, spoken of before, Rth 4:14 persuaded the parents to give the child that name, either when it was born or when it came to be circumcised, which was the usual time.
There is a son born to Naomi.] Now no longer Marah, but a joyful mother; for grandmothers also are so called; and this child was born for her good and comfort. See a like phrase in Isaiah 9:6, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."
And they called his name Obed,] i.e., A servitor, a servant of God, - a Theodulus, as Lavater gives the reason, - who hath promised to spare his people, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Mal 3:17 Others say he was so called because he should serve as a comforter to old Naomi, as the the women said. Rth 4:15
He is the father of Jesse.] Who was Vir bonus et honestus, saith one, minus tamen clarus 2Sa 17:27 He is also called Nahash; and that for his serpentine prudence, saith the Chaldee Paraphrast.
The father of David.] God's darling, as his name signifieth, a notable type of Christ, and his most famous progenitor.