Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction -- The story -- Simple narrative -- Complex situation -- Orality -- Historical account -- Wisdom source -- The setting -- Historical dates -- The judges -- The genealogy -- Date of writing -- Place in the canon -- The text -- Textual difficulties -- Literary unity -- The crux -- The purpose -- The last word : David -- Opposition to David -- Conversion -- Defending David -- The motifs -- Fidelity -- Redemption -- Patriarchal parallels -- Women -- Storytelling -- Suspense -- The hidden God -- Piety -- Honor and shame -- Philoxenia -- The theology -- Christotelic interpretation -- Providence -- Faith -- Human agency -- E. sacrifice -- Substitution -- Redemption -- Suffering -- Cross-cultural witness -- The relevance -- Crisis -- Fidelity -- Prayer -- Love -- Service -- Righteousness -- Sexuality -- The law's spirit -- Fulfillment -- Evangelism -- Naomi : evangelism by love -- Boaz : evangelism by acceptance -- David : evangelism by leadership.