And the widows of Ashur[142-1] are loud in their wail, And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal,[142-2] And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord! FOOTNOTES: [142-1] _Ashur_ is the Assyrian form of our word _Assyria_. [142-2] Baal was the chief god of the Assyrians. RUTH NOTE.--This charming story may be found complete in the book of _Ruth_ in the Old Testament by those who wish the literal Bible narrative as it is there given. Little is known as to the date of the writing of the book of _Ruth_. Some authorities believe that it was written earlier than 500 B.C., while others contend that it was not written until much later. As to the purpose, also, there are differences of opinion; is the book merely a religious romance, told to point a moral, or is it an historical narrative meant to give information as to the ancestry of David? Whichever is true, the story is a delightful one, and we enjoy reading it just as we do any other story, apart from its Biblical interest. I Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled in Judah that there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife and his two sons. Together they came into the land and continued there; but the man died, and the wife was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth; and they dwelled there about ten years. Then the two sons died also both of them; and the woman, Naomi, their mother, alone was left of the family that came into Moab. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. But Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest again, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices and wept, and said unto her, "Surely we will return with thee unto thy people." Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet any more sons that may be your husbands? Nay, it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. Turn again my daughters; go your way." Again they lifted up their voice and wept, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her. Naomi said, "Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law."