Ruth 4:17

"And the women her neighbors 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."

"A son is born to Naomi." In Hebrew writing, the terms "son" and "grandson" are sometimes used interchangeably, as here.

"And they called his name Obed." This does not mean that Ruth, Boaz and Naomi had no part in the choice of the name, but that they consented to go along with the suggestion of the neighboring women. "The context suggests that this name was proposed because of the `service' that the child would ultimately provide in the matter of caring for Naomi in her old age."[19] "The name Obed means either `worshipper' or `servant,'[20] but it seems that the neighbors were thinking of the meaning as "servant," in view of what they felt sure would be done for Naomi in her old age by this newborn child.

"He is the father of Jesse, the father of David." "These words show the object that the author had in view in writing down these events and in composing the book itself. This conjecture is raised to a certainty by the inclusion of the genealogy with which the book closes."[21]

These verses are also the undeniable proof of the date of the writing of Ruth. Note that David is not called `king' here. Why? Because he was NOT YET king of Israel when this book was written by Samuel, at a time, no doubt, after God had commanded Samuel to anoint David as the monarch who would take the place of Saul (1 Samuel 16:1). The theory that any other reason for not mentioning the kingship of Israel's most illustrious monarch is so weak as to appear RIDICULOUS!