Ruth 1

Ru 1:1-5.

ELIMELECH,

DRIVEN BY

FAMINE INTO

MOAB,

DIES

THERE.

1. in the days when the judges ruled--The beautiful and interesting

story which this book relates belongs to the early times of the judges.

The precise date cannot be ascertained.

2. Elimelech--signifies "My God is king."

Naomi--"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion,

are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph

(1Ch 4:22).

Ephrathites--The ancient name of Beth-lehem was Ephrath

(Ge 35:19; 48:7),

which was continued after the occupation of the land by the Hebrews,

even down to the time of the prophet Micah

(Mic 5:2).

Beth-lehem-judah--so called to distinguish it from a town of the

same name in Zebulun. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through

pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. After

the death of their father, the two sons married Moabite women. This was

a violation of the Mosaic law

(De 7:3; 23:3;

Ezr 9:2;

Ne 13:23);

and Jewish writers say that the early deaths of both the young men were

divine judgments inflicted on them for those unlawful connections.

Ru 1:6-18.

NAOMI

RETURNING

HOME,

RUTH

ACCOMPANIES

HER.

6, 7. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return

from the country of Moab--The aged widow, longing to enjoy the

privileges of Israel, resolved to return to her native land as soon as

she was assured that the famine had ceased, and made the necessary

arrangements with her daughters-in-law.

8. Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her

mother's house--In Eastern countries women occupy apartments separate

from those of men, and daughters are most frequently in those of their

mother.

the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead--that is,

with my sons, your husbands, while they lived.

9. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest--enjoy a life of

tranquillity, undisturbed by the cares, incumbrances, and vexatious

troubles to which a state of widowhood is peculiarly exposed.

Then she kissed them--the Oriental manner when friends are parting.

11. are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your

husbands?--This alludes to the ancient custom

(Ge 38:26)

afterwards expressly sanctioned by the law of Moses

(De 25:5),

which required a younger son to marry the widow of his deceased

brother.

12, 13. Turn again, my daughters, go your way--That Naomi should

dissuade her daughters-in-law so strongly from accompanying her to the

land of Israel may appear strange. But it was the wisest and most

prudent course for her to adopt: first, because they might be

influenced by hopes which could not be realized; second, because they

might be led, under temporary excitement, to take a step they might

afterwards regret; and, third, because the sincerity and strength of

their conversion to the true religion, which she had taught them, would

be thoroughly tested.

13. the hand of the Lord is gone out against me--that is, I am not

only not in a condition to provide you with other husbands, but so

reduced in circumstances that I cannot think of your being subjected to

privations with me. The arguments of Naomi prevailed with Orpah, who

returned to her people and her gods. But Ruth clave unto her; and even

in the pages of Sterne, that great master of pathos, there is nothing

which so calls forth the sensibilities of the reader as the simple

effusion he has borrowed from Scripture--of Ruth to her mother-in-law

[CHALMERS].

Ru 1:19-22.

THEY

COME TO

BETH-LEHEM.

19-22. all the city was moved about them--The present condition of

Naomi, a forlorn and desolate widow, presented so painful a contrast to

the flourishing state of prosperity and domestic bliss in which she had

been at her departure.

22. in the beginning of barley harvest--corresponding to the end

of our March.