WHEN THE JUDGES RULED. — Literally, _when the judges judged._ This note of time is by no means definite. As we have seen, some have proposed to connect the famine with the ravages of the Midianites Judges 6:1); or, supposing the genealogy to be complete (which is more likely, however, to be abridged... [ Continue Reading ]
NAOMI. — The name is derived from the Hebrew root meaning _to be pleasant_ (see below, Ruth 1:20). Mahlon and Chilion mean _sickness_ and _wasting,_ it may be in reference to their premature death, the names being given by reason of their feeble health. It is not certain which was the elder: Mahlon... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TOOK THEM WIVES. — This seems to have been after the father’s death. The fault of settling on a heathen soil begun by the father is carried on by the sons in marrying heathen women, for such we cannot doubt they must have been in the first instance. The Targum (or ancient Chaldee paraphrase) sa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DIED. — Clearly as quite young men. It is not for us to say how far those are right who see in the death of Elimelech and his sons God’s punishment for the disregard of His law. Thus Naomi is left alone, as one on whom comes suddenly the loss of children and widowhood.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SHE MIGHT RETURN. — Literally, _and she returned._ Clearly, therefore, the three women actually began the journey; and when the start has been made. Naomi urges her companions to return. Then, as with Pliable in the _Pilgrim’s Progress,_ so with Orpah: the dangers and difficulties of the way we... [ Continue Reading ]
HER TWO DAUGHTERS IN LAW WITH HER. — Both clearly purposing to go with Naomi to the land of Israel (Ruth 1:10), not merely to escort her a little way. Naomi had obviously won the affections of her daughters-in-law, and they were loth to part with her, since such a parting could hardly but be final.... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURN. — Naomi’s love is all unselfish. The company of Ruth and Orpah would clearly have been a great solace to her, yet she will not sacrifice them to herself. They each had a mother and a home; the latter, Naomi might fail to secure to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GRANT YOU... — A twofold blessing is invoked by Naomi on her daughters-in-law, made the more solemn by the twofold mention of the sacred name Jehovah. She prays first for the general blessing, that God will show them mercy, and secondly for the special blessing, that they may find rest and... [ Continue Reading ]
The advice of Naomi thus far is insufficient to shake the affectionate resolve of the two women. She then paints the loneliness of her lot. She has no more sons, and can hope for none; nay, if sons were to be even now born to her, what good would that do them? Still her lot is worse than theirs. The... [ Continue Reading ]
IT GRIEVETH ME MUCH FOR YOUR SAKES. — A much more probable translation is, _it is far more bitter for me than for you._ An exact parallel to the construction is found in Genesis 19:9. The ancient versions are divided, the LXX., Peshito Syriac, and Targum support this translation; the Vulg. is rather... [ Continue Reading ]
KISSED. — Orpah, though unwilling to leave her mother-in-law, and though warmly attached to her, still thinks of the hardships of the journey, of the hardships when the journey is done; and the comforts of home detain her.... [ Continue Reading ]
Naomi, now armed with a fresh argument, urges Ruth to follow her sister-in-law’s example. HER GODS. — Naomi doubtless views the Moabite idols as realities, whose power is, however, confined to the land of Moab. She is not sufficiently enlightened in her religion to see in the Lord more than the God... [ Continue Reading ]
INTREAT ME NOT. — Ruth’s nobleness is proof against all. The intensity of her feeling comes out all the more strongly now that she pleads alone: “I will undertake with thee the toilsome journey, I will lodge with thee however hardly, I will venture among a strange people, and will worship a new god.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD DO SO TO ME. — Ruth clinches her resolutions with a solemn oath, in which, if we are to take the words literally, she swears by the name of the God of Israel. With this Naomi yields; after so solemn a protest she can urge no more.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT. — The journey for two women apparently alone was long and toilsome, and not free from danger. Two rivers, Arnon and Jordan, had to be forded or otherwise crossed; and the distance of actual journeying cannot have been less than fifty miles. Thus, weary and travel-stained, they reach Bethl... [ Continue Reading ]
CALL ME NOT NAOMI, CALL ME MARA. — Here we have one of the constant plays on words and names found in the Hebrew Bible. _Naomi,_ we have already said, means _pleasant,_ or, perhaps, strictly, _my pleasantness. Mara_ is _bitter,_ as in Exodus 15:23. The latter word has no connection with Miriam or Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
BARLEY-HARVEST. — God had restored plenty to His people, and the wayfarers thus arrive to witness and receive their share of the blessing. The barley harvest was the earliest (Exodus 9:31), and would ordinarily fall about the end of April. II.... [ Continue Reading ]