Serving the god(s) of Moab (or any others) was an abomination to God: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Ruth emphatically says No to Naomi, but with such wonderful words Naomi can hardly continue to stand in her way. Naomi, so to speak, put all of her eggs into one basket marriage and bearing children. Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. And so they, like Lots daughters (the oldest one in particular), devised a scheme whereby the line would be preserved, albeit apart from faith and obedience to Gods Word. Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. %PDF-1.5 4 So her sons married Moabite women. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. Why do you call me Naomi, seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer? 22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. Following their deaths, his wife Naomi returned Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. He was right, but, was there, perhaps, a personal element in his reaction? Naomi"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph (1Ch 4:22). We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! Other translations have another another husband. She would have been very much at home in our Postmodern world. (3) One gets the impression that those who remained in Bethlehem fared reasonably well during the famine; certainly better than Naomi and her family did. Id like to deal with our text by calling your attention to the contrasts the author has highlighted in the first chapter of Ruth. Naomi counseled Orpah and Ruth to do what seemed right in their eyes. She was full when she had a husband and two sons; now she was empty, for all she had was Ruth. It would seem to be significant that Naomi told Ruth that Orpah had returned to her god. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. But here is where the similarity ends. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). 3 Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. There her husband died, and her sons married Moabite women named Ruth and Orpah. Orpah and Ruth were committed to returning to Israel with their mother-in-law. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! After about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion died. A famine plagued Israel in the days of the judges. We know that this backfired because Balaam could not curse those whom God had blessed.5 When this approach did not work, Balaam counseled Balak how to harm Israel in a very different way by having the Moabite women seduce the Israelite men.6 One might easily infer from this that the Moabites, like the Canaanites, were a sexually immoral people (in a way that tempted the Israelites). Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). She does not acknowledge sin on her part (and Elimelechs), and she does not seek to repent. iddunnu) comes from the root , Hadad There were no state registries or social security numbers and names served a much more fluid purpose than they do today. They would be (or so it may have seemed to Naomi) a liability to her when she returned. It is also true (as God Himself says above) that God also punishes the guilty, but that is not the totality of who God is. WebElimelech was a member of the tribe of Judah, a native of Bethlehem Judah, a man of wealth and probably head of a family or clan ( Ruth 1:2,3; 2:1,3 ). How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? . 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. Fearing they would be overrun by the Israelites, Balak (king of Moab)4 hired Balaam to curse Israel. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. Though a widow, Naomi still had her two sons to provide for and protect her. For the children of the desolate one are more numerous. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Elimelech was severely punished for his failings but the good within him was preserved and rewarded and he became the progenitor of the Royal line. If Naomi had other sons, she could give them to these women in Levirate marriage, but she has no other sons. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. It is not Naomis belief in the sovereignty of God that troubles me as much as how she applies it. Ruth rejected Naomis appeal to leave her and go back to Moab, choosing instead to believe and behave like a true Israelite. No wonder God forbade Moabites from entering the assembly to the tenth generation.7. "I Have Already Written of You Thrice:" Megilat Esther and the Eternal War with Amalek, Many Can Have "Urim" - Power; But Few Have "Tumim" Power. Elimelech Weisblum 1717 Tykocin, Kingdom of Poland. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. There is something particularly encouraging about our text. He is slow to anger, and He does forgive sin. They no longer have their old or former husbands because they have died. They rejected him as they rejected others. There is really no evidence of faith (on Naomis part), either. In her second effort, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law must not return with her because it would only cause them to endure some of her affliction (verse 13). 2 0 obj The mans name was Elimelech. To him be glory forever! The (1) There is no clear link to a particular time, to a particular judge, or to a particular event recorded in the Book of Judges. name of Lot's elder daughter's son and the people and land are Ruth would have none of this foolish talk, and she made this abundantly clear to her mother-in-law. They did not seem to live by it, so why would they consider it important to teach it to a Moabite? They came empty (at least according to Naomis assessment see verse 21), but God would not let them go hungry (or childless). Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. Following their deaths, his wife Naomi returned to Beth-Lehem together with her daughter-in-law *Ruth (Ruth 1:13; 2:1, 3; 4:3, 9). There Ruth married *Boaz, one of Elimelech's relatives. stream Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, 13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. They insisted on going on to Israel with Naomi. Think of it: Naomi and her husband leave the land where God promised to bless them. Their ultimate blessing would have been to leave their land, their people, their false religion, and to identify with the Israelites and with their God. Ruth becomes a true Israelite in spite of Naomis persistent encouragement to return to her Moabite roots. We must be aware that they taught in riddles and parables (Proverbs 1, 2) and that our task is extract and restate their message in the conceptual language that we use today. We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. Both were related to Naomi in the same way. We read of the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19,3 just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 8 Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, 9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. WebRuth 1:3. May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the LORD God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection! (Ruth 2:10-12, emphasis mine). Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. This she must do by faith. Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. The final chapters of the Book of Judges are certainly the worst of times, and yet the Book of Ruth describes the best of times. This suggests to me that godly character is not only evident in the good times, but even more dramatically in the bad times. Such early setting out of the players is quite unusual in Biblical writing. It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Perhaps one reason why the author does not make a major point out of the theme of divine judgment is because his purpose is to emphasize divine mercy, not only as God provided food for His people, but also in His providential provision of a family and a posterity for Naomi and Elimelech. Ruths words are her covenant with Naomi, with Israel, and with God, patterned after Gods covenant with Abraham and his descendants: Only death will be able to separate me from you! (Ruth 1:16-17). A Christian wife is having difficulties in her relationship with her husband, and she shares this with a Christian friend. Can one dismiss the sincerity of a man of faith who fails to always live up to his convictions? That is why some men and women will choose never to marry or to bear children. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. The woman was left of her two sons and her husband , The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread . So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. She seems to have little or no conviction regarding her sins, the sins of her husband, or of the sins of the nation. The word redeem means to set free by paying a price. In the case of Ruth and Naomi, Elimelechs property had either been sold or was under some kind of mortgage, and the rights to the land had passed to Ruths husband, Mahlon, when Elimelech died. A lion approached and he fought off the lion. Probably they were sickly children, and not likely to be long-lived. Ruth and Orpah did not bear Jewish children, too. 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed. He was a leader who possessed the requisite qualities, except for that of deep love and concern for his flock and of disregard of his own worthiness and rights. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. (4) While the author does not make a point of it, it seems reasonable to assume that the famine (as well as the deaths of Elimelech and his two sons) was a manifestation of divine discipline. What a marvelous woman of faith Ruth was. And yet as the story of Ruth unfolded this time, it suddenly became obvious to me that Naomi was no role model. To her, Gods blessings should appear now, in the form of bread, an eligible bachelor (marriage), and babies. The book of Ruth opens with a presentation of several characters. What are the advantages and disadvantages of video capture hardware? Ruth focused on Naomi and her need and on Naomis people and their God. His name was Nate Mirza. 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. From Ruth 4:13, one might infer that God prevented both Orpah and Ruth from bearing children to their husbands. The first chapter of Ruth is very important because our appraisal of Ruth, Naomi, and (soon) Boaz in the first chapters of Ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. 1When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. Good News Translation HADAD , an early Semitic god, first appears in texts written in the Old Akkadian dialect and in Eblaite (third millennium). Naomi told her friend not to call her Naomi (which means pleasant) any longer, but rather to call her Mara (which means bitter). One manifestation of Gods mercy, expressed through His sovereignty, is His providential working at times when there appears to be no hope. 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. ELIMELECH (Heb. <> Now it's ironic that he left Bethlehem because he was afraid he couldn't survive there, yet he went over into Moab and died anyway. Naomis hope was in the physical rather than in the spiritual, in the present rather than in eternity. endobj As the years have gone by, I may have mellowed in the terms I would use to portray Naomi, but my opinion of her has not really changed. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. She urged her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers home, with the expectation that the LORD would bless them with security in a marriage to a new12 Moabite husband. And his little boys died too. Her boys ended up choosing Moabite women to marry and these women became part of Naomis family. Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel. He lived during the period of the Judges, had a hereditary possession near Bethlehem, and is chiefly known as the husband of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ru and ancestress of David the king. 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. Lot and his family were spared, but his wife died (turned to salt) because she looked back. They would be a reminder that Naomis sons their husbands had not married Israelite wives. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). Elimelech was Naomi's husband. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! 10 But they said to her, No! Im an Assyrian not a Syrian. I believe the opening words of A Tale of Two Cities go like this: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . Surely these words aptly describe Ruth in the period of the judges. She had given up all hope. This news prompted her to return to her people and to her land. 6 So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the Lord had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops. Many are the times when friends counsel others to act in their own best interests, and all too seldom do they point their friends to the difficult principles and commands of Scripture. This is completely secular thinking. Ruth 4:9 Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. There do not appear to be many generations between Boaz and David, but biblical genealogies dont always include every genealogical link in such cases. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. The oldest daughter went first, bearing a son whom she named Moab. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. Other than weeping, Orpah remains silent;20 Ruths words and actions are what the author has chosen to report. Both were traveling with Naomi as she made her way toward Israel. He was right in that Kingship was destined to come from his progeny; yet he was also grievously wrong for he himself was not fitting to become king of Israel. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. How could Naomi point them in the wrong direction? Who even remembers her name? I can imagine how it alarmed and frightened Naomi when Elimelech died while they were sojourning in Moab. (7) Naomi does appear to have one thing right humanly speaking, Naomis chances of perpetuating her husbands line are between slim and none. WebElimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. 1 0 obj Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. Cholim Prayers for Those in Need, Make a Donation Apparently soon after the settlement of the family. But the most dramatic new development in Naomis argument is her reference to Orpahs god: 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. After the death of their father, the two sons married Moabite women. Many years later, the Israelites were camped on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from Jericho, poised to enter the Promised Land. Abraham put the seed at risk when he represented his wife Sarah as his sister, and she ended up (temporarily) in Pharaohs29 (and later Abimelechs)30 harem. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. We should note several things about Naomis third attempt to persuade Ruth to join Orpah as she returned to Moab in verse 15. But it is not the essence of what our life in Christ is about. We dont have a very good reputation in the Bible.. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. In Naomis mind, it probably was in their best interest, but it also appeared to benefit her. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend (Isaiah 55:8-11). Elimelech was severely punished for his failings but the good within him was preserved and rewarded and he became the progenitor of the Royal line. WebPrevious commentary: Next commentary: About this commentary: are made available by the generosity of . 2 Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. The Midrash explains: What does a fox watch out for in the ruins? Sixth, Elimelechs family left God. In Judges 19-21, we find a similar situation. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical commentary on the old Testament and had two sons married Moabite women they... English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical commentary on the old Testament returned this! Both were related to Naomi in the sovereignty of God that troubles me as as... 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