It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. What a marvelous woman of faith Ruth was. And so they did. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. 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. He arose and fled from them (Ruth Rabbah 1, 4). Apparently he was willing to help only if he wears the mantly of authority. Here the name reflects the mans essence.The name of one was Peleg, for in his days, the entire world became divided (ni-peleg-a) (Geneis 10,25) This name was was given for Dispersion (after the Tower of Babel) that occurred during Pelegs lifetime. DAGON (Heb. Such people are in misery, and honestly, they make those around them miserable as well. The resolution to these irregularities is primarily exegetical. Dagn ), the Syrian and Canaanite god of seed, vegetation, and crops. 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). It provides us with a look at the life of the common person in Israel We shall see more about this in chapter 3. Ruth rejected Naomis appeal to leave her and go back to Moab, choosing instead to believe and behave like a true Israelite. WebBoaz is a preeminent example of selflessness, willing to risk the loss of his own name so that he could make sure that the name and line of his relative Elimele The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. After only ten years in Moab, Elimelechs sons also died. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. Apparently Elimelech abandoned his people because they scorned their leaders. He keeps loyal love; that is, He is a God who perseveres in His love, and thus He is a covenant-keeping God. - In 2012, I became a member of juFORUM, a Germany-wide network of young scientists. It had been at least ten years since Naomi and her family had left them. Naomi instructs us to beware of Calvinism run amuck. His faithfulness to His people and to His covenant is at a time when His people are not faithful to Him and when they are living in disregard for His law. How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? We dont have a very good reputation in the Bible.. , ' eylam; Elamite halhatamti; Akk. Somehow God wrote His law on Ruths heart, not unlike Tamar and Rahab, her predecessors. In her thinking, God had stripped her of all hope by taking her husband and her sons in death, and by preventing their wives from bearing children. The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. See also: More about the Book of Ruth. Such early setting out of the players is quite unusual in Biblical writing. 2013Mrz 20185 Jahre. There is a paucity of clues but the first one is the Elimelechs name itself. In addition, why would a private individual carry a name that signifies royalty. A Christian wife is having difficulties in her relationship with her husband, and she shares this with a Christian friend. The danger of practicing pragmatism above principle. I can imagine how it alarmed and frightened Naomi when Elimelech died while they were sojourning in Moab. Judah (through whom the messianic line would be traced) kept his third son from a Levirate marriage with the first sons widow, and then had sex with a woman he thought was a cult prostitute.31 God not only preserved the messianic line, He was faithful to fulfill His (Abrahamic) covenant32 with Abraham. This makes perfect sense when we consider that Biblical individuals were called by several different names over their lifetimes and that names were given in remembrance of major events. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Though a widow, Naomi still had her two sons to provide for and protect her. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. 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. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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). Having started off on a rather negative note, let me hasten to say that the Book of Ruth is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have just come from the Book of Judges. As you will recall, Mrs. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. They arrived, in fact, just in time for the barley harvest. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! 9 May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband! Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. RACHEL (Heb. WebRuth 1:3. The women of the village said, Can this be Naomi? 20 But she replied to them, Dont call me Naomi! If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? Once again I would suggest that Naomis strong urging for Ruth and Orpah to return was as much for her interests as for her daughters-in-law. Humans cannot see beyond these two alternatives but God has another choice. Those who place too much emphasis on marriage and child bearing should listen well to these words of Scripture: 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Ruths spiritual journey is similar to that of Abraham. We should learn from Naomi that if barrenness is ones earthly fate, our heavenly fate is vastly different. But when Ruth refused to return to her people and accompanied her to Bethlehem, Boaz entered the picture, a close relative, a possible redeemer. When a famine came to the area Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. Elimelech died, whereupon Mahlon and Chilion both married local women. What a mighty, magnificent, merciful, awesome God we serve! named after him.) WebDeutsches Jungforschernetzwerk - juFORUM e.V. The Path of Despair and the Path of Return. ), Handbook of Ugaritic Studies (1999), index, 841. A space remained that he did not manage to rebuild. He was one of the c, JETHRO And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. 34 So in the morning the older daughter said to the younger, Since I had sexual relations with my father last night, lets make him drunk again tonight. Was it at Naomis initiative that her sons took Moabite women for wives? WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. You will note from the first verse of chapter 1 that the setting for the story of Ruth is the times of the judges. Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? 17 Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried. We are not told how wide-spread it was, but we do know that it affected Bethlehem (which ironically means house of bread). Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah Bethlehem was otherwise called Ephratha. This, of course, is Naomis meaning. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder Naomis third appeal is to Ruth alone, based on Orpahs decision to return home. The best thing for her to do was to return to Bethlehem and live out the rest of her days, dying empty (i.e., childless). Naomis first attempt is described in verses 8-10. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. Who were Naomis daughter in laws? There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! He is slow to anger, and He does forgive sin. In her mind, this was the normal, the customary, way to produce offspring. Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 22 Feb. 2023 . Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. It is not only Ruth and Naomi who benefit from Gods work in the Book of Ruth, for everyone who has been saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has been saved by the offspring of Ruth and Boaz. She believes in a God who is all powerful, but who is not merciful and compassionate. The ancestors, since they knew their genealogies, would derive names from events. 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. He was right, but, was there, perhaps, a personal element in his reaction? Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. 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. EphrathitesThe 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). "Elimelech The barley harvest will play a significant role in moving this story forward in the next two chapters. And one of these two Ruth is a Moabite, not an Israelite. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. Take note of the fact that Ruths covenant is not a short-term commitment; it is a lifetime commitment. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. They produced offspring for the Benjamites by orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of 200 virgins.26 The Israelites were like Moabs mother in that they were thinking and acting like Moabites. Finally, the description of Elimelech departure is frugal and bereft of detail. Apr. He stood in the opening and blocked it with his body. Elimelech had a wife named Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. At the very times when outward appearances look to us as though God is against us, God is at work behind the scenes for us. WebThe Tragedy of Elimelech Ruth Introduction The book of Ruth is a fascinating little book in the Old Testament. Be careful not to jump to conclusions. . If I have counted correctly, the term is used 48 times in the Old Testament; 9 times in the Pentateuch, 2 times in Ruth, 2 times in the Psalms, 1 time in Isaiah, 2 times in Ezekiel, 1 time in Joel, and 31 times in Job. (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. This she must do by faith. She was willing to sacrifice family ties, marriage, and a family to do so. This should not come as news to us, but it is a truth that has not come easily to Jews, even some Jewish Christians.33 It is Naomi who fails to live up to the faith of her fathers, while Ruth is an example for all to follow, Jew or Gentile. Lot fled with his daughters and was living in a cave. The tale begins not in Israel or Judah but in Moab, where the Israelite Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, went during a famine in Judah. Someone reminded me that the Book of Ruth is a lot like the Book of Esther. JETHRO (Heb. It was a good number of years ago that I sat in on an excellent elective class taught by my friend, Tom Wright. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) When kings ruled, My God is King, denoted not only spiritual but also political power. Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. They came empty (at least according to Naomis assessment see verse 21), but God would not let them go hungry (or childless). For the children of the desolate one are more numerous. 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). Good News Translation The younger daughter then did likewise and bore a son named Ammon. Both women initially refused to heed Naomis exhortation to leave her and return to Moab. God has chosen to save Gentiles as well as Jews. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. endobj
Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. The name of Achimelech, the priest who gave aid to David at Nob, reflects his elevated stature (Leviticus Rabbah 1,3) and Malchizedek was the King of Salem (Malkiel in Numbers 25, 24 deserves a separate discussion). In an effort to escape the famine, a man named Elimelech took his family to Moab, where he intended for his family to sojourn until the famine ended.10 How could he have imagined how long his family would stay? And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. Is this the behavior of a leader who loves and cares for his people, even if they do not fully deserve his respect? My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. While in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving his wife with their two sons (verse 3). The sons married Moabite women, which was something else God wanted His people to avoid. However, God ended up blessing Elimelechs family anyway, although not through his sons. God instead chose to work through Naomi and one of her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth. Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! The Midrash explains: What does a fox watch out for in the ruins? ), matriarch of Israel, wife of *Jacob and the mother of *Joseph and Benjamin. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Such are the products of our pleasant things, weak and infirm, fading and dying. 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! Elimelech Weisblum 1717 Tykocin, Kingdom of Poland. 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