In addition, why would a private individual carry a name that signifies royalty. The Sages, however, read it with a slight difference in pronunciation as Elai Melech For he said: Kingship is due to me (Ruth Rabba 2,5). No wonder they didnt have a great reputation. God is always at his work. Jethro had seven daughters who served as his shepherdesses. Call me Mara because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly. . Encyclopaedia Judaica. To do it any other way was to disobey God. WebWhen a severe famine struck Israel, Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons across the Jordan and south to the land of Moab, in the hope of finding a living there. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. This story can be found in the book of Ruth. 7 Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah, 8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Listen to me! When the story opens, Naomis sons have just died. They arrived, in fact, just in time for the barley harvest. We, too, live in very pragmatic times, and those who live by principle especially the principles of Gods Word are few and far between. Cholim Prayers for Those in Need, Make a Donation Ruth has an uncanny grasp of Israels religion and has chosen to embrace it as her own. name of Lot's elder daughter's son and the people and land are May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces (Exodus 23:24). . xkOF;GBYH6=3fn=3_]o{09j?]YNvflo'N_~iv4:8N.N";>5"!2M*bNH$!E/EA@e|h9!MSrj:3Y^&!:Xqw-8O?n#-"XY+;-ZN$ayCp}k _F+w +g du]yB2 (0#`2BYfeu(pV,!g\A:>ffY)Yr,gl}*>3|5g-a>F#oE|v0m7G;o}\B,=y"Z|GMogbAD[ J6tW8!jm4GIt\ul4yg2b>x|YH&-B(k7zk4%>5z$@Q8nK+ja4aAqTND&QqM @%(g]v/mnn-vTY2^JrxVNgl/'u:K-cdw>-xs_X0$%.$f#X2l| @n:c 0/#S=>k"ey4=^Gy^tb^ e More tears are shed. 22 Feb. 2023 . 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. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. She gave them very pragmatic counsel, based upon what could be seen, rather than on Gods Word and the principle of faith. Dagn ), the Syrian and Canaanite god of seed, vegetation, and crops. As they continue their journey toward Bethlehem, Naomi makes a three-fold attempt to persuade Orpah and Ruth to return to their homes, rather than to accompany her all the way back to Israel. In Judges 19-21, we find a similar situation. No details, however, are given, as, on the one hand, no blame is attached to the conduct than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. In Esther, the people of God were supposed to return to the Promised Land, but they chose instead to dwell in the apparent peace and safety of Persia. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. This is exactly what Boaz commended Ruth for doing: 10 Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner? 11 Boaz replied to her, I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Her God is all powerful, but not merciful and gracious. WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. Moab is where Elimelech died. We, who are not certain of our genealogies, derive names from our forefathers. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. in 1971. 11 The thought occurred to me that Naomis journey back to her homeland traced the steps of the Israelites when they first entered the Promised Land. I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. A wolf approached and he fought the wolf. What a difference it makes to believe in a God who is in absolute control and who is also merciful and gracious, causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory, if we believe in Him. It led to a hopeless fatalism: It doesnt really matter what I say or do; God is against me, and there is nothing I can do about it.. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. 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. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Sixth, Elimelechs family left God. 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. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech. Judaism. (7) Naomi does appear to have one thing right humanly speaking, Naomis chances of perpetuating her husbands line are between slim and none. This is completely secular thinking. Good News Translation The mans name was Elimelech. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with If Naomi had other sons, she could give them to these women in Levirate marriage, but she has no other sons. It certainly would be safer for the two women to travel together, but it is Orpah who will travel alone, not Ruth. endobj I would be very reluctant to conclude that Ruths husband or his parents taught her the law. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. Like a faithful shepherd whose corral- fence fell as darkness approached. 3 0 obj My sense is that most of the residents of Bethlehem stayed in Bethlehem, rather than leaving to sojourn in a foreign country during the days of the famine. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. Is this the behavior of a leader who loves and cares for his people, even if they do not fully deserve his respect? Naomi and her sons lived in Moab for ten years and then both Mahlon and Kilion died as well, childless. 10 From what we learn from the Book of Ruth, one does wonder what role Naomi played in this decision. 31 Later the older daughter said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man anywhere nearby to have sexual relations with us, according to the way of all the world. There Ruth married *Boaz, one of Elimelech's relatives. 1 Copyright 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. Create a Memorial And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. WebDeutsches Jungforschernetzwerk - juFORUM e.V. . The benchmark by which we need to compare Ruth and Naomi is the Abrahamic Covenant: 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father's household to the land that I will show you. It was a good number of years ago that I sat in on an excellent elective class taught by my friend, Tom Wright. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! Web- And Elimelech Naomi's husband died. Beth-lehem-judahso called to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Zebulun. You need to get right with God. 15 The translations differ here. JETHRO (Heb. Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). Lot and his family were spared, but his wife died (turned to salt) because she looked back. Now, Naomi urges both of her daughters-in-law to go back home to their own land21 and to their mothers homes22 and to find a new Moabite husband, so that they might have security.23 While God promised to bless all those who blessed Abraham and his offspring, Naomi told her daughters-in-law that to stay with her would be to share in the curse God had placed upon her.24 As the story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds, God promises are fulfilled, while Naomis warning and instructions are proven to be false. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. All rights reserved. Elamtu), region on the edge of the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau, modern Khuzistan, Sidon 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! 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 oldest daughter went first, bearing a son whom she named Moab. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. He went first from Israel, the land of the living, and led them thence, and so he now goeth out of How wrong Naomi was. 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. A famine plagued Israel in the days of the judges. The security in the home of a new husband referred to earlier is now spelled out in plainer terms. Bearing children was to be done Gods way. Holy MatrimonyMarriage 1Marriage 2The Tenaim TranslatedThe Kesubah TranslatedMarriage and the Royal FamilyMarital Partners Compatibility of MissionsEverlasting Happiness10 Mistakes Couples Make, AbarbanelShem MeShmuelShabbos: Taam ChaimMikraHaarosGrowing with the ParshaGal Einai Jerusalem ViewsSfas EmesWeekly HalachaOsher HaChaim. If Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Kilion suffered because of their sins, they deserved it. 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. Put another way, the title of this book is Ruth, not Orpah. 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. (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. Here is a story that not only warms our hearts, it encourages our faith by unveiling the providential hand of God in bringing salvation and blessing during one of the darkest periods in history. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). (9) What we know (and Naomi does not) is that God is about to do a wonderful thing for her, solely on the basis of His grace. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. What a mighty, magnificent, merciful, awesome God we serve! Because he abandoned his people during a famine. The same is true for Naomi. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder We are not told how wide-spread it was, but we do know that it affected Bethlehem (which ironically means house of bread). She had given up all hope. 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. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law had already set out for Israel11 when Naomi began to have second thoughts not about her return, but about having two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow when she arrived at her home town of Bethlehem. Finally, the description of Elimelech departure is frugal and bereft of detail. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend (Isaiah 55:8-11). The wonder is that God remained faithful to those who so easily abandoned Him. SIDON (also Zidon ; Heb. The danger of practicing pragmatism above principle. Someone reminded me that the Book of Ruth is a lot like the Book of Esther. 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. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. 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. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. He deals out Justice, rejecting the bad and rewarding the good. However, the date of retrieval is often important. 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. They would be (or so it may have seemed to Naomi) a liability to her when she returned. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. In Ugaritic documents of the 13th century the name is written Imlk and pronounced either Ili-Milku or Ili-Malku. Who was Elimelech? 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). 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. There they made a new home and seemed to do well (the Bible does not give us many details) until Elimelech died. And she was honored to be a part of the messianic line.34. WebChoices bring consequences, and Elimelech's wrong choices brought death. 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. 19 So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Shouldnt Ruth follow her lead? This suggests that the Narrator was not happy with him, for when God approves of a journey, it, the participants, their families, and even their livestock are described in loving detail (See Ezra 2, 66-67, after commentary Nachalat Yosef). It is no wonder that Naomi speaks to her daughters-in-law about husbands, marriage, and children, because this is what is on her mind. W. Moran, The Amarna Letters (1992), 326; W. Watson and N. Wyatt (eds. Thus, we cannot say with certainty that the story of Ruth occurs late in the period of the judges, though this seems likely. ." As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. 4 So her sons married Moabite women. 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. 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. In our text, Naomis conversation with her daughters-in-law is couched in language that gives the appearance that she is encouraging them to return to their families and their land because this would be in their best interest. She had to leave her family, her homeland, and her gods and go to the place of Gods blessing. The focus is usually on one person and not on the group. Can one, on the other hand, forgive and excuse his deficiencies and the damage that they bring about? And one of these two Ruth is a Moabite, not an Israelite. 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. 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