Charles Ellicott Commentary Ruth 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ruth 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ruth 1
"And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons." — Ruth 1:1 (ASV)
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).
Alternatively, if we suppose the genealogy to be complete (though it is more likely to be abridged, if at all, in the earlier generations), then the events must be placed comparatively early in the period of the judges. This is because Boaz was the son of Salmon (Salma, 1 Chronicles 2:11) and Rahab (Matthew 1:5), and there are no reasonable grounds to suppose this Rahab was anyone other than the Rahab of Jericho.
Bethlehem. —See note on Genesis 35:19. Judah is added to distinguish it from the Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:15).
Moab. —See notes on Genesis 19:37; Numbers 21:13; and Deuteronomy 2:9. The land of Moab seems to have been of exceptional richness and fertility, as allusions in the threats of Isaiah 16 and Jeremiah 38 indicate. It was divided from the land of Israel by the Dead Sea, and on the north by the river Arnon, the old boundary between Moab and the Amorites (Numbers 21:13).
The family's journey from Bethlehem would probably first have led them near Jericho, and then across the fords of the Jordan into the territory of the tribe of Reuben. Through the hilly country of this tribe, another long journey would have brought them to the Arnon, the frontier river.
It may well be doubted how far Elimelech was justified in fleeing from the land of Jehovah—even under the pressure of the famine—to a land where Chemosh was worshipped and the abominations of Baal-peor were practiced, though God overruled it all for good. This act was a disobedience to the spirit of God’s law and showed little regard for the blessings of the land of promise.
"And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there." — Ruth 1:2 (ASV)
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; this may be in reference to their premature death, the names being given because of their feeble health. It is not certain which was the elder: Mahlon is mentioned first in Ruth 1:2; Ruth 1:5, and Chilion in Ruth 4:9. It is probable, however, that Mahlon was the elder.
Ephrathites. — See note on Genesis 35:19. Ephrath was the old name of Bethlehem. Why, in the present passage, the town is called Bethlehem-judah and the inhabitants Ephrathites does not appear.
"And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years." — Ruth 1:4 (ASV)
They took them wives. — This seems to have happened after the father’s death. The fault of settling on heathen soil, begun by the father, was carried on by the sons in marrying heathen women, for we cannot doubt they must have been such in the first instance. The Targum (or ancient Chaldee paraphrase) says: “They transgressed against the decree of the Word of the Lord, and took to themselves strange wives.” This act meant incurring a further risk of being involved in idolatry, as King Solomon found.
Ruth. — This name can mean either “comeliness” or “companion.” This depends on the spelling from which we suppose the current name is a contraction. The Syriac spelling supports the latter view. Ruth was the wife of Mahlon (Ruth 4:10), apparently the elder son. The Targum calls Ruth the daughter of Eglon, king of Moab, obviously from the wish to exalt Ruth’s dignity.
"And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband." — Ruth 1:5 (ASV)
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.
"Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread." — Ruth 1:6 (ASV)
That she might return. —Literally, and she returned. Clearly, therefore, the three women actually began the journey; and when the start had been made, Naomi urges her companions to return. Then, as with Pliable in Pilgrim’s Progress, so with Orpah: the dangers and difficulties of the way were too much for her affection.
The Lord had visited His people. —The famine had ceased, and Naomi’s heart yearns for the old home. Perhaps, too, the scenes where everything reminded her of her husband and sons filled her with sadness (for it would appear that she set out immediately after her sons’ death), and perhaps, too, her conscience struck her for distrusting the mercies of the God of Israel.
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