Matthew Henry Commentary Ruth 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ruth 1
Matthew Henry 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. 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. And Elimelech, Naomi`s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 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. And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband." — Ruth 1:1-5 (ASV)
Elimelech's care to provide for his family should not be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab could not be justified. And that removal ended in the ruin of his family.
It is folly to think of escaping the cross that, being laid in our path, we ought to take up. Changing our place seldom mends the situation.
Those who lead young people into bad company, and take them away from the regular observance of public ordinances, though they may think them well-principled and armed against temptation, do not know what the end will be.
It does not appear that the women Elimelech's sons married had converted to the Jewish religion.
Earthly trials or enjoyments are short-lived. Death continually removes people of every age and situation and mars all our outward comforts: we cannot too strongly prefer those advantages that will last forever.
"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. And she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother`s house: Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. Jehovah grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear sons; would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her." — Ruth 1:6-14 (ASV)
Naomi began to think of returning after the death of her two sons. When death comes into a family, it should reform what is wrong there. Earth is made bitter to us, that heaven may be made dear. Naomi seems to have been a person of faith and piety.
She dismissed her daughters-in-law with prayer. It is very proper for friends, when they part, to part from them with prayer and in love. Did Naomi do well to discourage her daughters from going with her, when she might save them from the idolatry of Moab and bring them to the faith and worship of the God of Israel? Naomi, no doubt, desired to do that; but if they went with her, she did not want them to go merely on her account.
Those who take up a profession of religion only to please their friends, or for the sake of company, will be converts of small value. If they did come with her, she wanted them to make it their deliberate choice, and sit down first and count the cost, as those who make a profession of religion should do.
And more desire rest in the house of a husband, or some worldly settlement or earthly satisfaction, than the rest to which Christ invites our souls; therefore, when tried, they will depart from Christ, though perhaps with some sorrow.
"And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking unto her." — Ruth 1:15-18 (ASV)
See Ruth's resolution and her good affection for Naomi. Orpah was reluctant to part from her; yet she did not love her well enough to leave Moab for her sake.
Thus, many have a value and affection for Christ, yet fall short of salvation by him, because they will not forsake other things for him. They love him, yet leave him, because they do not love him enough, but love other things more.
Ruth is an example of the grace of God, inclining the soul to choose the better part. Naomi could desire no more than the solemn declaration Ruth made.
See the power of resolution; it silences temptation. Those who walk in religious ways without a steadfast mind stand like a door half open, which invites a thief; but resolution shuts and bolts the door, resists the devil and forces him to flee.
"So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and [the women] said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest." — Ruth 1:19-22 (ASV)
Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. May God, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change!
Naomi signifies "pleasant," or "amiable"; Mara, "bitter," or "bitterness." She was now a woman of a sorrowful spirit. She had come home empty, poor, a widow and childless.
But there is a fullness for believers of which they can never be emptied; a good part which shall not be taken from those who have it.
The cup of affliction is a "bitter" cup, but she acknowledges that the affliction came from God. It is fitting for us to have our hearts humbled under humbling providences. It is not affliction itself, but affliction rightly borne, that does us good.
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