They would be a reminder that Naomis sons their husbands had not married Israelite wives. 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. As I was studying our text for this message, it occurred to me that the text which describes the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19 is a key to understanding the story of Ruth, and especially Naomis role in this account. 20 It could well be that Orpah had much to say, but the author did not wish to focus on her as she is not the heroine of this story. And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. And Naomi was now ready to arrange for a marriage and offspring in an unconventional way, just as Tamar, the mother of Moab, and the Israelites (more recently) did. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. That is why some men and women will choose never to marry or to bear children. Both had married Israelite husbands, had borne no children, and were now widows. It must have been on Naomis watch that these two sons married their Moabite wives Orpah and Ruth. "Elimelech The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. But when there was a famine in the land, they moved to the neighboring country of Moab. 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. 15 The translations differ here. 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. 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. Her faith and obedience was known by all. A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. 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). 35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? 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. Lot fled with his daughters and was living in a cave. Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? 4 0 obj Naomi saw singleness (widowhood for her) and childlessness as a curse, while Paul taught that singleness could facilitate ministry to others and to God (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Major Gift. Text Copyright In her mind, this was the normal, the customary, way to produce offspring. They would be (or so it may have seemed to Naomi) a liability to her when she returned. Then you go and have sexual relations with him so we can preserve our family line through our father. 35 So they made their father drunk that night as well, and the younger one came and had sexual relations with him. as Ili-Milku, a variant of the name Milk-ilu, ruler of Gezer. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. When kings ruled, My God is King, denoted not only spiritual but also political power. And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. He stood and surrounded it with rebuilt walls from three directions. (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. Her commitment is not just to Naomi; it is a lifetime commitment to Israel and to her God. There they made a new home and seemed to do well (the Bible does not give us many details) until Elimelech died. Naomi"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph (1Ch 4:22). Webelimelech Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. I remember responding to Nate, Neither do the rest of us. Well, if this is true of us, it is certainly true of the Moabites. We dont have a very good reputation in the Bible.. 3 0 obj May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. His counsel (even though it effectively called God a liar) was given as though it were in her best interest. There are those who attempt to guild the lily as they read the Book of Ruth, desperately seeking some basis for making a pious Israelite of Naomi. The focus is usually on one person and not on the group. A space remained that he did not manage to rebuild. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Now it is true that Machlon, Kilyon, and Elimelech pass quickly from the scene and Orpah follows them soon thereafter. 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. The name itself is attested in the *El-Amarna letters of the 14th century b.c.e. 26 The way they acquired the 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no more noble. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. Create a Memorial The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. 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. Clearly as quite young men. Such early setting out of the players is quite unusual in Biblical writing. Lots older daughter neatly avoided the moral implications of what she proposed. WebDeutsches Jungforschernetzwerk - juFORUM e.V. No, my daughters, you must not return with me. In her third attempt, she orders Ruth to follow her sister-in-law back home. RACHEL (Heb. Naomi instructs us to beware of Calvinism run amuck. We certainly are reminded of the sovereignty of God by our text, but unfortunately most of the emphasis on Gods sovereignty in chapter 1 comes from Naomi, and she is not seeing things as she should. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. Good News Translation She views God as harsh and uncaring, doling out affliction and trouble in a way that is completely unrelated to her attitudes and actions. ." <> They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. These are the times of darkness when godliness should shine forth as a brilliant light. Ruth would have none of this foolish talk, and she made this abundantly clear to her mother-in-law. Who would want Naomi for a mother-in-law? 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. Ruth emphatically says No to Naomi, but with such wonderful words Naomi can hardly continue to stand in her way. Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). There were no state registries or social security numbers and names served a much more fluid purpose than they do today. ), matriarch of Israel, wife of *Jacob and the mother of *Joseph and Benjamin. She gave them very pragmatic counsel, based upon what could be seen, rather than on Gods Word and the principle of faith. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). How wrong Naomi was. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. We should notice that it was not until after Elimelechs death that they married. Yet, they throw a shadow over the entire story. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. 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). But 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. There is really no evidence of faith (on Naomis part), either. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. Naomi counseled Orpah and Ruth to do what seemed right in their eyes. Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. 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). And Gideon said to them: I shall not rule over you and my son shall not rule over you, Hashem shall rule over you (Judges 8, 22). There is something particularly encouraging about our text. See also: More about the Book of Ruth. We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! She was not a Jew, and she had not been raised by parents who taught her the law. Id like to deal with our text by calling your attention to the contrasts the author has highlighted in the first chapter of Ruth. It follows, therefore, that these characters must be important in setting the theme of the book. 5 Then Naomis two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. Put another way, the title of this book is Ruth, not Orpah. It was a good number of years ago that I sat in on an excellent elective class taught by my friend, Tom Wright. When he saw that his generation scorned great men, he said, Surely I shall go from here so that I will not be caught among them (Zohar Chodosh 77a). The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. 20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing. 15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Ill attempt to support my conclusions as we proceed in our study of this book. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. Who were Naomis daughter in laws? WebThen Naomi's husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons, Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband. He thought that he would be King. How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! There Ruth married *Boaz, one of Elimelech's relatives. Each of you should return to your mothers home! The security in the home of a new husband referred to earlier is now spelled out in plainer terms. God is always at his work. Instead of trusting God to preserve her husbands line (indeed, the Messianic line), she at least passively (if not actively) approves of their marriage to non-Israelites. The mans name was Elimelech. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. 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. And his little boys died too. Naomi was now left without a husband, without sons, and without grandchildren. Ruth becomes a true Israelite in spite of Naomis persistent encouragement to return to her Moabite roots. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) 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 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. Even if she were able to bear children, it would be unreasonable for these two widows to wait 20 years for replacement husbands. No, in Naomis mind there was no good reason to remain with her as she returned to her homeland. And so this older daughter persuaded her younger sister that both of them needed to get their father drunk, and then each should lie with him, so that they might produce offspring for their father. Best Answer. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? Do clownfish have a skeleton or exoskeleton. Ruth was determined to serve and care for her mother-in-law; Orpah chose to look out for herself. May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Would man who truly believes that His God is King abandon his people at the time of famine? 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. WebElimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. The only hope Naomi sees for Orpah and Ruth is the hope of finding a Moabite husband and bearing children. ." God loves to show mercy and compassion. 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? 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. Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. Lots daughters, the Israelites (on behalf of the Benjamites), and Naomi are inclined to resort to a pragmatic solution, rather than one that is faith-based and rooted in principle. 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. After only ten years in Moab, Elimelechs sons also died. 12 May the LORD reward your efforts! 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