_Of one. Hebrew, "And it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled." (Haydock) --- The and shews the connection with the former book. (Calmet) --- Land. Chaldean adds, "of Israel," (Menochius) while the less fertile country of Moab had abundance. God thus punished the idolatry of his people. So... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elimelech. Josephus and others read erroneously, Abimelech. He was probably called also Jokim, 1 Paralipomenon iv. 22. --- Ephrathites. This title often designates people of the tribe of Ephraim; (Judges xii. 5., and 1 Kings i. 2,) but here it means those of Ephrata, which is also called Bethlehem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ruth was the wife of Mahalon; (chap. iv. 10,) and signifies one "well watered, (Menochius) or inebriated," &c. (Haydock) --- The sons of Noemi were excused by necessity in marrying idolaters, though they ought to have done their best to convert them. The Chaldean greatly condemns their marriage, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mothers, who had separate apartments from the men. (Calmet) --- Me. They had behaved with great respect and love towards their husbands, and towards Noemi, whom they even wish to accompany. (Menochius) --- The pronouns in this, and verses 9, 11, 13, and 19, are surprisingly corrupted in Hebrew bein... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take. She proposes marriage to them, as a state more suitable to their years, (Haydock) and wishes that they may experience none of its solicitudes, (1 Corinthians vii. 28,) but be constantly protected by their husbands. Widows are exposed to many difficulties. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of me. Hence it appears that the Rabbins are under a mistake, when they say that those children who are born after the death of their brothers, are not obliged to take their widows._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Marry. Hebrew, "would you stay for them from having husbands!"_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And returned, is not expressed in Hebrew. But the Septuagint have, "and she returned to her people." (Haydock)._... [ Continue Reading ]
_To her gods, &c. Noemi did not mean to persuade Ruth to return to the false gods she had formerly worshipped; but by this manner of speech, insinuated to her, that if she would go with her, she must renounce her false gods, and turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. (Challoner) --- She wished to try... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord do so and so, &c. A form of swearing usual in the history of the Old Testament, by which the person wished such and such evils to fall upon them, if they did not do what they said. (Challoner) --- It is not certain that they expressed what particular evils. (Calmet) --- They might be willi... [ Continue Reading ]
_That Noemi. This exclamation might proceed either from surprise, or from contempt. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_That is. The explanations are added by St. Jerome. (Haydock) --- Noemi had formerly a husband and two sons, with great riches, of which she was now deprived. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Almighty. Hebrew Sadai, ("the self-sufficient) hath afflicted."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Harvest. About the month of Nisan, or our March (Calmet) and April. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I.... [ Continue Reading ]