_A.M. 2682. B.C. 1322._ Naomi removes to Moab, Ruth 1:1; Ruth 1:2. Her husband and sons die, Ruth 1:3. Designing to return to Beth-lehem, she addresses her daughters-in-law, Ruth 1:6. Orpah stays, but Ruth returns with her, Ruth 1:14. They come to Beth-lehem, Ruth 1:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a famine in the land_ This makes it probable that the things here recorded came to pass in the days of Gideon, for that is the only time when we read of a famine in the days of the judges; namely, when the Midianites, Amalekites, &c., came and _destroyed the increase of the earth, and lef... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah_ Bethlehem was otherwise called Ephratha. _Naomi_ signifies _my amiable_ or _pleasant_ one; _Mahlon_ and _Chilion_ signify _sickness_ and _consumption._ Probably they were sickly children, and not likely to be long-lived. Such are the products of our pleasant things,... [ Continue Reading ]
_They took them wives of the daughters of Moab_ Either these women were proselytes when they married them, which what is afterward recorded of Ruth (Rth 1:16) renders very probable, or they sinned in marrying them, and therefore might be punished with short lives and want of issue. The Chaldee parap... [ Continue Reading ]
_The woman was left of her two sons and her husband_ Loss of children and widowhood are both come upon her. By whom shall she be comforted? It is God alone who is able to comfort those who are thus cast down. _The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread_ That is, food: so she stayed no long... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return each to her mother's house_ She desires them to accompany her no farther, but to go back to their own home. And it seems it was usual in Moab, as well as in Israel, for widows to dwell with their parents. But she says, _mother's_, rather than _father's_ house, because daughters used to conve... [ Continue Reading ]
_That ye may find rest_, &c. That ye may be happily settled in houses of your own, with good husbands. _That they may be your husbands_ According to the ancient custom, (Genesis 38:8,) and the express law of God, (Deuteronomy 25:4,) which doubtless she had acquainted them with before, among other br... [ Continue Reading ]
_It grieveth me_ That you are left without the comfort of husbands or children; that I must part with such affectionate daughters; and that my circumstances are such that I cannot invite you to go along with me. For her condition was so mean at this time that Ruth, when she came to her mother's city... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kissed_ Departed from her with a kiss. Bade her farewell for ever. She loved Naomi; but she did not love her so well as to quit her country for her sake. Thus many have a value for Christ, and yet come short of salvation by him, because they cannot find in their hearts to forsake other things for h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is gone back to her people and to her gods_ By this it appears, if Orpah had been a proselyte to the Jewish religion, she afterward apostatized. Those that forsake the communion of saints will certainly break off their communion with God. _Return thou after thy sister-in-law_ This she said to try R... [ Continue Reading ]
_Entreat me not to leave thee_ For all thy entreaties cannot shake that resolution which thy instructions, formerly given, have wrought in me. _Whither thou goest, I will go_ Though to a country I never saw, which I have been taught to despise, and far distant from my own country. _Where thou lodges... [ Continue Reading ]
_That she was steadfastly minded to go with her_, &c. Was not this the very thing that Naomi aimed at in all she said, namely, to bring Ruth to be of this steadfast mind? _Then she left_ off _speaking_ Having gained her point. For she could desire no further confirmation of it than that solemn prote... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is this Naomi?_ Is this she that formerly lived in so much plenty and honour? How marvellously is her condition changed! _Call me not Naomi_ Which signifies _pleasant_, and _cheerful. Call me Mara_ Which signifies _bitter_, or _sorrowful. I went out full_ With my husband and sons, and a plentiful e... [ Continue Reading ]