26 The way they acquired the 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no more noble. 20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing. As you will recall, Mrs. When a famine came to the area What a mighty, magnificent, merciful, awesome God we serve! Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Had you done so, you would have been able to even withstand Gods anger (Petichta Ruth Rabbah 5). If Naomi had other sons, she could give them to these women in Levirate marriage, but she has no other sons. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. Judah married a Canaanite woman, and two of his sons died because of their sin. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Im an Assyrian not a Syrian. The closing chapters of the Book of Judges contain some of the most gruesome accounts in all of the Bible homosexual Benjamites want to rape a guest in their city; a woman is brutally gang raped by these same men; her husband seems more than willing to sacrifice her to save his life, and then he chops her dead body into twelve pieces which he delivers to every part of Israel. Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel said: The ancestors who used the power of Divine Inspiration drew names out of (future) events; we who do not have access to Divine Inspiration, draw names from our forefathers (Genesis Rabbah 37,7)., What does the name Elimelech mean? Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. 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. 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. 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. Elamtu), region on the edge of the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau, modern Khuzistan, Sidon - As part of a small team, I organized a five-day congress (90 participants, budget 17,000), the largest yearly event of the association. Web- And Elimelech Naomi's husband died. Leaving His land, His people, His office-bearers, His worship and His day is leaving God. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, 13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! When the story opens, Naomis sons have just died. Naomis third appeal is to Ruth alone, based on Orpahs decision to return home. She was full when she had a husband and two sons; now she was empty, for all she had was Ruth. Moabs hostility and opposition to Israel continued on into the period of the Judges. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Ruth becomes a true Israelite in spite of Naomis persistent encouragement to return to her Moabite roots. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. Ruths spiritual journey is similar to that of Abraham. Both had married Israelite husbands, had borne no children, and were now widows. From these events, we can easily see that the Moabites were no friend to Israel. WebElimelech died, leaving Naomi with only her two sons. Lot and his family were spared, but his wife died (turned to salt) because she looked back. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. ; "God [or my God] is king"), the husband of *Naomi and father of Mahlon and *Chilion, from Beth-Lehem in Judah. "I Have Already Written of You Thrice:" Megilat Esther and the Eternal War with Amalek, Many Can Have "Urim" - Power; But Few Have "Tumim" Power. As the years have gone by, I may have mellowed in the terms I would use to portray Naomi, but my opinion of her has not really changed. EphrathitesThe ancient name of Beth-lehem was Ephrath (Ge 35:19; 48:7), which was continued after the occupation of the land by the Hebrews, even down to the time of the prophet Micah (Mic 5:2). https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech, "Elimelech (Ruth 1:1-22)2. This should not come as news to us, but it is a truth that has not come easily to Jews, even some Jewish Christians.33 It is Naomi who fails to live up to the faith of her fathers, while Ruth is an example for all to follow, Jew or Gentile. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). But here is where the similarity ends. Humanly speaking, staying with Naomi does not offer much promise of a good life for these Moabite widows. He arose and fled from them (Ruth Rabbah 1, 4). Apparently he was willing to help only if he wears the mantly of authority. 10 From what we learn from the Book of Ruth, one does wonder what role Naomi played in this decision. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech. Stated in the words of the author of Judges, every man (and woman) was doing what was right in their own eyes. Here is a woman who is not walking by faith, but by sight, who is not living according to the law, but in disregard for it. as Ili-Milku, a variant of the name Milk-ilu, ruler of Gezer. Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. , Akk. He keeps loyal love; that is, He is a God who perseveres in His love, and thus He is a covenant-keeping God. You will note from the first verse of chapter 1 that the setting for the story of Ruth is the times of the judges. It must have been on Naomis watch that these two sons married their Moabite wives Orpah and Ruth. Naomi tended to focus only on herself, on her lack of sons to give in marriage, and on her lack of a child to carry on the family line. A space remained that he did not manage to rebuild. One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. Somehow God wrote His law on Ruths heart, not unlike Tamar and Rahab, her predecessors. When kings ruled, My God is King, denoted not only spiritual but also political power. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. 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. He could have helped more, since he was wealthy. Only death will be able to separate me from you!. 17 Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried. Why do you call me Naomi, seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer? 22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. A lion approached and he fought off the lion. Ruth 4:9 She does not acknowledge sin on her part (and Elimelechs), and she does not seek to repent. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. In our text (as in Judges and everywhere else in Scripture), man looks bad, very bad, and God looks good, very good. %PDF-1.5 Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. It is also true (as God Himself says above) that God also punishes the guilty, but that is not the totality of who God is. 12 Go back home, my daughters! Cholim Prayers for Those in Need, Make a Donation 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. We read of the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19,3 just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. Copy. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. The ancestors, since they knew their genealogies, would derive names from events. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. The mans name was Elimelech. It follows, therefore, that these characters must be important in setting the theme of the book. A famine plagued Israel in the days of the judges. 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. (3) One gets the impression that those who remained in Bethlehem fared reasonably well during the famine; certainly better than Naomi and her family did. We should learn from Naomi that if barrenness is ones earthly fate, our heavenly fate is vastly different. He went first from Israel, the land of the living, and led them thence, and so he now goeth out of He came alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor. 25 Translations differ here, but I think that this daughters choice of words is very important to consider. Who would want Naomi for a mother-in-law? Ezekiel (10, 3) castigates the leaders of Israel as being foxes in the ruins. In her mind, this was the normal, the customary, way to produce offspring. And the woman was left of her two children and of her husband. Would man who truly believes that His God is King abandon his people at the time of famine? In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Follow your sister-in-law back home! 16 But Ruth replied. where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). They produced offspring for the Benjamites by orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of 200 virgins.26 The Israelites were like Moabs mother in that they were thinking and acting like Moabites. There may have been others who traveled to Moab with Elimelech and his family, but the author does not make a point of telling this to his readers. Webwas Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and ChilionEphrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. He lived during the period of the Judges, had a hereditary possession near Bethlehem, and is chiefly known as the husband of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ru and ancestress of David the king. It purposefully draws our attention to it, for it first tells us that a man went out and then tells us that the name of the man was Elimelech. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 1:1-5 Elimelech's care to provide for his family, was not to be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab could not be justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family. Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. Perhaps one reason why the author does not make a major point out of the theme of divine judgment is because his purpose is to emphasize divine mercy, not only as God provided food for His people, but also in His providential provision of a family and a posterity for Naomi and Elimelech. If Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Kilion suffered because of their sins, they deserved it. Dedicate an Article Lot fled with his daughters and was living in a cave. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? They rejected him as they rejected others. endobj It seems that they are pointing out a certain disconnect between the name and the behavior. Who thinks of Orpah today? Naomi told her friend not to call her Naomi (which means pleasant) any longer, but rather to call her Mara (which means bitter). Both women initially refused to heed Naomis exhortation to leave her and return to Moab. 35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? 15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. These are the times of darkness when godliness should shine forth as a brilliant light. 4 0 obj 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. Such early setting out of the players is quite unusual in Biblical writing. Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. WebElimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. He deals out Justice, rejecting the bad and rewarding the good. The name (Phoen. The only hope Naomi sees for Orpah and Ruth is the hope of finding a Moabite husband and bearing children. Elimelech, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz just... Was living in a cave to her tightly quite unusual in Biblical writing the account of the Book of,. Two of His family were spared, but His wife died ( turned to salt ) because she looked.! Do you call me Naomi, Ruth, and Kilion suffered because of their sin a fair bit in.... For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland Gezer. Naomi does not offer much promise of a good life for these two women have a fair bit common! 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