Ruth 1:6-18

Naomi Returns with Ruth

6 And she got up, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the countryside of Moab, because she had heard in the countryside of Moab that Yahweh had {come to the aid of}^[a] his people to give food to them.

7 So she set out from the place {where she was}^[b] and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, each [of you] return to her mother's house. May Yahweh {show kindness to you}^[c] [just] as you did with the dead and with me.

9 May Yahweh {grant that you}^[d] find a resting place, each [in] the house of her husband." And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice[s] and cried.

10 And they said to her, "[No,] we want to return with you to your people."

11 And Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. {Why do you still want to go with me}?^[e] [Are there] sons {in my womb}^[f] that may be husbands for you?

12 Turn back, my daughters! Go, for {I am too old to have a husband}.^[g] If I should think there is hope for me, even if I should have a husband [this] night, and even if I should bear sons,

13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore {refrain from marrying}?^[h] No, my daughters, for it is far more bitter to me than [to] you. For the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me."

14 And they lifted up their voices and cried again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [goodbye], but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law [too]."

16 But Ruth said, "{Do not urge}^[i] me to leave you [or] to return from {following you}!^[j] For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people [will be] my people and your God [will be] my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. So may Yahweh do to me, {and even more, unless}^[k] death {separates you and me}!"^[l]

18 [When Naomi] saw that she was determined to go with her, {she said no more}.^[m]

Ruth 1:6-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF RUTH

This book is called Ruth, not because she was the author of it, but because she is the principal subject of it. In the Syriac and Arabic versions, it is called the Book of Ruth the Moabitess, which describes her by the country of which she was. Her name, according to Hillerus {l}, signifies beautiful, of a good aspect, the same with Calliope in Greek. As to the author of this book, some attribute it to Eli the priest, who seems to have been too soon to give an account of the birth of David; others to Gad or Nathan; some to Hezekiah, and others to Ezra; but what the Talmudists assert, which is most generally received, and most probable, is, that it was written by Samuel; so they say Samuel {m} wrote his own book, Judges, and Ruth; and it is commonly said that this book is an appendix to that of the Judges, and the introduction to Samuel, and is fitly placed between them both. According to Eusebius {n}, with the Hebrews, Judges and Ruth make one book they call Shophetim, or Judges; the principal design of it is to give the genealogy of David, whom Samuel had anointed to be king of Israel, and from whom the Messiah was to come, and who therefore may be said to be the aim and scope of it, as he is of all Scripture; and whereby it appears that he sprung both from Jews and Gentiles, and is the Saviour of both, and there is a good foundation for both to hope in him; and the call and conversion of Ruth the Moabitess may be considered as a shadow, emblem, and pledge of the conversion of the Gentiles. Manythings besides may be learnt from this little book, as the different circumstances of good people in this life, and the particular providence of God respecting them. It furnishes out examples of bearing afflictions patiently, of industry, courteousness, kindness to strangers, and young converts; and none can doubt of the divine authority of this book, that considers the use made of it in the genealogies of Christ by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke.

{l} Onomastic. Sacr. p. 211. {m} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 13. 2. {n} Eccl. Hist. 1. 6. c. 25.

\\INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 1\\

This chapter treats of a family that removed from the land of Canaan to the land of Moab on account of a famine, where the father of it and his two sons died, and each of them left a widow, Ru 1:1-5 the mother-in-law proposed to return to her own country, and set forward with her two daughters-in-law, whom, when they had gone a little way with her, she entreated to go back, and expostulated with them about it, Ru 1:6-13, upon which one of them did, but the other, Ruth, the subject of this book, resolved to go the journey with her, Ru 1:14-18 and they both came to Bethlehem, the former residence of her mother-in-law Naomi, who was greatly taken notice of by her old friends and acquaintance, to whom she related her present circumstances, Ru 1:19-22.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "had considered"
• [b]. Literally "which she was there"
• [c]. Literally "do loyal love with you"
• [d]. Literally "give to you"
• [e]. Literally "To what do you want to go still for me?"
• [f]. Literally "in my intestines"
• [g]. Literally "I am too old from being to a man"
• [h]. Literally "Would you therefore let yourself be hindered to not belong to a man?"
• [i]. Literally "You shall not press me"
• [j]. Literally "from behind you"
• [k]. Literally "and so may he do again, that"
• [l]. Literally "makes a separation between you and between me"
• [m]. Literally "she ceased to speak to her"