Ruth 1:6

6 And she arose to go from the land of Moab to her own country, with both her daughters in law: for she had heard that the Lord had looked upon his people, and had given them food.

Ruth 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:6

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return
from the country of Moab
After the death of her two sons, and having heard of the ceasing of the famine in Israel, she had a desire to go into her own country, where she would have better opportunities of serving the Lord; and having no heart to stay in Moab, an idolatrous country, where she had lost her husband, and her two sons; and therefore prepared for her journey, and set forward, and her two daughters-in-law with her, to accompany her some part of the way; for it does not appear to be their intention, at least at first setting out, to go with her into the land of Canaan; and therefore it is only said, that they arose

that she might return

for she had heard in the country of Moab:
which was near the land of Israel, the borders of it reaching to the salt sea; the Targum says she heard it by the mouth of an angel, but it is highly probable it was by common fame:

that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread;
that he had been kind and gracious to the people of Israel, by granting them plenty of provisions; which might be their happy case after Gideon had vanquished the Midianites, who came yearly, and destroyed and carried off the fruits of the earth, which had caused a famine; see ( Judges 6:3-6 ) ( 8:28 ) . It seems as if the famine had continued ten years, see ( Ruth 1:4 ) nor need this be thought incredible, since there was a famine in Lydia, which lasted eighteen years ^F2.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Herodot Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 94.

Ruth 1:6 In-Context

4 And they took wives of the women of Moab, of which one was called Orpha, and the other Ruth. And they dwelt their ten years,

5 And they both died, to wit, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman was left alone, having lost both her sons and her husband.

6 And she arose to go from the land of Moab to her own country, with both her daughters in law: for she had heard that the Lord had looked upon his people, and had given them food.

7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place of her sojournment, with both her daughters in law: and being now in the way to return into the land of Juda,

8 She said to them: Go ye home to your mothers, the Lord deal mercifully with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.