Ruth 1:2

2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.

Ruth 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:2

And the name of the man was Elimelech
Which signifies "my God is King", as he was King over Israel. In the times of the judges, the government was a theocracy; the judges were raised up immediately by the Lord, and ruled under him; the Targum calls him a great man, and so Jarchi; and it is very likely he was, especially if it be true what is said the Jewish chronology ^F21, that he was the brother of Salmon, prince of the tribe of Judah; and it is certain that Boaz the son of Salmon was a kinsman of his, ( Ruth 2:1 ) ,

and the name of his wife Naomi;
which signifies "sweet, pleasant", very likely a comely person, and of a sweet disposition; a name of the same signification with Naamah, the sister of Tubalcain, ( Genesis 4:22 ) and according to the Talmudists she was Elimelech's brother's daughter; for they say ^F23, that Elimelech, Salmon, and the kinsman (spoken of in this book), and the father of Naomi, were all of them the sons of Nahshon, prince of the tribe of Judah; the same Jarchi observes on ( Ruth 1:22 )

and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion;
which seem to have their names from weakness and consumption, being perhaps weakly and consumptive persons; and it appears they both died young. It is a tradition of the Jews, mentioned by Aben Ezra, that these are the same with Joash and Saraph, who are said to have dominion in Moab, ( 1 Chronicles 4:22 ) which is not likely:

Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah:
Jarchi interprets Ephrathites by men of worth and esteem; and the Targum is,

``Ephrathites, great men of Bethlehemjudah''

but no doubt they were called so, because Ephratah was one of the names of Bethlehem, ( Genesis 35:19 ) ( Micah 5:2 ) so called from its fruitfulness; though Aben Ezra thinks it had its name from Ephratah the wife of Caleb; but it was so called in the time of Moses, as in the passage referred to:

and they came into the country of Moab, and continued there;
unto their death; all excepting Naomi, who returned when she heard the famine was over.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 12. p. 34. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 8. 1.
F23 T. Bab Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 1.

Ruth 1:2 In-Context

1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.

3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,

4 who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,

5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.