Ruth 1:5-15

5 Machlon et Kiljon moururent aussi tous les deux, et Naomi resta privée de ses deux fils et de son mari.

6 Puis elle se leva, elle et ses belles-filles, afin de quitter le pays de Moab, car elle apprit au pays de Moab que l'Eternel avait visité son peuple et lui avait donné du pain.

7 Elle sortit du lieu qu'elle habitait, accompagnée de ses deux belles-filles, et elle se mit en route pour retourner dans le pays de Juda.

8 Naomi dit alors à ses deux belles-filles: Allez, retournez chacune à la maison de sa mère! Que l'Eternel use de bonté envers vous, comme vous l'avez fait envers ceux qui sont morts et envers moi!

9 Que l'Eternel vous fasse trouver à chacune du repos dans la maison d'un mari! Et elle les baisa. Elles élevèrent la voix, et pleurèrent;

10 et elles lui dirent: Non, nous irons avec toi vers ton peuple.

11 Naomi, dit: Retournez, mes filles! Pourquoi viendriez-vous avec moi? Ai-je encore dans mon sein des fils qui puissent devenir vos maris?

12 Retournez, mes filles, allez! Je suis trop vieille pour me remarier. Et quand je dirais: J'ai de l'espérance; quand cette nuit même je serais avec un mari, et que j'enfanterais des fils,

13 attendriez-vous pour cela qu'ils eussent grandi, refuseriez-vous pour cela de vous marier? Non, mes filles! car à cause de vous je suis dans une grande affliction de ce que la main de l'Eternel s'est étendue contre moi.

14 Et elles élevèrent la voix, et pleurèrent encore. Orpa baisa sa belle-mère, mais Ruth s'attacha à elle.

15 Naomi dit à Ruth: Voici, ta belle-soeur est retournée vers son peuple et vers ses dieux; retourne, comme ta belle-soeur.

Ruth 1:5-15 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.