Rut 1:2

2 El nombre de aquel varón era Elimelech, y el de su mujer Noemi; y los nombres de sus dos hijos eran, Mahalón y Chelión, Ephrateos de Beth-lehem de Judá. Llegaron pues á los campos de Moab, y asentaron allí.

Rut 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.

Rut 1:2 In-Context

1 Y ACONTECIO en los días que gobernaban los jueces, que hubo hambre en la tierra. Y un varón de Beth-lehem de Judá, fué á peregrinar en los campos de Moab, él y su mujer, y dos hijos suyos.

2 El nombre de aquel varón era Elimelech, y el de su mujer Noemi; y los nombres de sus dos hijos eran, Mahalón y Chelión, Ephrateos de Beth-lehem de Judá. Llegaron pues á los campos de Moab, y asentaron allí.

3 Y murió Elimelech, marido de Noemi, y quedó ella con sus dos hijos;

4 Los cuales tomaron para sí mujeres de Moab, el nombre de la una Orpha, y el nombre de la otra Ruth; y habitaron allí unos diez años.

5 Y murieron también los dos, Mahalón y Chelión, quedando así la mujer desamparada de sus dos hijos y de su marido.