Ruth 1

1 in diebus unius iudicis quando iudices praeerant facta est fames in terra abiitque homo de Bethleem Iuda ut peregrinaretur in regione moabitide cum uxore sua ac duobus liberis

2 ipse vocabatur Helimelech uxor eius Noemi e duobus filiis alter Maalon et alter Chellion Ephrathei de Bethleem Iuda ingressique regionem moabitidem morabantur ibi

3 et mortuus est Helimelech maritus Noemi remansitque ipsa cum filiis

4 qui acceperunt uxores moabitidas quarum una vocabatur Orpha altera Ruth manseruntque ibi decem annis

5 et ambo mortui sunt Maalon videlicet et Chellion remansitque mulier orbata duobus liberis ac marito

6 et surrexit ut in patriam pergeret cum utraque nuru sua de regione moabitide audierat enim quod respexisset Dominus populum suum et dedisset eis escas

7 egressa est itaque de loco peregrinationis suae cum utraque nuru et iam in via posita revertendi in terram Iuda

8 dixit ad eas ite in domum matris vestrae faciat Dominus vobiscum misericordiam sicut fecistis cum mortuis et mecum

9 det vobis invenire requiem in domibus virorum quos sortiturae estis et osculata est eas quae elevata voce flere coeperunt

10 et dicere tecum pergemus ad populum tuum

11 quibus illa respondit revertimini filiae mi cur venitis mecum num ultra habeo filios in utero meo ut viros ex me sperare possitis

12 revertimini filiae mi abite iam enim senectute confecta sum nec apta vinculo coniugali etiam si possem hac nocte concipere et parere filios

13 si eos expectare velitis donec crescant et annos impleant pubertatis ante eritis vetulae quam nubatis nolite quaeso filiae mi quia vestra angustia me magis premit et egressa est manus Domini contra me

14 elevata igitur voce rursum flere coeperunt Orpha osculata socrum est ac reversa Ruth adhesit socrui suae

15 cui dixit Noemi en reversa est cognata tua ad populum suum et ad deos suos vade cum ea

16 quae respondit ne adverseris mihi ut relinquam te et abeam quocumque perrexeris pergam ubi morata fueris et ego pariter morabor populus tuus populus meus et Deus tuus Deus meus

17 quae te morientem terra susceperit in ea moriar ibique locum accipiam sepulturae haec mihi faciat Deus et haec addat si non sola mors me et te separaverit

18 videns ergo Noemi quod obstinato Ruth animo decrevisset secum pergere adversari noluit nec ultra ad suos reditum persuadere

19 profectaeque sunt simul et venerunt in Bethleem quibus urbem ingressis velox apud cunctos fama percrebuit dicebantque mulieres haec est illa Noemi

20 quibus ait ne vocetis me Noemi id est pulchram sed vocate me Mara hoc est amaram quia valde me amaritudine replevit Omnipotens

21 egressa sum plena et vacuam reduxit me Dominus cur igitur vocatis me Noemi quam humiliavit Dominus et adflixit Omnipotens

22 venit ergo Noemi cum Ruth Moabitide nuru sua de terra peregrinationis suae ac reversa est in Bethleem quando primum hordea metebantur

Ruth 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

We find in this book excellent examples of faith, piety, patience, humility, industry, and loving-kindness, in the common events of life. Also we see the special care which God's providence take of our smallest concerns, encouraging us to full trust therein. We may view this book as a beautiful, because natural representation of human life; as a curious detail of important facts; and as a part of the plan of redemption.

Elimelech and his sons die in the land of Moab. (1-5) Naomi returns home. (6-14) Orpah stays behind, but Ruth goes with Naomi. (15-18) They come to Bethlehem. (19-22)

Verses 1-5 Elimelech's care to provide for his family, was not to be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab could not be justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family. It is folly to think of escaping that cross, which, being laid in our way, we ought to take up. Changing our place seldom is mending it. Those who bring young people into bad acquaintance, and take them out of the way of public ordinances, thought they may think them well-principled, and armed against temptation, know not what will be the end. It does not appear that the women the sons of Elimelech married, were proselyted to the Jewish religion. Earthly trials or enjoyments are of short continuance. Death continually removes those of every age and situation, and mars all our outward comforts: we cannot too strongly prefer those advantages which shall last for ever.

Verses 6-14 Naomi began to think of returning, after the death of her two sons. When death comes into a family, it ought to reform what is amiss there. Earth is made bitter to us, that heaven may be made dear. Naomi seems to have been a person of faith and piety. She dismissed her daughters-in-law with prayer. It is very proper for friends, when they part, to part with them thus part in love. Did Naomi do well, to discourage her daughters from going with her, when she might save them from the idolatry of Moab, and bring them to the faith and worship of the God of Israel? Naomi, no doubt, desired to do that; but if they went with her, she would not have them to go upon her account. Those that take upon them a profession of religion only to oblige their friends, or for the sake of company, will be converts of small value. If they did come with her, she would have them make it their deliberate choice, and sit down first and count the cost, as it concerns those to do who make a profession of religion. And more desire "rest in the house of a husband," or some wordly settlement or earthly satisfaction, than the rest to which Christ invites our souls; therefore when tried they will depart from Christ, though perhaps with some sorrow.

Verses 15-18 See Ruth's resolution, and her good affection to Naomi. Orpah was loth to part from her; yet she did not love her well enough to leave Moab for her sake. Thus, many have a value and affection for Christ, yet come short of salvation by him, because they will not forsake other things for him. They love him, yet leave him, because they do not love him enough, but love other things better. Ruth is an example of the grace of God, inclining the soul to choose the better part. Naomi could desire no more than the solemn declaration Ruth made. See the power of resolution; it silences temptation. Those that go in religious ways without a stedfast mind, stand like a door half open, which invites a thief; but resolution shuts and bolts the door, resists the devil and forces him to flee.

Verses 19-22 Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. May God, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change!, Naomi signifies "pleasant," or "amiable;" Mara, "bitter," or "bitterness." She was now a woman of a sorrowful spirit. She had come home empty, poor, a widow and childless. But there is a fulness for believers of which they never can be emptied; a good part which shall not be taken from those who have it. The cup of affliction is a "bitter" cup, but she owns that the affliction came from God. It well becomes us to have our hearts humbled under humbling providences. It is not affliction itself, but affliction rightly borne, that does us good.

Chapter Summary

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.