(16) Intreat me not.—Ruth’s nobleness is proof against all. The intensity of her feeling comes out all the more strongly now that she pleads alone: “I will undertake with thee the toilsome journey, I will lodge with thee however hardly, I will venture among a strange people, and will worship a new god.” read more
Ruth 1:4 We strain our eyes to know something of the long line of the purple hills of Moab, which form the background at once of the history and of the geography of Palestine. It is a satisfaction to feel that there is one tender association which unites them with the familiar history and scenery of Judaea that from their recesses, across the deep gulf which separates the two regions, came the gentle ancestress of David and the Messiah. Stanley. References. I. 6-22. S. Cox, The Book of Ruth,... read more
THE PARTING OF THE WAYSRuth 1:14-19WE journey along with others for a time, enjoying their fellowship and sharing their hopes, yet with thoughts and dreams of our own that must sooner or later send us on a separate path. But decision is so difficult to many that they are glad of an excuse for self-surrender and are only too willing to be led by some authority, deferring personal choice as long as possible. Let an ecclesiastic or a strong-minded companion lay down for them the law of right and... read more
Analysis and Annotations CHAPTER 1 The Story of Naomi: Orpah and Ruth 1. Naomi and her sorrows (Ruth 1:1-5 ) 2. The return (Ruth 1:6-13 ) 3. Orpah turning back, Ruth cleaving (Ruth 1:14-18 ) 4. Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19-22 ) The story begins with a famine. Elimelech, “my God is king,” and Naomi, “pleasant,” leave Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” to go to the land of Moab, the heathen country. The story ends in Bethlehem with a marriage. Naomi far from the land, in... read more
DEPARTURE BECAUSE OF FAMINE (vv. 1-5) A famine was in the land of Israel. Why? Because the literal famine was to draw attention to the spiritual famine that came before it, a famine for hearing the words of God. Though Israel suffered from the spiritual famine, they did not feel it. So God sent them something they would feel! The famine was felt even in Bethlehem of Judah. Bethlehem means "the house of bread," where, of all places, there ought not to be a famine. But we too, though we are... read more
BACK TO THE HOMELAND Ruth 1:0 This beautiful story is an event occurring during the Judges (Ruth 1:1 ), but separated from the former to give prominence to the genealogical record with which it concludes (Ruth 4:18-22 ), showing Ruth an ancestress of David and hence of Jesus Christ. The story is so simply told that it needs only the briefest comments. Elimelech and his family are called “Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah” (1:2) for the reason that Ephrath was originally the name of Bethlehem... read more
Rth 1:1-18 Wordsworth. The Preacher's Homiletical Commentary thus describes the scene of action: At first Bethlehem, then Moab, then Bethlehem and the regions around once again. Bethlehem, two short hours' journey south of Jerusalem. The most attractive and significant of all the world's birthplaces (Schubert). Under ordinary circumstances a fruitful land. Remarkably well watered in comparison with other parts of Palestine (Benjamin of Tudela). Even in the present state of Palestine,... read more
The Character of Naomi Ruth 1:0 "IS this Naomi?" ( Rth 1:19 ) literally, is this the Naomi? the reference being to a person well known, and well known because of quality and station. The name was known to every one as the name of a lady of notable degree who had been obliged to give way to circumstances that were irresistible, and who had therefore become poor, dispossessed even of bread, and sent away in great distress to undergo what would seem to be the chief punishment which Heaven... read more
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. In what sweet and engaging language hath the Holy Ghost been pleased to convey to the church, the pious and unalterable resolution of this poor Moabite. No doubt Naomi had brought her well acquainted with the history of the God of Israel; and very many precious things she had learnt concerning the Lord's care of his people. But Reader! had this been all, Ruth's... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:1-22
The Exile and the Return of Naomi1. Beth-lehem-judah] two hours’ journey S. of Jerusalem, is to be distinguished from Bethlehem in Zebulun (Joshua 19:15). It was but a short distance from Moab, which, in the days here referred to, was a fertile, highly cultivated country. Travellers still speak of it as a land of streams. Nothing short of the compulsion of famine could have induced a Hebrew to migrate into this foreign country where he would have no right of citizenship, this unclean land where... read more