Ruth 1:13-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 1:6-18

See here, I. The good affection Naomi bore to the land of Israel, Ruth 1:6. Though she could not stay in it while the famine lasted, she would not stay out of it when the famine ceased. Though the country of Moab had afforded her shelter and supply in a time of need, yet she did not intend it should be her rest for ever; no land should be that but the holy land, in which the sanctuary of God was, of which he had said, This is my rest for ever. Observe, 1. God, at last, returned in mercy to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:13

Would you tarry for them till they were grown ?.... It is not to be thought that they would tarry till she was married and had children, and then till these infants were grown up to men's estate, and be marriageable; for though Tamar tarried for Shelah, yet he was born, and of some years of age, though not a grown man, Genesis 38:11 . would ye stay for them from having husbands ? they were young widows, and it was fit they should marry again; and it could not be imagined that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:14

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again ,.... Not being able to bear the thought of parting, or that they must be obliged to it: and Orpah kissed her mother in law ; gave her the parting kiss, as the Jews F5 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 62. 4. Shemot, sect. 5. fol. 94. 4. call it; and which was used by other people F6 "----discedens oscula nulla dedi". Ovid. ep. 3. ver. 14. ; but not without affection to her, and took her leave of her, as her kiss testified, since it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:15

And she said ,.... That is, Naomi to Ruth, after Orpah was gone: behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods ; meaning Orpah, who was the wife of her husband's brother, as the word used signifies; she was not only on the road turning back to her own country and people, but to the gods thereof, Baalpeor or Priapus, and Chemosh, Numbers 21:29 from whence Aben Ezra concludes, that she had been a proselyte to the true religion, and had renounced the gods of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee ,.... Do not make use of any arguments to persuade me to go back: or "do not meet me", or "be against me" F8 על תפגעי בי "ne occurras mihi", Vatablus, Rambachius; "ne obstes me", Tigurine version; "ne adverseris mihi", V. L. Drusius; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; do not meet me with objections, or be in my way, or an hinderance to me, in going along with thee; do not be against it, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:17

Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried ,.... She was determined to abide with her unto death, and not only was desirous to die as she did, but where she should die; in the same country, cottage, and bed, and be laid in the same grave, in hope of rising together at the resurrection of the just; having no regard at all to the sepulchres of her fathers, which people in all ages and countries have been fond of being laid in, as an honour and happiness. So with the Greeks and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:14

And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law - The Septuagint add, Και επεστρεψεν εις τον λαον αυτης , And returned to her own people. The Vulgate, Syrian, and Arabic, are to the same purpose. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:15

Gone back - unto her gods - They were probably both idolaters, their having been proselytes is an unfounded conjecture. Chemosh was the grand idol of the Moabites. The conversion of Ruth probably commenced at this time. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said - A more perfect surrender was never made of friendly feelings to a friend: I will not leave thee - I will follow thee: I will lodge where thou lodgest - take the same fare with which thou meetest; thy people shall be my people - I most cheerfully abandon my own country, and determine to end my days in thine. I will also henceforth have no god but thy God, and be joined with thee in worship, as I am in affection and consanguinity. I will cleave unto thee even unto death;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:17

The Lord do so to me , and more - May he inflict any of those punishments on me, and any worse punishment, if I part from thee till death. And it appears that she was true to her engagement; for Naomi was nourished in the house of Boaz in her old age, and became the fosterer and nurse of their son Obed, Rth 4:15, Rth 4:16. read more

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