Ruth 1:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 1:1-5

The first words give all the date we have of this story. It was in the days when the judges ruled (Ruth 1:1), not in those disorderly times when there was no king in Israel; but under which of the judges these things happened we are not told, and the conjectures of the learned are very uncertain. It must have been towards the beginning of the judges? time, for Boaz, who married Ruth, was born of Rahab, who received the spies in Joshua's time. Some think it was in the days of Ehud, others of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 1:4

And they took them wives of the women of Moab ,.... Not before they were proselyted to the Jewish religion, as Aben Ezra thinks, and which seems plainly to be the case of Ruth; at least she was so afterwards, if not before; and also of Orpah, as the same writer concludes from 1:15 though others are of a different opinion, and some excuse their marriage, and others condemn it as unlawful, among whom is the Targumist, who paraphrases the words,"and they transgressed the decree of the Word of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 1:4

And they took them wives - The Targum very properly observes, that they transgressed the decree of the word of the Lord, and took to themselves strange women. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 1:1-5

The emigrants and their trials. We are introduced to the Hebrew family into which the Moabitess Ruth was married. I. THE BEAUTIFUL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAMES of both the Hebrew parents. II. THE WOLF OF HUNGER HAD COME PROWLING TO THE HEBREWS ' DOOR . In those conditions of society in which there is little commerce to unite people to people, or when a city is in a state of siege, the consequences of famine are inexpressibly sad and harrowing.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 1:3-5

"In these words," says Fuller, "we have two marriages ushered and followed by funerals." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 1:4

And they took to themselves wives of the women of Moab. It was their own act. Josephus, reproducing the narrative from memory, represents the event as occurring in the father's lifetime, and as brought about by his arrangement. He says of Elimelech, "Coming into the territory of Moab, he sojourns there, and, things prospering according to his mind, he gives in marriage to his sons ( ἄγεται τοῖς υἱοῖς ) Moabitish wives." Theological critics have here again raised the question, Was it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 1:4

Marriage. The notes of time found in this narrative are meager. It is not easy to decide to what the "ten years "here mentioned refer. After the death of Elimelech, the two sons were spared to be the occupation and the solace of the widow's life. Naomi saw them grow up to manhood. Then the young men "took them wives of the women of Moab." I. MARRIAGE IS LAWFUL BETWEEN PERSONS OF DIFFERENT NATIONS . There was nothing in the law of Moses to prevent these young men from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 1:4-5

A foreign land. "And they dwelled there about ten years." Memorable years! Marriages and births had given place to separation and bereavement. Elimelech the father died; so also did the two sons Mahlon and Chillon. Thus we have the sad picture of three widows. I. WE CAN FLY FROM FAMINE , BUT NOT FROM DEATH . We need not enter upon the argument of some expositors, as to whether Elimelech did right to leave Bethlehem; whether by famine is not meant insufficiency of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 1:4

Marriages of Israelites with women of Ammon or Moab are nowhere in the Law expressly forbidden, as were marriages with the women of Canaan Deuteronomy 7:1-3. In the days of Nehemiah the special law Deuteronomy 23:3-6 was interpreted as forbidding them, and as excluding the children of such marriages from the congregation of Israel Nehemiah 13:1-3. Probably the marriages of Mahlon and Chilion would be justified by necessity, living as they were in a foreign land. Ruth was the wife of the older... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 1:4

Ruth 1:4. They took them wives of the daughters of Moab Either these women were proselytes when they married them, which what is afterward recorded of Ruth ( Rth 1:16 ) renders very probable, or they sinned in marrying them, and therefore might be punished with short lives and want of issue. The Chaldee paraphrast declares for the latter opinion. “Their days were cut short,” says he, “because they married strange women.” read more

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