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Ruth

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Ruth 1

1And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth–lehem–judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Commentary · verse 1

In the days of Judges, a man from Bethlehem went to Moab with his wife and two sons. This book recorded events that took place sometime during the Book of Judges. Basically, the Book of Judges was a big picture perspective on this time in Israel's history. This book was a small picture perspective of events that occurred within the big picture.

2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

3And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth–lehem–judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

3And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Commentary · verses 2-3

Elimelech, the man from Bethlehem, died.

4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.

4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Commentary · verse 4

Elimelech's two sons took wives from Moab: Orpah and Ruth. Moab was from Lot.

5And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.

5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Commentary · verse 5

The two sons died.

6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.

7And she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Commentary · verses 6-7

Naomi took her two daughters-in-law and began returning to Judah. Remember, the lineage of Christ came through Judah.

8And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house: Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

Commentary · verse 8

Naomi told her two daughters-in-law to return to Moab.

9Jehovah grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.

9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

Commentary · verses 9-10

Orpah and Ruth told Naomi that they would go with her.

11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear sons; 13would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me.

11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

Commentary · verses 11-13

Naomi tried to convince them to leave. She emphasized the importance of having a "husband." A husband wasn't merely a man in the marriage covenant, a "husband" was a "worker of the land." It was a husband's job to nourish and cherish the woman (Ephesians 5:25-30), to develop her into the woman God created her to be.

14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.

14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Commentary · verse 14

Orpah agreed to leave, but Ruth "clave" to Naomi. Notice, Ruth would be the eighth example of a woman bearing pain during the time of the Book of Judges, this time it was for another woman.

15And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.

16And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; 17where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.

18And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking unto her.

15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17Where 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.

18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Commentary · verses 15-18

Ruth pleaded her case and convinced Naomi to let her stay with her.

19So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?

19So they two went until they came to Beth–lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth–lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Commentary · verse 19

The two of them went to Bethlehem and the people recognized Naomi.

20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Commentary · verse 20

"Naomi" meant "pleasant." "Mara" meant "bitter."

21I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth–lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

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