Rabbi Ginsburg argues that Elimelech is really not the problem; his sons are the problem. We want to go with you to your people., 11But Naomi replied, Why should you go on with me? But is this really all that the first five verses of Ruth contain? 14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; The word does mean something, but not exactly what the rabbi thinks. Was it at Naomis initiative that her sons took Moabite women for wives? Disagreement with his town leaders Famine in his home town Distant relatives invited him Earthquake in his home town Sara Rachel Mara Elizabeth 2: What were the names of Elimelech's two sons? Thus, when Elimelech began to purse daughters for his sons, ironically, he went to a place cursed for this very action. What route might one take from Bethlehem to Moab? This was the land in which God had already killed the men of Israel for the very same action. God loves to show mercy and compassion. The use of this word highlights for us the problem with trying to justify faithless living because it will only be for a short time. What begins as a tragedy of death and sorrow ends in the birth of new life and the resurrection of hope for the family of David. This means that we can find redemptive theology or theological concepts not only taught explicitly, but also reinforced as the theology is embedded in the very structure of the text. moved to Bethlehem with her mother in law, Naomi, she met and In moving to Moab, Naomi left the Lord to some extent and for some years. The subject was the Book of Ruth. When we met, I had no idea who he was, but he introduced himself something like this, Hi, Bob, Im Nate Mirza. And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. NLT Teen Life Application Study Bible, Softcover, My First Hands-on Bible--soft leather-look, bold blue, NLT Thinline Reference Bible, Filament Enabled Edition--soft leather-look, rustic brown, NLT Spiritual Growth Bible--soft leather-look, cream floral, NLT Large-Print Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition--genuine leather, brown (indexed). I think the message is pretty loud and clear: Liz Curtis Higgs wrote a book, THE GIRLS STILL GOT IT, about the story of Ruth. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Web(3) Naomi selleth . Samuel does this, not just once or twice, but he layers the whole story with irony. What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news. Each of you should return to your mothers home! This means that irony becomes the most important device for deepening our meditation on Ruth's story. His faithfulness to His people and to His covenant is at a time when His people are not faithful to Him and when they are living in disregard for His law. She persuaded her younger sister to help her get him drunk, and then for both of them to sleep with him to produce offspring for him. Keep Shining for Jesus Friend. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 8 Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, 9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans. Who will be the judge that does not fall like Samson fell? Access 50+ premium resources. If we are correct about the date of the book, then it fits perfectly with how the book of Judges ends and how Ruth's story begins. Why did Elimelech live with his family in Moab? - Answers In spite of the fact that Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) are living according to the spirit of their day (doing what is right in their own eyes), two people (Ruth and Boaz) stand out as examples of those who live by faith in the God of Israel, and whose lives exemplify living in accordance with Gods Word. Someone reminded me that the Book of Ruth is a lot like the Book of Esther. Fearing they would be overrun by the Israelites, Balak (king of Moab)4 hired Balaam to curse Israel. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities (Isaiah 54:1-3). Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1) 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. 1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. What was the reason that elimelech moved his family - Course Hero This email address is being protected from spambots. One can even imagine Elimelech explaining his apparently unfaithful choice to leave the land of God and spend time in Moab, but only until the famine is over. This seems to be designed to provoke some questions in the mind of the reader. It had been at least ten years since Naomi and her family had left them. The incarnate Son of God redeems His elect people through His cross for He is our blood relative who makes us flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone spiritually. 7With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. 31 Later the older daughter said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man anywhere nearby to have sexual relations with us, according to the way of all the world. God bless you! God had given the Israelite a way of understanding the world and life in the land. Naomi returned to her homeland accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. But sadly for his sons, then never comes, and they die in Moab. In the past, Naomi was always portrayed in a somewhat flattering way. The closing chapters of the Book of Judges contain some of the most gruesome accounts in all of the Bible homosexual Benjamites want to rape a guest in their city; a woman is brutally gang raped by these same men; her husband seems more than willing to sacrifice her to save his life, and then he chops her dead body into twelve pieces which he delivers to every part of Israel. WebElimelech and His Family Move to Moab 1 1-2 Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was a famine in the land. She had had a long stretch of time during which she observed Naomi's righteousness, and she (Ruth) became convinced that she must serve the One God and abandon her former idolatry. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Oh My! Is this merely a sad story of a family fleeing famine in Israel, only for most of them to end up in a graveyard in Moab? What time does normal church end on Sunday? And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. Call me Mara because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly. His intent was that once his sons would gain their consent, he would go back with his family to Bethlehem and have them converted. WebYet, you guessed it; Moab is the very place that Elimelech chose as his destination for bread. And when both her sons died without bearing children, her situation seemed impossible. There was a famine in the era of the Judges. Read More. They would be a reminder that Elimelech and Naomi had left Bethlehem when the going got tough. The story of Ruth and Boaz (yes, and even Naomi) should encourage us to live godly lives in dark days, days of unbelief, disobedience, and disregard for the Word of God. The just God, of course, is right in so doing, for He is judging sin.We also have Ruths beautiful and moving words to Naomi: 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: 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 (16-17). When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder Like Moabs mother, the Israelites reasoned that due to their circumstances, an Israelite line might become extinct. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. Orpah chose differently than Ruth and Naomi. Sometimes we have to leave people too. In the book of Ruth 1:1 we are told that there was famine in the Even if we realize that there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.. Once again I would suggest that Naomis strong urging for Ruth and Orpah to return was as much for her interests as for her daughters-in-law. Naomi adds one final argument in favor of Orpah and Ruth returning home to Moab. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Lines and paragraphs break automatically. But when she urged Ruth to return to her pagan god(s), that was the worst unkindness of all. Exegetical Essay: The Book Of Ruth - 275 Words | 123 Help Me One manifestation of Gods mercy, expressed through His sovereignty, is His providential working at times when there appears to be no hope. The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. I would be very reluctant to conclude that Ruths husband or his parents taught her the law. WebAnalyzes how ruth opens with a man leaving bethlehem of judah, along with his wife and two sons, for the land of moab during the time of the judges. She had left her country and lost her husband and both her sons. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Moab. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. | He left his wife | His sons murdered him | He died | He was killed by the King of Moab |. ii. It reminds me of a horror movie in which the setting lets everyone know that something terrible is inevitable. However, as they lived in the land and were not faithful, then God would bring famine. The only hope Naomi sees for Orpah and Ruth is the hope of finding a Moabite husband and bearing children. People who have chosen different paths. Leaving Bethlehem for Moab (Ruth #1) - prca.org Joseph's family were given the land of Goshen to live Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; There was no famine there Why did Thus, there was something covenantal about this famine. If you need my help and encouragement along the way, you know I am here for you! If you desire to join a community where you can meet others for hope and encouragement on your faith journey, I would love to have you as a fellow traveler. My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. I think I understand generally what Paul is saying here, based upon the promise in Jeremiah: 33 But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land, says the Lord. Elimelech died (of what, we are not told), leaving Naomi a widow, and Mahlon and Chilion orphans, in a foreign land (3). Moab was a land of rich soil and adequate rainfall so this man traveled to a place where his crops wouldnt fail. Naomis people (Israel) would be her people, and Naomis God would be her God. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? We shall see more about this in chapter 3. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. 3, 4). 1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. during the time of the judges in Israel. James illustrates the progression in the following way: Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. WebWhich was our brother Elimelechs He calls him their brother, because he was near of kin to them. WebAs a result, the socio-economic fabric of society was falling apart, and a famine gripped the land. Naomis third appeal is to Ruth alone, based on Orpahs decision to return home. Mahlon, the older son, died. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. I love how God works! Depending on where they settled, the trip would have been about one hundred miles and would have taken about a week. Indeed, Ruth begins with a stark opening sentence that is intended to alarm the reader. Jacob & Esau Pharez & Zarah 1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. There are those who attempt to guild the lily as they read the Book of Ruth, desperately seeking some basis for making a pious Israelite of Naomi. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; 9 May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband! Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly. The first concerns our Lord Jesus Christ. Tragedy Strikes the Family of Ruth Moab was a place of cursing for the people of God. God said that Moab was strictly off-limits for the Israelites. His sons, on the other hand, decide to stay or to dwell in Moab. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. And it happened or came to pass when the judges judged "famine" was in the land. Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. You can almost feel the trembling in his voice as he pleads with his wife to pretend to be his sister. of Orpah in the Book of Ruth. But leaving is hard sometimes, isnt it? (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; The psalmist maps out a common progression in the life of sin. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? We are not told how long Elimelech may have waited before he made his fateful decision. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. Why WebScarcity of food compelled him to emigrate with his family to Moab, where he died, and where one of his sons married Ruth ( ib. Ruth 1:1. Ruth 4:3 Commentaries: Then he said to the closest Ruth was determined to serve and care for her mother-in-law; Orpah chose to look out for herself. We can almost hear him telling himself and his family, "Look, I know that we shouldn't be doing this, but we will only stay until the famine has ceased!'. So she set out from the place [Moab] where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.. They entered the region of Moab and settled there. Ruth was born in Moab about B.C. Today, people move all the time for jobs, family, location, schools, etc. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Likewise, the foolish person who decides to live like this soon discovers the deadly character of such a decision. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. Start your free trial today! Instead of trusting God to preserve her husbands line (indeed, the Messianic line), she at least passively (if not actively) approves of their marriage to non-Israelites. Lots daughters, the Israelites (on behalf of the Benjamites), and Naomi are inclined to resort to a pragmatic solution, rather than one that is faith-based and rooted in principle. 15Look, Naomi said to her, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. They would be (or so it may have seemed to Naomi) a liability to her when she returned. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. (1) There is no clear link to a particular time, to a particular judge, or to a particular event recorded in the Book of Judges. For whatever the reason in God's sovereign purposes, famines provide the context for the test of faithfulness. In Naomis mind, it probably was in their best interest, but it also appeared to benefit her. 5 Then Naomis two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. 6Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This would have been They no longer have their old or former husbands because they have died. Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. Leaving His land, His people, His office-bearers, His worship and His day is leaving God. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. This email address is being protected from spambots. 4The two sons married Moabite women. It would also seem that Naomis barrenness was divinely imposed.18, (5) Moab was not the place of Gods promised blessings; Israel was.19. In Judges 19-21, we find a similar situation. But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. That person is a true Jew at heart. His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. He promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. After Mahlon died and Ruth had This man, who is yet unnamed, left the land of promise. Are you in a place you dont need to be? she was the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? Wow, Pat! Q. 15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus (Romans 2:12-16, emphasis mine). Web1. In the brief narrative no critical comment We should never have taken that one step in the direction of sin. But about ten years later, 5both Mahlon and Kilion died. He took his wife and Other translations have another another husband. His counsel (even though it effectively called God a liar) was given as though it were in her best interest. In her thinking, God had stripped her of all hope by taking her husband and her sons in death, and by preventing their wives from bearing children. Remember this, if ever you are tempted to leave the church, which is where the Lord dwells (I Tim. We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! 2The mans name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.At first blush, Ruth 1:1-5 records a very simple human story, involving a family of four, consisting of a man and his wife, Elimelech and Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion (2). Leaving the people of God is leaving the God of His people. They emigrated from famine-stricken May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! Samuel's use of setting is powerful as he highlights the inevitable problems that Elimelech will have. They lived in the town of Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah in the land of Israel, in the days of the judges (1), that is, after the deaths of the elders who outlived Joshua and before the reign of King Saul.But famine struck the promised land, including Judah and Bethlehem (1). We are connected theologically with the last verse of Judges as it unfolds in Ruth, but with curses that will be reversed by a faithful husband rather than a judge. 1, iv. The place known for refusing Israel bread is the very place Elimelech chooses to move his family for bread. She does not acknowledge sin on her part (and Elimelechs), and she does not seek to repent. Ruth provides us with a vital part of our Saviours genealogy, for she was the great-grandmother of King David from whom came the Messiah, according to His human nature. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. We may only intend to walk somewhere for a brief time. He was not a faithful husband. Ruth opens with some dramatic flair, which heightens the irony. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. Start for FREE. It led to a hopeless fatalism: It doesnt really matter what I say or do; God is against me, and there is nothing I can do about it.. When we read the Bible, we should expect to be taught the way of the covenant. Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; Thanks so much for meeting me here AT THE CROSSROADS. It is not Naomis belief in the sovereignty of God that troubles me as much as how she applies it. Certain decisions have a way of progressing to their natural conclusion. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. Obviously, Naomi had changed. At the very times when outward appearances look to us as though God is against us, God is at work behind the scenes for us. Reformed Witness Hour Messages for May 2020, Corporate Responsibility and Ezekiel 18 . document.getElementById('cloaka1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68').innerHTML = ''; You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Were Orpah and Ruth Israelites? Maybe you remember this from the story of Naomi and Ruththere was a third woman standing at the crossroads when they had to decide between staying in Moab or returning to Judah. - Quora Answer (1 of 4): Because there was a famine in Israel, so he went to another country presumably Elimelech faces the same kind of choice that Abraham faced. Her name was Orpah. I am so grateful for your encouragement! addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; Ruth is very significant as regards church membership, departing from the church and joining the church. A few years later, king Saul will offer the sacrifices, even though he was instructed to wait for Samuel, all because Saul felt this was a crisis that justified setting aside obedience in faith to Gods Word.27. The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. But the most dramatic new development in Naomis argument is her reference to Orpahs god: 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. In Numbers 25 we hear that the Israelites were beginning to fornicate with the Moabite women, and as a result God began to kill the men then with a plague. Naomi counseled Orpah and Ruth to do what seemed right in their eyes. For I am too old to get married again. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. If they were not faithful to this task, they would be tested even more severely and called back to faithfulness. They came empty (at least according to Naomis assessment see verse 21), but God would not let them go hungry (or childless). It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Ruth 1:2 - The Preacher's Homiletical Commentary The security in the home of a new husband referred to earlier is now spelled out in plainer terms. Save 15% on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. A man of the tribe of Judah, living in Bethlehemjudah at the time of the Judges (Ruth i. Why was Moab the worst place to look for bread? As the story of Esther unfolds, it looks as though every Jew is doomed to annihilation, but for the providence of God, whereby Gods enemies are destroyed and His people are spared.
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why did elimelech and his family go to moab