But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. Part of the story about Naomi plays there, and another part in Bethlehem. Clearly as quite young men. Lot was turned to salt because she looked back at the city. His name was Nate Mirza. Had you done so, you would have been able to even withstand Gods anger (Petichta Ruth Rabbah 5). The word redeem means to set free by paying a price. In the case of Ruth and Naomi, Elimelechs property had As they continue their journey toward Bethlehem, Naomi makes a three-fold attempt to persuade Orpah and Ruth to return to their homes, rather than to accompany her all the way back to Israel. In Judges 3, we read that the Israelites were subject to Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years.8 Since the Moabites were not Canaanites, marriage to a Moabite was not strictly forbidden.9 Nevertheless, Moabites were not only regarded as aliens or foreigners, but also as second class citizens. Marriage to a Moabite was not something one did to gain status in Israel. Now that Orpah has decided to turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! And Gideon said to them: I shall not rule over you and my son shall not rule over you, Hashem shall rule over you (Judges 8, 22). This, of course, is Naomis meaning. It seems that they are pointing out a certain disconnect between the name and the behavior. This suggests that the Narrator was not happy with him, for when God approves of a journey, it, the participants, their families, and even their livestock are described in loving detail (See Ezra 2, 66-67, after commentary Nachalat Yosef). He stood and surrounded it with rebuilt walls from three directions. Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? We know of Abimelech, son of the leader Gideon and Abimelech, the King of Gerar. The Bible did not say how this happened, but the household was now comprised of three widows. We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! 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. 14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. Yet, they throw a shadow over the entire story. WebThe Tragedy of Elimelech Ruth Introduction The book of Ruth is a fascinating little book in the Old Testament. Lot and his family were spared, but his wife died (turned to salt) because she looked back. There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. 1 0 obj
In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. Stated in the words of the author of Judges, every man (and woman) was doing what was right in their own eyes. Here is a woman who is not walking by faith, but by sight, who is not living according to the law, but in disregard for it. We, who are not certain of our genealogies, derive names from our forefathers. And one of these two Ruth is a Moabite, not an Israelite. Ruth rejected Naomis appeal to leave her and go back to Moab, choosing instead to believe and behave like a true Israelite. Fearing they would be overrun by the Israelites, Balak (king of Moab)4 hired Balaam to curse Israel. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) From Ruth 4:13, one might infer that God prevented both Orpah and Ruth from bearing children to their husbands. 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. They need new or different husbands to marry and to bear children. She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. Major Gift. And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. This was a violation of the Mosaic law (De 7:3; 23:3; Ezr 9:2; Ne 13:23); and Jewish writers say that the early deaths of both the young men were divine judgments inflicted on them for those unlawful connections. It provides us with a look at the life of the common person in 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). She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. Webelimelech Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. DAGON (Heb. 4 0 obj
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 final chapters of the Book of Judges are certainly the worst of times, and yet the Book of Ruth describes the best of times. This suggests to me that godly character is not only evident in the good times, but even more dramatically in the bad times. Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. When I realized this, I blurted out, What a witch!, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. Like Moabs mother, the Israelites reasoned that due to their circumstances, an Israelite line might become extinct. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. 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. Ruth 4:9 We know that this backfired because Balaam could not curse those whom God had blessed.5 When this approach did not work, Balaam counseled Balak how to harm Israel in a very different way by having the Moabite women seduce the Israelite men.6 One might easily infer from this that the Moabites, like the Canaanites, were a sexually immoral people (in a way that tempted the Israelites). - In 2012, I became a member of juFORUM, a Germany-wide network of young scientists. No, my daughters, you must not return with me. Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. 20 It could well be that Orpah had much to say, but the author did not wish to focus on her as she is not the heroine of this story. I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. To do it any other way was to disobey God. At this point in time, one would not think that Naomi would be at the top of the list in the hall of faith: 13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. 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. Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. Encyclopaedia Judaica. We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces (Exodus 23:24). 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! They rejected him as they rejected others. The name of Achimelech, the priest who gave aid to David at Nob, reflects his elevated stature (Leviticus Rabbah 1,3) and Malchizedek was the King of Salem (Malkiel in Numbers 25, 24 deserves a separate discussion). Here is a story that not only warms our hearts, it encourages our faith by unveiling the providential hand of God in bringing salvation and blessing during one of the darkest periods in history. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. Here the name reflects the mans essence.The name of one was Peleg, for in his days, the entire world became divided (ni-peleg-a) (Geneis 10,25) This name was was given for Dispersion (after the Tower of Babel) that occurred during Pelegs lifetime. After about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion died. Elimelech had a wife named Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. . In this emergency, she was proposing an unconventional solution to their problem. Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had ended and food was now available in Bethlehem ( Ruth 1:6 ), so she determined to return. There were no men nearby to marry, she reasoned, so there was no conventional way25 for them to bear children and thus to preserve their fathers line. Dagn ), the Syrian and Canaanite god of seed, vegetation, and crops. Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Elimelech was one of the great men and authorities in Israel. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Naomi signifies my amiable or pleasant one; Mahlon and Chilion signify sickness and consumption. The ancestors, since they knew their genealogies, would derive names from events. 22 Feb. 2023
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