17 Where thou diest, H4191 will I die, H4191 and there will I be buried: H6912 the LORD H3068 do H6213 so to me, and more H3254 also, if ought but death H4194 part H6504 thee and me.
And he said, H559 What is the thing H1697 that the LORD hath said H1696 unto thee? I pray thee hide H3582 it not from me: God H430 do so H6213 to thee, and more also, H3254 if thou hide H3582 any thing H1697 from me of all the things H1697 that he said H1696 unto thee.
Then he said, H559 God H430 do H6213 so and more H3254 also to me, if the head H7218 of Elisha H477 the son H1121 of Shaphat H8202 shall stand H5975 on him this day. H3117
And when all H3605 the people H5971 came H935 to cause H1262 David H1732 to eat H1262 meat H3899 while it was yet H5750 day, H3117 David H1732 sware, H7650 saying, H559 So do H6213 God H430 to me, and more also, H3254 if I taste H2938 bread, H3899 or ought H3972 else, till H6440 the sun H8121 be down. H935
Who, G3739 when he came, G3854 and G2532 had seen G1492 the grace G5485 of God, G2316 was glad, G5463 and G2532 exhorted G3870 them all, G3956 that with purpose G4286 of heart G2588 they would cleave unto G4357 the Lord. G2962
But G235 none G3762 of these things G3056 move me, G4160 neither G3761 count I G2192 my G3450 life G5590 dear G5093 unto myself, G1683 so G5613 that I might finish G5048 my G3450 course G1408 with G3326 joy, G5479 and G2532 the ministry, G1248 which G3739 I have received G2983 of G3844 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 to testify G1263 the gospel G2098 of the grace G5485 of God. G2316
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ruth 1
Commentary on Ruth 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Ru 1:1-5. Elimelech, Driven by Famine into Moab, Dies There.
1. in the days when the judges ruled—The beautiful and interesting story which this book relates belongs to the early times of the judges. The precise date cannot be ascertained.
2. Elimelech—signifies "My God is king."
Naomi—"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph (1Ch 4:22).
Ephrathites—The ancient name of Beth-lehem was Ephrath (Ge 35:19; 48:7), which was continued after the occupation of the land by the Hebrews, even down to the time of the prophet Micah (Mic 5:2).
Beth-lehem-judah—so called to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Zebulun. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. After the death of their father, the two sons married Moabite women. 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.
Ru 1:6-18. Naomi Returning Home, Ruth Accompanies Her.
6, 7. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab—The aged widow, longing to enjoy the privileges of Israel, resolved to return to her native land as soon as she was assured that the famine had ceased, and made the necessary arrangements with her daughters-in-law.
8. Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's house—In Eastern countries women occupy apartments separate from those of men, and daughters are most frequently in those of their mother.
the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead—that is, with my sons, your husbands, while they lived.
9. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest—enjoy a life of tranquillity, undisturbed by the cares, incumbrances, and vexatious troubles to which a state of widowhood is peculiarly exposed.
Then she kissed them—the Oriental manner when friends are parting.
11. are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?—This alludes to the ancient custom (Ge 38:26) afterwards expressly sanctioned by the law of Moses (De 25:5), which required a younger son to marry the widow of his deceased brother.
12, 13. Turn again, my daughters, go your way—That Naomi should dissuade her daughters-in-law so strongly from accompanying her to the land of Israel may appear strange. But it was the wisest and most prudent course for her to adopt: first, because they might be influenced by hopes which could not be realized; second, because they might be led, under temporary excitement, to take a step they might afterwards regret; and, third, because the sincerity and strength of their conversion to the true religion, which she had taught them, would be thoroughly tested.
13. the hand of the Lord is gone out against me—that is, I am not only not in a condition to provide you with other husbands, but so reduced in circumstances that I cannot think of your being subjected to privations with me. The arguments of Naomi prevailed with Orpah, who returned to her people and her gods. But Ruth clave unto her; and even in the pages of Sterne, that great master of pathos, there is nothing which so calls forth the sensibilities of the reader as the simple effusion he has borrowed from Scripture—of Ruth to her mother-in-law [Chalmers].
Ru 1:19-22. They Come to Beth-lehem.
19-22. all the city was moved about them—The present condition of Naomi, a forlorn and desolate widow, presented so painful a contrast to the flourishing state of prosperity and domestic bliss in which she had been at her departure.
22. in the beginning of barley harvest—corresponding to the end of our March.