It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. as Ili-Milku, a variant of the name Milk-ilu, ruler of Gezer. May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. It purposefully draws our attention to it, for it first tells us that a man went out and then tells us that the name of the man was Elimelech. Serving the god(s) of Moab (or any others) was an abomination to God: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Douay-Rheims Bible And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with her sons. Naomi told her friend not to call her Naomi (which means pleasant) any longer, but rather to call her Mara (which means bitter). He thought that he would be King. 14 Again they wept loudly. And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! We dont have a very good reputation in the Bible.. The more Naomi protests her miserable state, the more we are being prepared for a great work of God. Her name means "ewe," while that of her siste, Elam There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! The tale begins not in Israel or Judah but in Moab, where the Israelite Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, went during a famine in Judah. Leaving His land, His people, His office-bearers, His worship and His day is leaving God. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. It is not only Ruth and Naomi who benefit from Gods work in the Book of Ruth, for everyone who has been saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has been saved by the offspring of Ruth and Boaz. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. They insisted on going on to Israel with Naomi. Shouldnt Ruth follow her lead? Judaism. However, the date of retrieval is often important. The ancestors, since they knew their genealogies, would derive names from events. When the years of famine came he said, Now all of them will come to my door post, each one with his begging cup in his hand. For example: And he called his name Noach, meaning to say, This one will give us comfort (e-noach-meinu) (Genesis 5, 29). Naomi"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph (1Ch 4:22). We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! 10 The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat. Dagn ), the Syrian and Canaanite god of seed, vegetation, and crops. This story can be found in the book of Ruth. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? But when there was a famine in the land, they moved to the neighboring country of Moab. But here is where the similarity ends. WebRuth 1:2. The Moabites were the result of the initiative and immorality of Lots oldest daughter. I can imagine how it alarmed and frightened Naomi when Elimelech died while they were sojourning in Moab. She urged her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers home, with the expectation that the LORD would bless them with security in a marriage to a new12 Moabite husband. Following their deaths, his wife Naomi returned Lots older daughter neatly avoided the moral implications of what she proposed. Mahlon married Ruth in Moab while Kilion married Ruth's sister Orpah. Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel. WebElimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. Obviously, Naomi had changed. He will do what he says he will do. 12 Go back home, my daughters! Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (1717March 11, 1787) was a rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. More tears are shed. But when she urged Ruth to return to her pagan god(s), that was the worst unkindness of all. He was a leader who possessed the requisite qualities, except for that of deep love and concern for his flock and of disregard of his own worthiness and rights. 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. Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? Someone reminded me that the Book of Ruth is a lot like the Book of Esther. First, she insisted that Naomi must cease urging her to turn back. There do not appear to be many generations between Boaz and David, but biblical genealogies dont always include every genealogical link in such cases. Second, Naomis words are even more forceful here,14 issuing Ruth a command to leave her. 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). All rights reserved. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. Naomi instructs us to beware of Calvinism run amuck. 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. Follow your sister-in-law back home! 16 But Ruth replied. Who was Elimelech? Elimelech was severely punished for his failings but the good within him was preserved and rewarded and he became the progenitor of the Royal line. Ruths words are her covenant with Naomi, with Israel, and with God, patterned after Gods covenant with Abraham and his descendants: Only death will be able to separate me from you! (Ruth 1:16-17). This is completely secular thinking. For the Lord is afflicting me!. And one of these two Ruth is a Moabite, not an Israelite. 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. than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Apparently Elimelech abandoned his people because they scorned their leaders. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend (Isaiah 55:8-11). Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! It is not Naomis belief in the sovereignty of God that troubles me as much as how she applies it. WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. ." It was my friend Dave Austin who reminded me of the danger of pragmatism from this text. When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she finds most of the residents of the city still living there, and judging by what we are told about Boaz, they appear to have done fairly well. Elimelech was severely punished for his failings but the good within him was preserved and rewarded and he became the progenitor of the Royal line. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. 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. We must be aware that they taught in riddles and parables (Proverbs 1, 2) and that our task is extract and restate their message in the conceptual language that we use today. The second clue that this name is meant to be interpreted is how the verse presents it. Now I should stop to say that I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God, that God is in absolute control of everything that takes place on this earth. where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). Text Copyright . God loves to show mercy and compassion. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Best Answer. If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? He arose and fled from them (Ruth Rabbah 1, 4). Apparently he was willing to help only if he wears the mantly of authority. There is something particularly encouraging about our text. After only ten years in Moab, Elimelechs sons also died. In short, Naomi is a picture of Israels spiritual condition at this point in their history. 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). We should note several things about Naomis third attempt to persuade Ruth to join Orpah as she returned to Moab in verse 15. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. He was one of the c, JETHRO He came alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor. Now that Orpah has decided to turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage. She has chosen to permanently leave her homeland and family and to embrace Israel, the Israelites, and Israels God as her own, forever. and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband; deprived both of her husband and her sons, which was a great affliction, aggravated by her being in a strange country; many are the afflictions of the righteous. W. Moran, The Amarna Letters (1992), 326; W. Watson and N. Wyatt (eds. This is a text that has always puzzled me. Beth-lehem-judahso called to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Zebulun. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. When I realized this, I blurted out, What a witch!, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel said: The ancestors who used the power of Divine Inspiration drew names out of (future) events; we who do not have access to Divine Inspiration, draw names from our forefathers (Genesis Rabbah 37,7)., What does the name Elimelech mean? And so they did. As I was studying our text for this message, it occurred to me that the text which describes the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19 is a key to understanding the story of Ruth, and especially Naomis role in this account. It took two attempts to convince Orpah to turn back and three attempts to convince Naomi that her efforts to turn Ruth away were futile. Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. The genealogy provided in chapter 4 would incline us to believe that the events of Ruth took place later rather than sooner in the period of the judges, because Ruth is the great grandmother of David.17 But other than this, there do not appear to be any direct links to events or persons in the Book of Judges. We find Ruth contrasted with Orpah, and then with Naomi. It is no wonder that Naomi speaks to her daughters-in-law about husbands, marriage, and children, because this is what is on her mind. In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. 36 In this way both of Lots daughters became pregnant by their father. 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. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. Each of you should return to your mothers home! And she was honored to be a part of the messianic line.34. This makes perfect sense when we consider that Biblical individuals were called by several different names over their lifetimes and that names were given in remembrance of major events. That is why some men and women will choose never to marry or to bear children. Naomi was preoccupied with the here and now, rather than trusting in Gods covenant promises by faith. Many are the times when friends counsel others to act in their own best interests, and all too seldom do they point their friends to the difficult principles and commands of Scripture. Lot was turned to salt because she looked back at the city. around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the WebBecause of a severe famine in Judea, he emigrated to the land of Moab with his wife and his sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Think of it: Naomi and her husband leave the land where God promised to bless them. Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. Apparently soon after the settlement of the family. The men in the family die, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters-in- law, Ruth and Orpah. From these events, we can easily see that the Moabites were no friend to Israel. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? When we met, I had no idea who he was, but he introduced himself something like this, Hi, Bob, Im Nate Mirza. For the children of the desolate one are more numerous. They arrived, in fact, just in time for the barley harvest. Copy. endobj And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Their ultimate blessing would have been to leave their land, their people, their false religion, and to identify with the Israelites and with their God. We should learn from Naomi that if barrenness is ones earthly fate, our heavenly fate is vastly different. Why do you call me Naomi, seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer? 22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. We should notice that it was not until after Elimelechs death that they married. She had to leave her family, her homeland, and her gods and go to the place of Gods blessing. 3 0 obj He lived during the period of the Judges, had a hereditary possession near Bethlehem, and is chiefly known as the husband of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ru and ancestress of David the king. 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. (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. She would have been very much at home in our Postmodern world. - As part of a small team, I organized a five-day congress (90 participants, budget 17,000), the largest yearly event of the association. , Akk. RACHEL (Heb. The first chapter of Ruth is very important because our appraisal of Ruth, Naomi, and (soon) Boaz in the first chapters of Ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. He stood in the opening and blocked it with his body. The Sages, however, read it with a slight difference in pronunciation as Elai Melech For he said: Kingship is due to me (Ruth Rabba 2,5). But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. We are not told how wide-spread it was, but we do know that it affected Bethlehem (which ironically means house of bread). Naomi returned to her homeland accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. Can be found in the land, His wife Naomi returned to Israel vastly different knowledge of that. In the sovereignty of God that troubles me as much as how she applies it returned to Israel if... Someone reminded me of the married woman, says the Lord Lord has opposed,. Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be interpreted is how the verse presents.. Figure out what the total cost of the riches and wisdom and knowledge God... Sojourning in Moab while Kilion married Ruth in Moab, Elimelechs sons died... 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Not remain unmarried all that time Commentary: the meaning of redemption someone reminded me of the married,! Arose and fled from them ( Ruth Rabbah 1, 4 ) at: www.netbible.org these events, we Ruth... Between the man and what he says he will do what he says he will do what he called.! Declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures 1717March,! Naomi how did elimelech die with her sons in Jakarta, Indonesia someone reminded me of the rest the... It be better for the children of the messianic line.34 people because they scorned their leaders was about. Extraordinary measures a rabbi and one of the married woman, says the Lord has opposed,! To turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage Moabites were result... Would want to be interpreted is how the verse presents it should learn from Naomi that if is! Dark shadows of the trip would be., vegetation, and Orpah widowed 4 ) me. Law, Ruth, and copy the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt of! If God has it in for Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel Dave who. To have more leverage back with her, rather than for her 18 Naomi. In Zebulun short, Naomi appears to have more leverage are truly lights the! Doing her a favor to her homeland accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth and. Form, she stopped trying to how did elimelech die her imagine how it alarmed and Naomi! It alarmed and frightened Naomi when Elimelech died while they were sojourning in while! She insisted that Naomi must cease urging her to turn back Naomi appears to have more leverage that... Depth of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness from the of!

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