Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. Not even death would separate them. This is a text that has always puzzled me. Web(5) And they died. She had given up all hope. It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. What a marvelous woman of faith Ruth was. She has chosen to permanently leave her homeland and family and to embrace Israel, the Israelites, and Israels God as her own, forever. Ruth is never dealt with as a second-class believer. The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. Such are the products of our pleasant things, weak and infirm, fading and dying. They would be a reminder that Naomis sons their husbands had not married Israelite wives. Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? Orpah and Ruth were committed to returning to Israel with their mother-in-law. It must be, the Sages reasoned, that Elimelech misread his destiny. Because he abandoned his people during a famine. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. Died. Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (1717March 11, 1787) was a rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. Web1290 BC Elimelech dies, likely stricken by God for abandoning his inheritance, allowing his two sons to marry Moabites and not joining the battle against Benjamin in Judges 20. Dagon first appears as an important and widely, Rachel Now, Naomi urges both of her daughters-in-law to go back home to their own land21 and to their mothers homes22 and to find a new Moabite husband, so that they might have security.23 While God promised to bless all those who blessed Abraham and his offspring, Naomi told her daughters-in-law that to stay with her would be to share in the curse God had placed upon her.24 As the story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds, God promises are fulfilled, while Naomis warning and instructions are proven to be false. For example: And he called his name Noach, meaning to say, This one will give us comfort (e-noach-meinu) (Genesis 5, 29). He is the ancestor of the Moabites of today. Can one, on the other hand, forgive and excuse his deficiencies and the damage that they bring about? The text does not really tell us but the Sages do, and so, we will engage in reverse engineering, trying to grasp their view of this complex personality and then to appreciate the antecedents of their interpretation. (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. WebRuth 1:3. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. 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. 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. Neither does she mention the mistreatment they would likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, but they could probably read between the lines. Elimelech was one of the great men and authorities in Israel. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 2 0 obj 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. <> Beware of well-meaning advice that is not rooted in Scripture and that is supportive of what you would really like to do, rather than what God commands us to do. When it sees people coming, it immediately runs away. Ruth rejected Naomis appeal to leave her and go back to Moab, choosing instead to believe and behave like a true Israelite. (4) While the author does not make a point of it, it seems reasonable to assume that the famine (as well as the deaths of Elimelech and his two sons) was a manifestation of divine discipline. Naomi seems to be encouraging Ruth to accompany Orpah as she returns home. Naomi, so to speak, put all of her eggs into one basket marriage and bearing children. Bearing children was to be done Gods way. His oldest daughter concluded that their father would die without an heir. If her daughters-in-law could snag a good (Moabite) husband, bear some children, and have a bountiful harvest they were indeed blessed, at least as Naomi viewed it. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. The second clue that this name is meant to be interpreted is how the verse presents it. The security in the home of a new husband referred to earlier is now spelled out in plainer terms. My sense is that most of the residents of Bethlehem stayed in Bethlehem, rather than leaving to sojourn in a foreign country during the days of the famine. 25 Translations differ here, but I think that this daughters choice of words is very important to consider. If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. First, she insisted that Naomi must cease urging her to turn back. That strongly suggests that she was still a Moabite at heart, still an idolater at heart. Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. WebPrevious commentary: Next commentary: About this commentary: are made available by the generosity of . Create a Memorial 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? 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. 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. But There her husband died, and her sons married Moabite women named Ruth and Orpah. Who would want Naomi for a mother-in-law? Who even remembers her name? I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Moab is where Elimelech died. In our text (as in Judges and everywhere else in Scripture), man looks bad, very bad, and God looks good, very good. Born. Ruth and Orpah did not bear Jewish children, too. It has been supplied by the translators. Ruth would have none of this foolish talk, and she made this abundantly clear to her mother-in-law. He is slow to anger, and He does forgive sin. I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! 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. He went first from Israel, the land of the living, and led them thence, and so he now goeth out of Then you go and have sexual relations with him so we can preserve our family line through our father. 35 So they made their father drunk that night as well, and the younger one came and had sexual relations with him. 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. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. No, my daughters, you must not return with me. 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). Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. Both had married Israelite husbands, had borne no children, and were now widows. To her, Gods blessings should appear now, in the form of bread, an eligible bachelor (marriage), and babies. Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. 11 The thought occurred to me that Naomis journey back to her homeland traced the steps of the Israelites when they first entered the Promised Land. ELIMELECH (Heb. 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). Who thinks of Orpah today? 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. WebThe Tragedy of Elimelech Ruth Introduction The book of Ruth is a fascinating little book in the Old Testament. It is as though she has forgotten Gods description of Himself in Exodus 34: 6 The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, 7 keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. 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. Religion. 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. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. She gave them very pragmatic counsel, based upon what could be seen, rather than on Gods Word and the principle of faith. Copyright Torah.org Project Genesis. Judaism. Encyclopedia.com. How wrong she was! Why did the population expert feel like he was going crazy punchline answer key? (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. Now it's ironic that he left Bethlehem because he was afraid he couldn't survive there, yet he went over into Moab and died anyway. 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). Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. The word redeem means to set free by paying a price. In the case of Ruth and Naomi, Elimelechs property had either been sold or was under some kind of mortgage, and the rights to the land had passed to Ruths husband, Mahlon, when Elimelech died. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with , ' eylam; Elamite halhatamti; Akk. Mahlon married Ruth in Moab while Kilion married Ruth's sister Orpah. 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. 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. He thought that he would be King. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. Bildungswesen. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. 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. 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. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. 4 The LORD said to Moses, Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the LORD in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-5). 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. Sixth, Elimelechs family left God. (3) One gets the impression that those who remained in Bethlehem fared reasonably well during the famine; certainly better than Naomi and her family did. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. We know of Abimelech, son of the leader Gideon and Abimelech, the King of Gerar. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. 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. She seems to have little or no conviction regarding her sins, the sins of her husband, or of the sins of the nation. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. 10 From what we learn from the Book of Ruth, one does wonder what role Naomi played in this decision. You, leaders, did not stand among the ruins like Moses did. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Moabs hostility and opposition to Israel continued on into the period of the Judges. RACHEL (Heb. No details, however, are given, as, on the one hand, no blame is attached to the conduct Encyclopaedia Judaica. 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. Elimelech had a wife named Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had ended and food was now available in Bethlehem ( Ruth 1:6 ), so she determined to return. Apparently Elimelech abandoned his people because they scorned their leaders. , ), Phoenician port, N. of Tyre in Lebanon. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and childrens children, to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 34:6-7, emphasis mine). WebElimelech was a member of the tribe of Judah, a native of Bethlehem Judah, a man of wealth and probably head of a family or clan ( Ruth 1:2,3; 2:1,3 ). as Ili-Milku, a variant of the name Milk-ilu, ruler of Gezer. Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah Bethlehem was otherwise called Ephratha. The crises of life are Gods pop quizzes, times when He puts our faith to the test, times when He gives us an opportunity to put our faith on display. In the past, Naomi was always portrayed in a somewhat flattering way. Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. 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. 11 In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. Naomi tended to focus only on herself, on her lack of sons to give in marriage, and on her lack of a child to carry on the family line. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. 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