Ruth 1

Then Israei was grievously oppressed by the Midianites, who, invading the land of Israel, had stripped them of their corn, and created an artificial famine; the only famine. mentioned (as is remarked by Bishop Patrick) during the administration of the judges. (See Judg. vi 4,5.) _ f: The narrative itself may be abridged into a few words; Elimelech, an inhabitant of Beth-lehem, accompanied by his wife Naomi and two sons, (Mahlon and Chilion,) being driven by famine, as above stated, from the land of Israel, goes to sojourn in the land of Moab, where he died. His two sons marry two Moabitish women, Ruth and Orpah, the former of which forms the subject of this interesting story. In the course of ten years, both the young men die; and Naomi, accompanied by her two vam.

gsi Enel returns to Judea, where peace and plenty were now restored. On the way, she persuades them to go back to their relations in Moab, to which Orpah reluctantly consents; but Ruth positively refuses to leave her mother-in-law. At length, through the leadings of Providence, she becomes known to Boaz, a rich land-owner of the tribe of Ephraim, who was related to Elimelech, her deceased father-in-law, to whom she is shortly married, and becomes the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David, and ancestor of David’s Son and The design of this book is, according to Henry, to lead us, 1. Into the true of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, Cuapr. I. Ver. 1—22. Elimelech is driven by famine into Moab, and dies there: Naomi returns with Ruth.—We have already stated (in the introduction to this book, that the famine here referred to was probably that which occurred in the time of Gideon, when the Midianites had stripped the country, and he was compelled privately, and with a staff, to beat out the small portion of corn which he had secretly preserved from the hand of their oppressor.

(See (Judges 6:11).) Elimelech was now compelled to leave his native country to seek bread in a heathen land. ‘‘ Nothing but necessity (says good Bishop Hall) can dispense with the local relinquishing of God’s church: not pleasure, nor profit, nor curiosity. Those who are famished out, God calls; yea, drives from thence. He hath not confined any man (to remain) to his necessary destruction.” Though Eilmelech, however, escaped from famine, he could not fly from death, for himself and his two sons appear to Crap. L. Ver. 2. Elimelech.—{The Rabbins say, that Elimelech was the so of Salmon, who = Rahab; and that Naomi was his niece.——Mahlon. cerns, and to teach us “in all our ways to acknowledge God;”

and to adore his mercy in all the events which concern us. 2. To lead us to Christ, who descended from Ruth, and part of whose goneniog? concludes the book. 3. In the conversion of Ruth the Moabitess, we have alsoa type of the calling of the Gentiles into the fellowship of the Messiah. We may add, 4. It is particularly interesting, as affording a beautiful picture of the simplicity of ancient manners, and the best illustration of the Hebrew law of redemption. | It follows admirably after the Book of Judges, to which it may be considered as an Appendix, and affords a pleasing relief, after the barbarous events related in the three last chapters of that book.: ¢: _Not only has this book largely shared the encomiums of Jewish and Christian writers, but the following classical remarks are from an author who cannot be suspected of partiality for the Scriptures.

“The history of Ruth is written with a natura] and affecting simplicity. We know nothing in either Homer or Herodotus that goes to the heart like this answer of Ruth to ker mother, * Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge,’ &e. (ch. i. 16,17.) There is a sublimity in this simplicity.. + We have often said, that these times and manners have nothing in common with out own, whether good or bad; their spirit is not ours; their good sense is not ours. It ison this very account that the Pentateuch, the books of Joshua and Judges, are a thousand times more instructive than Homer and Herodotus ” —(Voltaire: quoted Crit. (Revelation 5)July, 1796.) A. M. 2686. and the name of the other Ruth: and they B.

C. 1318. 9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, have been all cut off within a short period of each other; they had, indeed, before their death, married, in that country, two Moabitish females, named Orpah and Ruth, both of whom are represented as strongly attached to their mother-in-law Naomi, who, after ten years’ residence in that pent set out on her return to Canaan, attended by these two daughters, On her vay, however, Naomi feels much concern for her daughters-in-law, as having no means to provide for them; and advises them to go back to the homes of their respective parents, where they were net likely to suffer want. They both weep at the thoughts of parting froin their mother, but at length Orpah kisses her and returns home; but Ruth determines to remain, and addresses her mother m those affecting words already referred to:—‘‘ Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; where thou eer 3 I will lodge; thy.

people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Orpah, it ap- <ys. ¥ cag Vs —It is imagined, and not without probability, that Mahlon and Chilion are the same with Joash and Saraph, mentioned in (Ruth 4:22).}—Bagater,