Ruth 1

Ruth 1:6-18

In this chapter we have Naomi, 1. forced by famine to remove into the land of Moab, ver. 1, 2. 2. Bevealing the death of her husband and her two sons, ver. 3—5. 3. Returning in poverty to her own country, ver. 6—13. 4. Her daughters accompany her on her journey: one at her intreaty returns back, the other reshines to abide with her, ver. 14—15. 5. The native taken of her, and her relation of her maurful circumstances, ver. 19—22.

1. NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife, and his two sons. 2. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife § Naomi, and the name of his two sons, ¶ Mahlon and Chilion, Ephra-thites of Beth-lehem-judah: and they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3. And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died, and she was left, and her two sons. 4. And they took them wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5. And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them: and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

2. 1—5. The date of this history is uncertain. Most probably it happened under the administration of Ehud or Gideon. 1. We have an account of the removal of the family of a man of Bethlehem-judah, into the land of Moab, to sojourn, on account of a famine in Canaan. His name was Elimelech, My God is King; his wife’s name Naomi, sweet or pleasant, and his sons Mahlon and Chilion, unabused and consumption, so called, probably from their bodily habit. Note, (1.) God’s enemies have often plenty, when God’s Israel is in distress and want. (2.) A diligent care to provide for the wants of our families, is highly necessary and commendable.

VOL. I.

2. Elimelech died soon, and his two sons, now introduced into a Moabite acquaintance, and destitute of their father’s advice and authority, take them wives of the daughters of the land. Note, (1.) It is a great loss to be deprived of a pious parent. (2.) An unequal match with a Moabitish woman, is for a true Israelite a dangerous snare.

3. They lived about ten years, but were childless, and then Naomi had the double affliction of parting with both soon after each other. As before a disconsolate widow, now her griefs are renewed in all their bitterness, bereft of children, desolate, and destitute. Note, (1.) When death strikes in a family, it is to warn the survivors, that he is ready to smite again. (2.) How often do we find our death in the place where we hope to prolong our lives? (3.) Worldly comforts and crosses are nearer than we suspect: whilst we are rejoicing in the settlement of our children, the pleasing prospect vanishes in an instant, and death lays all our hopes in the grave.

4. ¶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab, how that the LORD had visited his people, in giving them bread. 7. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her: and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9. The LORD grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them: and they list up their voice, and wept. 10. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12. Turn again, my daughters, go

4 C yob Chap. 11. Beth-Cord 1376. Heb. I have now returned than you.

your way, for I am too old to have an husband: if I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to-night, and should also bear sons: 13. Would ye carry for them till they were grown? would ye pay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters: for it is given with me much for your fakes, that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14. And they lift up their voice, and wept again: and ‘Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but ‘Ruth’ came unto her. 15. And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: ‘return thou after thy sister-in-law. 16. And Ruth said, ‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou dieft, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do do to me, and more also, if ought but death past thee and me. 18. When she saw that she was stedfathy minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Naomi, having heard that plenty was again restored to Israel.

1. Resides to return to her own country. Moab was now a land of sorrow to her; every object around her renewed the bitter remembrance of her losers, and no comfort near, who, with discourse of holy resignation to Israel’s God, could alleviate her griefs. Perhaps, the confidence might now remonstrate, that she was out of the way of duty, and therefore justly smitten with the end of conviction. Nate, (1.) They who are compelled for a time to dwell among those who are strangers to God, ought to embrace the first moment of liberty to return to God’s people and ordinances. (2.) Change of place is often a return to shift in calming the griefs which are exaggerated by the sight of objects, which remind us of those who are taken from us. (3.) When God afflicts, it is well for us to examine, whether furnishing in us hath not brought his old upon us. (4.) It is a mercy to have this land of our sojourning imbittered to us, that we may be more weaned from earth, and have our conversation in heaven.

2. Her daughters accompany her to the borders of Moab, and there Naomi with tender affection intends to dismiss them, praying God to give them a comfortable settlement, each in the house of her husband, and acknowledging, as their great commendation, the affection they had shown to the living and the dead, as good wives, and dutiful daughters. They kiss, embrace, then hurt into a flood of tears, the involuntary effusion of tenderness, that cannot bear the heart-breaking separation from those we love. Nate, (1.) When friends part in prayer, they may comfortably hope, either in time or eternity, to meet in praise. (2.) They who conscientiously discharge their relations in life, will have the comfort of it in a parting hour. (3.) The more uncommon it is to meet with a dutiful and affectionate daughter-in-law, the more in it commendable. (4.) Though the parting of tender and affectionate friends is painful, it is a pleasing pain of which we wish not to be insatiable.

3. Unable to support the thought of parting, they both re-solve to accompany her: but Naomi, fearful left they should, after the death of the mother, and to try whether they had any desire after the worship of the God of Israel as their motive, forks to dissuade, and advokes them to well weigh the matter, before they determined. They could hope for nothing with her, as she was too old now to have children whom they might marry; or, were it possible, it were too long for them to wait. Besides, God’s afflicting hand was upon her, her circumstances distressed, and no provision for them in Bethlehem, which grieved her more for their fakes than her own; or, as it may be rendered, I have exceedingly more bitterly than you; her former crofers heavier, and her present parting more grievous to herself than it could be to them. Such a remonstrance produced a fresh torrent of tears. Orpah, though affectionately attached to Naomi, discouraged now by the difficulties, kissed her, and returned. Ruth, more determined by the evident tenderness of her mother’s affection, refuses to go back, and refuses to cleave to her. Nate, (1.) Hatty resolutions are easily broken. (2.) Tender hearts can better wear themselves, than for those whom they love exposed to it. (3.) They who would follow Christ, ought first to count the cost. (4.) Many day, I will go with thee, who, on the first difficulties, turn back, and walk on mine with Jesus. (5.) The difficulties of the way will bind the faithful soul closer to the Savior.

4. To make the last stay of Ruth’s determined purpose, Naomi again urges her to return, and please her didn’t example, who was returned to her people and her gods. But Ruth was thank, and her choice unalterable. She begs her mother to detail, or he not against me, as if she was her enemy in dissuading her. Though the place he dissuas, and the country unknown, I will go with thee; if thy lodging be a cottage, I

seek no better covering; thy people shall be my people, in their manners, cuftoms, and religion; and thy God, my God, renouncing every abomination of Moab, and owning Israel’s God alone; never will I quit thee; on the same spot our dying-eyes shall clothe, and in the same grave our kindred dust shall mingle, and make the clods of the valley sweeter by the union. Such is her purpose; and, to prevent farther entreaty, she binds her soul by a solemn vow, never but by death to part from her. Nate, (1.) Nothing will be able to separate that heart from Jesus which his mighty-love confessions; no, nor death itself. (2.) They are truly our enemies, that seek to turn us back from God and godliness. (3.) When we have given our hearts to God, and chodes our portion among God’s poor people, then in life or death we shall surrender ourselves up to be disposed of by him, as shall please him, content in every station, and welcoming every end.

5. Naomi, satisfied now, attempts no more to dissuade her; happy, no doubt, to hear her daughter’s pious choice; and glad, amidst every distress, to bring her to the worship of Israel’s God, and to the communion of his people.

6. ¶ So ’they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, ‘Is this Naomi? 20. And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me ‘Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabites her daughter-in-law with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.

Ruth 1:19-22

On now they travelled, and sweetly, no doubt, beguiled the tedious way, in such discourse as might confirm Ruth’s holy purpose, and comfort them together, in hope of God’s blessing upon them. On their arrival at Bethlehem notice in taken.

1. Of the reception they met with. Collecting together on the rumour of her return, the women, who remembered her former beauty and affluence, and now behold her wrinkles and poverty, some perhaps in pity, some in scorn and upbraiding, and some in surprise, said, Is this Naomi? Nate, (1.) Age and wrinkles make strange alterations on the fairest face. It is a poor thing to be vain of what is so fading. (2.) They who have any feelings of humanity, and much more those who have the bowels of Christ, will seek compassionately to alleviate the sorrows of the miserable. (3.) They who have carried themselves most humble in prosperity, will be most regarded in adversity.

2. Her name reminded her of her former condition; she wishes therefore for one more befitting her circumstances: Call me Mara, bitterness. She went out full of earthly comforts, with husband and children; but now returns a childless widow: yet, not murmuring at the afflictive providence, she sees and acknowledges God’s hand, receives the correction, and submits to his will, as holy, just, and good. Nate, (1.) It is a blessed sign of a soul directed to God, when, in humbling providence, the spirit is brought down to the condition. (2.) Though under affliction God permits us to complain, he forbids us to murmur. (3.) When God afflicts us, it is not only no more than we deserve, but he knows it is what we need; and therefore whom he loveth he chasteth, and fenugreh every son whom he receiveth.

3. The harvest was just begun, providence so ordering it for the sake of the events which follow. Nate, The most minute circumstances of our lives are directed by an over-ruling wisdom.