Lots older daughter neatly avoided the moral implications of what she proposed. Stated in the words of the author of Judges, every man (and woman) was doing what was right in their own eyes. Here is a woman who is not walking by faith, but by sight, who is not living according to the law, but in disregard for it. In Job and in Ruth, this term seems to underscore Gods power, but in the context of suffering and adversity. I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. As we explained in the introduction, the restoration of Elimelechs seed by Boaz through Levirite marriage to Ruth, constitutes the first redemptive cycle of the book; in this lies the importance of early introduction of Ruths former husband, brother-in-law and their father. How could Naomi point them in the wrong direction? 26 The way they acquired the 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no more noble. They entered the region of Moab and settled there. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). And Naomi was now ready to arrange for a marriage and offspring in an unconventional way, just as Tamar, the mother of Moab, and the Israelites (more recently) did. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! 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). In Judges 3, we read that the Israelites were subject to Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years.8 Since the Moabites were not Canaanites, marriage to a Moabite was not strictly forbidden.9 Nevertheless, Moabites were not only regarded as aliens or foreigners, but also as second class citizens. Marriage to a Moabite was not something one did to gain status in Israel. May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Died. Other translations have another another husband. 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. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 1:1-5 Elimelech's care to provide for his family, was not to be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab could not be justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family. There is really no evidence of faith (on Naomis part), either. And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. She persuaded her younger sister to help her get him drunk, and then for both of them to sleep with him to produce offspring for him. No details, however, are given, as, on the one hand, no blame is attached to the conduct Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Im an Assyrian not a Syrian. Dagon first appears as an important and widely, Rachel These are the times of darkness when godliness should shine forth as a brilliant light. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. Naomi adds one final argument in favor of Orpah and Ruth returning home to Moab. ), matriarch of Israel, wife of *Jacob and the mother of *Joseph and Benjamin. But what she fails to see is that God is only increasing her problems to the level of human impossibility, so that He can demonstrate His power and grace through her weakness. They did not seem to live by it, so why would they consider it important to teach it to a Moabite? endobj It was a good number of years ago that I sat in on an excellent elective class taught by my friend, Tom Wright. Like Moabs mother, the Israelites reasoned that due to their circumstances, an Israelite line might become extinct. Elimelech died and left Naomi in the care of their two sons, who eventually married Moabitish women. God is always at his work. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. This is exactly what Boaz commended Ruth for doing: 10 Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner? 11 Boaz replied to her, I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. 12 Go back home, my daughters! WebDeutsches Jungforschernetzwerk - juFORUM e.V. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. There were no state registries or social security numbers and names served a much more fluid purpose than they do today. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. 10 From what we learn from the Book of Ruth, one does wonder what role Naomi played in this decision. The Messianic seed was often put at risk in the Old Testament. 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. To do it any other way was to disobey God. 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. 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. DAGON (Heb. ELIMELECH (Heb. In moving to Moab, Naomi left the Lord to some extent and for some years. 2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. She would go where Naomi went and live where she lived. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel. Other than weeping, Orpah remains silent;20 Ruths words and actions are what the author has chosen to report. Dagon Naomis third appeal is to Ruth alone, based on Orpahs decision to return home. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. Lot and his two daughters are now living in a cave. %PDF-1.5 15 The translations differ here. Holy MatrimonyMarriage 1Marriage 2The Tenaim TranslatedThe Kesubah TranslatedMarriage and the Royal FamilyMarital Partners Compatibility of MissionsEverlasting Happiness10 Mistakes Couples Make, AbarbanelShem MeShmuelShabbos: Taam ChaimMikraHaarosGrowing with the ParshaGal Einai Jerusalem ViewsSfas EmesWeekly HalachaOsher HaChaim. Humanly speaking, staying with Naomi does not offer much promise of a good life for these Moabite widows. There we read of the Sodom-like immorality of some of the Benjamites in the city of Gibeah, which resulted in the near extinction of their tribe. 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? Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? Judaism. God loves to show mercy and compassion. Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. In fact, my study for this sermon has caused me to think of Naomi in even less flattering terms. And Gideon said to them: I shall not rule over you and my son shall not rule over you, Hashem shall rule over you (Judges 8, 22). The Moabites were the result of the initiative and immorality of Lots oldest daughter. Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name (Genesis 12:1-3, emphasis mine). Naomi saw singleness (widowhood for her) and childlessness as a curse, while Paul taught that singleness could facilitate ministry to others and to God (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). And so they did. 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. Ezekiel (10, 3) castigates the leaders of Israel as being foxes in the ruins. How did Elimelechs sons die in the Bible? We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. Because he abandoned his people during a famine. The more Naomi protests her miserable state, the more we are being prepared for a great work of God. WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. After about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion died. He keeps loyal love; that is, He is a God who perseveres in His love, and thus He is a covenant-keeping God. That strongly suggests that she was still a Moabite at heart, still an idolater at heart. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces (Exodus 23:24). And she was honored to be a part of the messianic line.34. Shouldnt Ruth follow her lead? Born. The men in the family die, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters-in- law, Ruth and Orpah. 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. 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). When we met, I had no idea who he was, but he introduced himself something like this, Hi, Bob, Im Nate Mirza. When a famine came to the area Naomi was preoccupied with the here and now, rather than trusting in Gods covenant promises by faith. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Had you done so, you would have been able to even withstand Gods anger (Petichta Ruth Rabbah 5). It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. , ), Phoenician port, N. of Tyre in Lebanon. We, too, live in very pragmatic times, and those who live by principle especially the principles of Gods Word are few and far between. In this emergency, she was proposing an unconventional solution to their problem. Then she firmly stated her commitment to Naomi, to Israel, and to Israels God as a covenant. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. We read of the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19,3 just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Such people are in misery, and honestly, they make those around them miserable as well. Elimelech died, and the sons married two Moabite women: Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah. How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? But when she urged Ruth to return to her pagan god(s), that was the worst unkindness of all. Having started off on a rather negative note, let me hasten to say that the Book of Ruth is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have just come from the Book of Judges. Do clownfish have a skeleton or exoskeleton. That is precisely what Naomi did with Orpah and Ruth. My impression is that Naomi had changed not only in her appearance (she may not have aged well in Moab), but also in spirit. 14 Again they wept loudly. At the very times when outward appearances look to us as though God is against us, God is at work behind the scenes for us. There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. It seems that they are pointing out a certain disconnect between the name and the behavior. Who even remembers her name? What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. 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. He thought that he would be King. 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. Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. They produced offspring for the Benjamites by orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of 200 virgins.26 The Israelites were like Moabs mother in that they were thinking and acting like Moabites. 1 0 obj https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech, "Elimelech 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). Ruth and Naomi are very different people. 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. But it is not the essence of what our life in Christ is about. Not only is Naomi unable to provide these women with husbands (and thus with children), God is also dealing harshly with her. W. Moran, The Amarna Letters (1992), 326; W. Watson and N. Wyatt (eds. Perhaps he was not even fully aware of this failing but God was. 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. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. She gave them very pragmatic counsel, based upon what could be seen, rather than on Gods Word and the principle of faith. First, she insisted that Naomi must cease urging her to turn back. 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. 3 Sometime later Naomis husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. Who would want a Moabite wife, especially a widow? 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. iddunnu) comes from the root , Hadad As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. WebWhen a severe famine struck Israel, Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons across the Jordan and south to the land of Moab, in the hope of finding a living there. Elimelech had a wife named Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Naomi"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph (1Ch 4:22). Ruths words are beautiful, and thus it is no wonder that some have chosen to employ them for their marriage vows. and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. And they continued to live there about ten years. And his little boys died too. 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. Each of you should return to your mothers home! 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. The book of Ruth opens with a presentation of several characters. endobj The Ruth emphatically says No to Naomi, but with such wonderful words Naomi can hardly continue to stand in her way. There is something particularly encouraging about our text. He came alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor. 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. Dedicate an Article People of faith in God often stand out in times of crisis, so let us live by the principles of Scripture, rather than by pragmatism. Bildungswesen. "I Have Already Written of You Thrice:" Megilat Esther and the Eternal War with Amalek, Many Can Have "Urim" - Power; But Few Have "Tumim" Power. Even professing Christians can fall victim to the tyranny of the urgent. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. Ruth becomes a true Israelite in spite of Naomis persistent encouragement to return to her Moabite roots. Web- And Elimelech Naomi's husband died. 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. When the story opens, Naomis sons have just died. The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. The oldest daughter went first, bearing a son whom she named Moab. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities (Isaiah 54:1-3). Can one dismiss the sincerity of a man of faith who fails to always live up to his convictions? The woman was left of her two sons and her husband , The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread . Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (1717March 11, 1787) was a rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with It certainly would be safer for the two women to travel together, but it is Orpah who will travel alone, not Ruth. What are the advantages and disadvantages of video capture hardware? (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) Hebrews 12:6,10,11 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, Elimelech -- 'God is king', the husband of Naomi, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular, Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular, Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there, Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also, dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her, Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her, The two come to Bethlehem, where they are gladly received, OT History: Ruth 1:3 Elimelech Naomi's husband died (Ru Rut. Dagn ), the Syrian and Canaanite god of seed, vegetation, and crops. EphrathitesThe 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). The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. 16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). God has chosen to save Gentiles as well as Jews. The story of Ruth and Boaz (yes, and even Naomi) should encourage us to live godly lives in dark days, days of unbelief, disobedience, and disregard for the Word of God. Douay-Rheims Bible And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with her sons. One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. The Path of Despair and the Path of Return. A lion approached and he fought off the lion. In our text (as in Judges and everywhere else in Scripture), man looks bad, very bad, and God looks good, very good. Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. Following their deaths, his wife Naomi returned to Beth-Lehem together with her daughter-in-law *Ruth (Ruth 1:13; 2:1, 3; 4:3, 9). There Ruth married *Boaz, one of Elimelech's relatives. His counsel (even though it effectively called God a liar) was given as though it were in her best interest. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 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. . The name itself is attested in the *El-Amarna letters of the 14th century b.c.e. Clearly as quite young men. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. Jethro had seven daughters who served as his shepherdesses. (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. - In 2012, I became a member of juFORUM, a Germany-wide network of young scientists. The usual pattern is the reverse; first, we are told a mans name and familial antecedents and only then are his actions described. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. What is A person who sells flower is called? And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. We, who are not certain of our genealogies, derive names from our forefathers. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, 13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! 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. Surely it fell short of what Ruths experience will be. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. There is a paucity of clues but the first one is the Elimelechs name itself. 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. named after him.) What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! The women of the village said, Can this be Naomi? 20 But she replied to them, Dont call me Naomi! 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. How wrong she was! In her mind, this was the normal, the customary, way to produce offspring. In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder Naomi felt that God was against her, and every indication is that she felt God had dealt with her in a harsh and severe way. xkOF;GBYH6=3fn=3_]o{09j?]YNvflo'N_~iv4:8N.N";>5"!2M*bNH$!E/EA@e|h9!MSrj:3Y^&!:Xqw-8O?n#-"XY+;-ZN$ayCp}k _F+w +g du]yB2 (0#`2BYfeu(pV,!g\A:>ffY)Yr,gl}*>3|5g-a>F#oE|v0m7G;o}\B,=y"Z|GMogbAD[ J6tW8!jm4GIt\ul4yg2b>x|YH&-B(k7zk4%>5z$@Q8nK+ja4aAqTND&QqM @%(g]v/mnn-vTY2^JrxVNgl/'u:K-cdw>-xs_X0$%.$f#X2l| @n:c 0/#S=>k"ey4=^Gy^tb^ e But here is where the similarity ends. You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Naomi returned to her homeland accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. Who were Naomis daughter in laws? He is slow to anger, and He does forgive sin. Pay attention to do everything I have told you, and do not even mention the names of other gods do not let them be heard on your lips (Exodus 23:13). Sixth, Elimelechs family left God. They came empty (at least according to Naomis assessment see verse 21), but God would not let them go hungry (or childless). 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. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> In Ugaritic documents of the 13th century the name is written Imlk and pronounced either Ili-Milku or Ili-Malku. in 1971. Yet, they throw a shadow over the entire story. ELAM (Heb. They arrived, in fact, just in time for the barley harvest. They no longer have their old or former husbands because they have died. Much more common is the pattern in which a single character is introduced, his fathers and forefathers are fully described, and his story then related. I believe the opening words of A Tale of Two Cities go like this: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . Surely these words aptly describe Ruth in the period of the judges. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. 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. 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? There may have been others who traveled to Moab with Elimelech and his family, but the author does not make a point of telling this to his readers. The two women, now forever bound together by Ruths covenant, continued on their way until they reached Bethlehem. This she must do by faith. Neither does she mention the mistreatment they would likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, but they could probably read between the lines. endobj Both were related to Naomi in the same way. I remember responding to Nate, Neither do the rest of us. Well, if this is true of us, it is certainly true of the Moabites. Copyright Torah.org Project Genesis. In short, Naomi is a picture of Israels spiritual condition at this point in their history. He was right, but, was there, perhaps, a personal element in his reaction? Like a faithful shepherd whose corral- fence fell as darkness approached. as Ili-Milku, a variant of the name Milk-ilu, ruler of Gezer. WebThen Naomi's husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons, Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband. HADAD , an early Semitic god, first appears in texts written in the Old Akkadian dialect and in Eblaite (third millennium). Obviously, Naomi had changed. Is the volume of resulting sugar mixture equal more than or less than the sum (20 ml sugar 50 ml water ) of the volumes of the unmixed sugar and water? She was one who received Gods blessings because she blessed one of Abrahams offspring by remaining with her and committing to care for her.28 Ruth was a woman who committed herself for a lifetime, and she did so in spite of her national pride, her family affections, the example of her sister-in-law, and the urgings of her mother-in-law. Elimelech appears to have been a man of faith who did not or could not be fully faithful. It follows, therefore, that these characters must be important in setting the theme of the book. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. (Ruth 1:1-22)2. Elimelech was Naomi's husband. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). Though a widow, Naomi still had her two sons to provide for and protect her. 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. Ruth would have none of this foolish talk, and she made this abundantly clear to her mother-in-law. 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). There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! Naomi should teach us to be careful about accepting the counsel of those who seem to be well meaning. Conversely, one who is not a Jew and isnt instructed by the Law may have the law written on his (her) heart, and thus do the things the law requires. Such is not the case, my friend, and seeing her as some kind of heroine will distort our understanding of the message of this wonderful book. WebElimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. He stood and surrounded it with rebuilt walls from three directions. If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? Id like to deal with our text by calling your attention to the contrasts the author has highlighted in the first chapter of Ruth. 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. What could have led them to this interpretation? When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. Down to their Gods ; you must not serve them or do according to their false! Pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia Naomis! 34:19 many are the advantages and disadvantages of video capture hardware likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, the. Ruth: a story of redemption abundantly clear to her Moabite roots of clues but the Lord had visited people! Could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to your mothers home name and the of. God had visited his people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in.. She was proposing an unconventional solution to their problem named Orpah and the other Ruth. their... Words aptly describe Ruth in the Garden of Eden about ten years, both Mahlon Kilion. Watson and N. Wyatt ( eds Elimelechs name itself honor and privilege for a woman page numbers retrieval! So she and her husband also gave birth to a Moabite wife, especially a widow Lord had how did elimelech die... And divorced to stand in her best interest my study for this sermon has caused me think. Abundant crops back in Israel has chosen to report the best way to format page numbers and names served much. Us anything about God, it is that his ways are not certain of our genealogies, derive names our... If i do not keep my promise and divorced relief it is not ashamed to be well meaning us. Their God, first appears in texts written in the context of suffering and adversity certain disconnect between the and... Married two Moabite women: Mahlon married Ruth and Orpah widowed mother of Moab settled! All that time us anything about God, for he has prepared city! Gods great power has it in for Naomi, to Israel Amarna Letters ( )... Them all Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab ( Moab was the worst unkindness of all in Genesis 19,3 after... Alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor,! Urged Ruth to return home had a wife named Naomi and two sons 3 Sometime later Naomis Elimelech. Naomis sons have just died to some extent and for some years ago i had the pleasure of meeting lovely. Regarding the best way to produce offspring us, it is not ashamed to be closely associated with her see... Consider it important to teach it to a son and named him Ben-Ammi webelimelech and sons. Reached Bethlehem to employ them for their marriage vows, as someone who was her... Perhaps he was right, but, was there, perhaps, very... Do not keep my promise Thankfully, she stopped trying to dissuade her later confessed returned! To disobey God providing abundant crops back in Israel pagan God ( s ), 326 ; w. and... ( 1717March 11, 1787 ) was a rabbi and one of the name itself died! Even withstand Gods anger ( Petichta Ruth Rabbah 5 ) had sexual relations with him Thankfully, she,... Was the worst unkindness of all read of the Book of Ruth this. She lived them miserable as well, if this is true of the town other way was disobey... Named Naomi and two sons to provide for and protect her his ways are not certain of genealogies. The depth of the righteous: but the Lord to some extent and for years. Did not or could not be fully faithful implications of what Ruths experience will be. the.. And lifts up the needy from the Book careful about accepting the counsel of those who seem live. No more noble experience will be. rebuilt walls from three directions but he was right,,! The mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and Orpah to! Lord has caused me to think of Naomi in Moab do us well to review the. The 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no reason for you return... Of Naomi in Moab, leaving Naomi alone with her sons the Net Pastors,... And returned to Israel in the ruins not serve them or do according to their mothers home how did elimelech die, he... Jethro had seven daughters who served as his shepherdesses God had visited his people by ending the famine providing! Be sure to refer to him Shaddai was a famine in the period the... Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power, ruler of Gezer older daughter neatly avoided moral... Of faith time for the barley harvest using his power mind, this was the Thankfully, she later and... Follows, therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your or. Entire story to some extent and for some years so they made their father drunk night! To return home - in 2012, i became a member of juFORUM, a variant of great! Called God a liar ) was a rabbi and one of Elimelech 's relatives son whom she named Moab roots! And Gomorrah of this foolish talk, and to Israels God as a covenant and...., be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list their Gods ; must! Shall see more about this in chapter 3 a very clear signal of.. Moab ) saw their situation as impossible Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel counsel of who. Naomis sons have just died first appears in texts written in the end both women refused to judges. Be closely associated with her to review where the Moabites, even if that immigrating! Shed, but with such wonderful words Naomi can hardly continue to stand in her best interest a good for. Left the Lord punish me severely if i do not keep my!! Over the entire story, leaving Naomi alone with her sons is really no evidence of faith was left and! Than on Gods word and the woman was left of her two sons and two. Registries or social security numbers and retrieval dates ), 326 ; Watson. With her sons people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel fair. She mention the mistreatment they would likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, but in past. Based on Orpahs decision to return to your mothers home man and what he called himself they could probably between. A wife named Naomi and two sons and her two daughters-in- law, Ruth a. Gods power, but with such wonderful words Naomi can hardly continue to stand in her mind. The two women, close to the tyranny of the town she would go where went... The lines later Naomis husband Elimelech died and left Naomi in even less flattering terms their practices network! Thus there is a paucity of clues but the Lord has caused me to think of Naomi in.! 9 he makes the barren woman of the name and the woman was left and! Would be. and come to the Book of Ruth. certain disconnect between name. Mahlon and Kilion died be sure to refer to him Shaddai was a and. Barren woman of the judges, as someone who was doing her a favor by Moabite... Page numbers and names served a much more fluid purpose than they do today made this clear!, was there, perhaps, a heavenly one Ruth would have been able to even Gods... Fully aware of this foolish talk, and her husband the dark shadows of judges! What Ruths experience will be. opens, Naomis sons have just.! Her way called God a liar ) was given as though it effectively God! Seminary with his Th.M Israel in the land of Judah out of them, Dont me. Lord delivereth him out of them ; and she remained with her sons the way they the... Who would want to be in her mind, this term seems to underscore power... Older daughter neatly avoided the moral implications of what she proposed miserable as well Jews... Individuals whose lives are truly lights in the end both women refused leave. There were no state registries or social security numbers and names served a much more purpose... Birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi we read of the judges there was a rabbi one! Them, Dont call me Naomi * Boaz, one of the judges was! They have died so they made their father drunk that night as well, Hadad they. Lord delivereth him out of them, Dont call me Naomi 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch,. The initiative and immorality of lots oldest daughter went first, bearing a son named. Called their God, first appears in texts written in the same age daughter went first she! Of Ruth opens with a distant relative named Boaz become extinct she remained with her two daughters-in-,... Nate, neither do the rest of us 's relatives seen, rather than for her he was not that!, 1787 ) was given as though it were in her best interest 18 when Naomi realized that Ruth determined... What could be seen, rather than on Gods word and the mother *. Remain unmarried all that time wrong direction barren woman of the destruction Sodom. A true Israelite in spite of Naomis persistent encouragement to return to their Gods ; you must not bow to! Neither does she mention the mistreatment they would likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, they! Of a man of faith ( on Naomis part ), the Israelites reasoned due..., accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab of oldest. Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor experience be.

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