Such early setting out of the players is quite unusual in Biblical writing. SIDON (also Zidon ; Heb. 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. Now that Orpah has decided to turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage. The only hope Naomi sees for Orpah and Ruth is the hope of finding a Moabite husband and bearing children. Id like to deal with our text by calling your attention to the contrasts the author has highlighted in the first chapter of Ruth. 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. Is this the behavior of a leader who loves and cares for his people, even if they do not fully deserve his respect? How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions? 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. My impression is that Naomi had changed not only in her appearance (she may not have aged well in Moab), but also in spirit. 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. 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. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. (7) Naomi does appear to have one thing right humanly speaking, Naomis chances of perpetuating her husbands line are between slim and none. He thought that he would be King. He stood and surrounded it with rebuilt walls from three directions. Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had ended and food was now available in Bethlehem ( Ruth 1:6 ), so she determined to return. Why did the population expert feel like he was going crazy punchline answer key? 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. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. 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. God is always at his work. 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. I would be very reluctant to conclude that Ruths husband or his parents taught her the law. Put another way, the title of this book is Ruth, not Orpah. Web- And Elimelech Naomi's husband died. 20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! Both were related to Naomi in the same way. Can one dismiss the sincerity of a man of faith who fails to always live up to his convictions? WebChoices bring consequences, and Elimelech's wrong choices brought death. Religion. The focus is usually on one person and not on the group. Even professing Christians can fall victim to the tyranny of the urgent. The family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine, settled for several years in that country. Naomis first attempt is described in verses 8-10. . 16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has chosen to permanently leave her homeland and family and to embrace Israel, the Israelites, and Israels God as her own, forever. Without a doubt, this is the most amazing and distressing thing Naomi has said so far. Obviously, Naomi had changed. HADAD , an early Semitic god, first appears in texts written in the Old Akkadian dialect and in Eblaite (third millennium). For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. Naomis people (Israel) would be her people, and Naomis God would be her God. Copyright Torah.org Project Genesis. She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. Abraham put the seed at risk when he represented his wife Sarah as his sister, and she ended up (temporarily) in Pharaohs29 (and later Abimelechs)30 harem. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. In the midst of her affliction and hopeless despair, God is at work preparing for the gracious things He is about to reveal to her and to the reader. (8) All of this leads me to conclude that Naomi is not an example of faith, but an excellent example of Israels poor spiritual health. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. 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. There is really no evidence of faith (on Naomis part), either. "Elimelech The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. The same is true for Naomi. endobj 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 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. There is literally a gap between the man and what he called himself. This story can be found in the book of Ruth. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). This she must do by faith. To her, Gods blessings should appear now, in the form of bread, an eligible bachelor (marriage), and babies. Naomi, so to speak, put all of her eggs into one basket marriage and bearing children. 1When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. Ruth focused on Naomi and her need and on Naomis people and their God. One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. For the Lord is afflicting me!. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. 4 So her sons married Moabite women. 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. While in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving his wife with their two sons (verse 3). The sons married Moabite women, which was something else God wanted His people to avoid. However, God ended up blessing Elimelechs family anyway, although not through his sons. God instead chose to work through Naomi and one of her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth. Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. After only ten years in Moab, Elimelechs sons also died. Take note of the fact that Ruths covenant is not a short-term commitment; it is a lifetime commitment. The Midrash explains: What does a fox watch out for in the ruins? WebBecause of a severe famine in Judea, he emigrated to the land of Moab with his wife and his sons, Mahlon and Chilion. We should note several things about Naomis third attempt to persuade Ruth to join Orpah as she returned to Moab in verse 15. Ruth and Naomi are very different people. Would man who truly believes that His God is King abandon his people at the time of famine? Had you done so, you would have been able to even withstand Gods anger (Petichta Ruth Rabbah 5). We know of Abimelech, son of the leader Gideon and Abimelech, the King of Gerar. Now it is true that Machlon, Kilyon, and Elimelech pass quickly from the scene and Orpah follows them soon thereafter. Who would carry on his line? Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. (9) What we know (and Naomi does not) is that God is about to do a wonderful thing for her, solely on the basis of His grace. And yet as the story of Ruth unfolded this time, it suddenly became obvious to me that Naomi was no role model. Ruths spiritual journey is similar to that of Abraham. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. Encyclopedia.com. Bildungswesen. A Christian wife is having difficulties in her relationship with her husband, and she shares this with a Christian friend. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. But when there was a famine in the land, they moved to the neighboring country of Moab. The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. endobj Encyclopaedia Judaica. If Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Kilion suffered because of their sins, they deserved it. All rights reserved. 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. Eventually, Naomi steered Ruth into a relationship with a distant relative named Boaz. ), matriarch of Israel, wife of *Jacob and the mother of *Joseph and Benjamin. The name (Phoen. 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. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. 35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. In Judges 19-21, we find a similar situation. ELIMELECH (Heb. 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. 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? Spouse. Be careful not to jump to conclusions. As Orpah kisses Naomi goodbye and turns back toward home, Ruth clings all the more tightly to her mother-in-law. Elimelech died, whereupon Mahlon and Chilion both married local women. 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. The inference is clear: to remain with Naomi has no promise of blessing and every reason to expect that they will share in her divinely-imposed affliction. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elimelech. He is the ancestor of the Ammonites of today (Genesis 19:30-38, emphasis mine). Elimelech Weisblum 1717 Tykocin, Kingdom of Poland. The more Naomi protests her miserable state, the more we are being prepared for a great work of God. What could have led them to this interpretation? At this point in time, one would not think that Naomi would be at the top of the list in the hall of faith: 13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. Born. The wonder is that God remained faithful to those who so easily abandoned Him. WebThe Bible Exposition Commentary: The meaning of redemption. where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. When it sees people coming, it immediately runs away. Only death will be able to separate me from you!. In our text (as in Judges and everywhere else in Scripture), man looks bad, very bad, and God looks good, very good. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. 7 Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah, 8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Listen to me! We dont have a very good reputation in the Bible.. 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. 1 0 obj ." He was one of the c, JETHRO Due to the famine in Israel during the time of the Judges, Elimelech crossed over to Moab, where he and his two sons died. In Esther, the people of God were supposed to return to the Promised Land, but they chose instead to dwell in the apparent peace and safety of Persia. 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. Im an Assyrian not a Syrian. 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). Lot was turned to salt because she looked back at the city. This is completely secular thinking. If Naomi had other sons, she could give them to these women in Levirate marriage, but she has no other sons. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. A space remained that he did not manage to rebuild. We assume that names of Biblical characters are not accidental but reflect their essense or memorialize pivotal events of their lives. March 11, 1787 Leajsk, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. No wonder God forbade Moabites from entering the assembly to the tenth generation.7. Naomi was married to Elimelech and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). 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. The name itself is attested in the *El-Amarna letters of the 14th century b.c.e. 12 Go back home, my daughters! But 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). Naomi also made it clear that this was because (in her mind) God had dealt harshly with her.16 Naomi measured Gods blessing only in terms of food and of family. But it is not the essence of what our life in Christ is about. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. It had been at least ten years since Naomi and her family had left them. You, leaders, did not stand among the ruins like Moses did. 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. name of Lot's elder daughter's son and the people and land are 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. Fearing they would be overrun by the Israelites, Balak (king of Moab)4 hired Balaam to curse Israel. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 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. The usual pattern is the reverse; first, we are told a mans name and familial antecedents and only then are his actions described. Not long afterward he died, and his two sons married Moabite 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. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. The final chapters of the Book of Judges are certainly the worst of times, and yet the Book of Ruth describes the best of times. This suggests to me that godly character is not only evident in the good times, but even more dramatically in the bad times. 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