---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ruth 1"
description: "CHAPTER 1   :-. ELIMELECH,
DRIVEN BY FAMINE
INTO MOAB, DIES
THERE. 1. in the days when the judges
ruled—The beautiful and interesting story which this boo"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ruth/1"
---

CHAPTER 1

. ELIMELECH,
DRIVEN BY FAMINE
INTO MOAB, DIES
THERE.

**1. in the days when the judges
ruled**—The beautiful and interesting story which this book
relates belongs to the early times of the judges. The precise date
cannot be ascertained.

**2. Elimelech**—signifies "My
God is king."
**Naomi**—"fair or
pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, are supposed
to be the same as Joash and Saraph ().
**Ephrathites**—The ancient
name of Beth-lehem was Ephrath ([Genesis 35:19](../../../kjv/genesis/35/19);
[Genesis 48:7](../../../kjv/genesis/48/7)), which was continued
after the occupation of the land by the Hebrews, even down to the
time of the prophet Micah ([Micah 5:2](../../../kjv/micah/5/2)).
**Beth-lehem-judah**—so
called to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Zebulun. The
family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a famine,
settled for several years in that country. After the death of their
father, the two sons married Moabite women. This was a violation of
the Mosaic law ([Deuteronomy 7:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/3); [Deuteronomy 23:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/3);
[Ezra 9:2](../../../kjv/ezra/9/2); [Nehemiah 13:23](../../../kjv/nehemiah/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.
[Nehemiah 13:23](../../../kjv/nehemiah/13/23). NAOMI
RETURNING HOME,
RUTH ACCOMPANIES
HER.

**6, 7. Then she arose with her
daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab**—The
aged widow, longing to enjoy the privileges of Israel, resolved to
return to her native land as soon as she was assured that the famine
had ceased, and made the necessary arrangements with her
daughters-in-law.

**8. Naomi said unto her two
daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's house**—In
Eastern countries women occupy apartments separate from those of men,
and daughters are most frequently in those of their mother.
**the Lord deal kindly with
you, as ye have dealt with the dead**—that is, with my sons, your
husbands, while they lived.

**9. The Lord grant you that ye may
find rest**—enjoy a life of tranquillity, undisturbed by the
cares, incumbrances, and vexatious troubles to which a state of
widowhood is peculiarly exposed.
**Then she kissed them**—the
Oriental manner when friends are parting.

**11. are there yet any more sons in
my womb, that they may be your husbands?**—This alludes to the
ancient custom ([Genesis 38:26](../../../kjv/genesis/38/26))
afterwards expressly sanctioned by the law of Moses ([Genesis 38:26](../../../kjv/genesis/38/26)), which required a younger son to marry the widow of his
deceased brother.

**12, 13. Turn again, my daughters, go
your way**—That Naomi should dissuade her daughters-in-law so
strongly from accompanying her to the land of Israel may appear
strange. But it was the wisest and most prudent course for her to
adopt: first, because they might be influenced by hopes which could
not be realized; second, because they might be led, under temporary
excitement, to take a step they might afterwards regret; and, third,
because the sincerity and strength of their conversion to the true
religion, which she had taught them, would be thoroughly tested.

**13. the hand of the Lord is gone out
against me**—that is, I am not only not in a condition to provide
you with other husbands, but so reduced in circumstances that I
cannot think of your being subjected to privations with me. The
arguments of Naomi prevailed with Orpah, who returned to her people
and her gods. But Ruth clave unto her; and even in the pages of
Sterne, that great master of pathos, there is nothing which so calls
forth the sensibilities of the reader as the simple effusion he has
borrowed from Scripture—of Ruth to her mother-in-law [CHALMERS].
. THEY COME
TO BETH-LEHEM.

**19-22. all the city was moved about
them**—The present condition of Naomi, a forlorn and desolate
widow, presented so painful a contrast to the flourishing state of
prosperity and domestic bliss in which she had been at her departure.

**22. in the beginning of barley
harvest**—corresponding to the end of our March.

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