Call me mara, she answered, for the almighty has made me very bitter. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. The book of ruth and the power of names my jewish learning. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. Indeed, if there be a contrast, as it appears to me, complete and welldefined in this part of scripture, it is between the real and proper appendix of the book of judges judges 1721 and this book of ruth, which man and tradition tell us once made another supplement. Now the two of them went until they came to bethlehem. Ruth was the moabite daughterinlaw of a jewess named naomi.
We can learn a lot from the relationship of ruth and naomi, and loyalty is among the lessons. When they came to bethlehem all of the city was stirred 12 as the women quizzed over whether this was naomi. Significantly, the bitter waters of mara, encountered by israel during the wilderness wanderings, were again brought into memory by the use of this name exo. I went away full, and the lord has brought me back empty. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. And she said to them, call me not naomi, call me mara. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, jesus said, and all these things of daily necessity will be given to you as well matthew 6. This is a summary on the biblical account of the lives of ruth and naomi. Ruth takes place at the same time as the book of judges, which concludes with a profusion of unnamed characters. The return to bethlehem 19 so naomi and ruth traveled until they came to bethlehem. The two did marry and he, ruth and naomi all experienced restoration they could not have dreamed of. The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to it. Ruth honored naomis words of encouragement and gleaned until the end of the barley and wheat harvests ruth 2. Significantly, the bitter waters of mara, encountered by israel during the wilderness wanderings, were again brought into.
Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. Wait, why did ruth spend the last few weeks gleaning when naomi owned land. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. You can read more indepth bible verses from the scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the bible. There was a great famine in israel during the time when judges ruled. When naomi and ruth left moab and returned to bethlehem all of the city was stirred over naomis sole appearance 1. Book of ruth bible study ruth chapter 1 counting the cost.
The book of ruth is the story of naomi and ruth returning to bethlehem and how ruth married a man named boaz and bore a son, obed, who became the grandfather of david and the ancestor of jesus christ. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. Gregory goswell argues that naomi is the central character of the book, whereas ruth is the main character. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the.
The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to. The women of the city celebrate naomis joy, for naomi found a redeemer for her family name, and naomi takes the child and places it in her bosom. The child is named obed, who we discover is the father of jesse, the father of david ruth 4. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Ruth has a baby, but naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse 4. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. Naomi and ruth both left moab and went until they came to bethlehem 1. In light of that, reread ruths vows to naomi in ruth 1. Study guide for ruth 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. Mahlon sickness chilion consumption boaz in him is strength naomi my pleasantness mara bitterness orpah her neck ruth beauty or satisfied 4.
The etymology of her name is not certain, but it is possible that it means good, pleasant, lovely, winsome. For a better understanding of the book the meaning of the hebrew names is especially informative. When she saw that ruth was stedfastly minded to go with her which was the very thing she aimed at in all that she had said, to make her of a stedfast mind in going with her, when she saw that she had gained her point, she was well satisfied, and left off speaking to her, and you can find more about that here. These two issues are addressed in the book of ruth. Feb 08, 2016 this is a summary on the biblical account of the lives of ruth and naomi. And, although not stated in the biblical text, talmudic tradition names the same author for boththe prophet samuel. Then the women in town say, a son has been born to naomi 4. It reads but she said to them, do not call me naomi. And it happened, when they had come to bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them. In that verse, naomi chooses to call herself by a different name to reflect the circumstances of her life.
The name naomi means sweet, pleasant, which gives us an idea of naomis basic character. The book of ruth is one of two in the hebrew bible that bears a womans name the other is esther. May god, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change. Jan 02, 2020 the book of ruth is the story of naomi and ruth returning to bethlehem and how ruth married a man named boaz and bore a son, obed, who became the grandfather of david and the ancestor of jesus christ. Ruth focuses more on the seed promise of the abrahamic covenant with special emphasis on the line of the king. It is only 4 brief chapters and is a very beautiful story. But unlike the book of judges, ruth is not part of the second major division of the old testament, known as the prophets. There are those who attempt to guild the lily as they read the book of ruth, desperately seeking some basis for making a pious israelite of naomi. Introduction to ruth ruth 1 october 12 the book of ruth chronologically overlaps the book of judges.
Ruth marries boaz, and they have a son, for whom naomi cares, and so the women of the town say. In this way, the book can be seen to be naomi s story. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. Perhaps funny is not the right word, because there really isnt anything funny about bitterness. When they entered bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, can this be naomi. She must have seen the hand that rocks the cradle a few too many times. Naomi said, we are commanded not to tarry all night with gentiles. Ruth 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The hebrew word is dabaq, meaning to cleave or adhereits the same verb used in genesis 2.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. Its broader goal, however, is to reestablish the importance of names in society. The first chapter of ruth is very important because our appraisal of ruth, naomi, and soon boaz in the first chapters of ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. Call me mara, because the almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. May 20, 2014 the phrase, grieves me very much, is the word for bitter. Many people relocated to foreign lands to find food. Though the story takes its name from the younger woman, the older is the dominant character. Jim well, the reason youve heard so many preachers speak of naomi as bitter is because of ruth 1. The book of ruth starts then, in the days of the judges 1, and in a time of famine 2. Naomis plight shapes the narrative, and her plan brings it to resolution. The book of ruth is regarded as one of the most beautifully written stories in the bible. Ruth by james van dine against the black cloth of judges, ruth sparkles like a white pearl of great price.
Well, said ruth, whatever thy people keep i will keep, for they shall be my people. No matter your age or season of life, there is wisdom to learn from the lessons that unfold as we walk along with naomi, ruth, and boaz. Jan 31, 2018 the two did marry and he, ruth and naomi all experienced restoration they could not have dreamed of. Naomi sweet and mara bitter were contrasting names that illustrated the disastrous changes that had come in the life of naomi. Ruth chapter 1 coffmans commentary of the new testament. In a narrow sense, the book of ruth aims to restore the name of naomis son, machlon, who has died childless. Elimelech and his wife naomi are living in israel, gods chosen land, yet we read that their eyes began looking to the prosperity in the world. Ruth overview john calvins commentaries on the bible.
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