14. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave 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, Entreat 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 diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. 18. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19. 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 Moabitess, 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.
Golden Text: “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Verse 16.
Note.—The exact date of the narrative recorded in this book is not known. It is sufficient for our purpose to know that it was in and near the close of the time of the judges, for Ruth was the grandmother of David. The lesson includes the whole of this little story, a side light to the sterner history of that time. During a time of famine, Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and two sons, left their home in Bethlehem and abode in Moab, east of the Jordan, where in course of time the sons married Moabitish women, Orpah and Ruth. Affliction then overtook the family, and Elimelech and his sons died, whereupon Naomi determined to return to her former home. Both daughters-in-law proposed to accompany her, but she uses every argument to dissuade them. See verses 6-13. Here the lesson begins.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) How did the parting affect Naomi’s daughters-in-law? Verse 14. (2) What did Naomi say to Ruth? Verse 15. Note 1. (3) What reply did Ruth make? Verses 16, 17. Note 2. (4) What was the final decision? Verse 18. (5) To what place did their journey bring them? Verse 19. (6) How did their arrival affect the inhabitants? Same verse. (7) What reply did Naomi make to their exclamations? Verse 20. Note 3. (8) To what did she attribute her misfortunes? Verse 21. Note 4. (9) At what time of the year did the two women reach Bethlehem? Verse 22. Note 5.
NOTES.
1. It was the custom for friends or relatives to accompany for some distance one who was departing. In this instance, because of the special ties existing between the three women, there would naturally be great sorrow, and under its influence impulse would urge the daughters to propose to go with the mother. Apparently realizing that a move might be made which would afterward be regretted, Naomi discouraged this, placing before them the consequences of such action. The result was that Orpah returned, but Ruth “clave unto her.”
2. This is a touching illustration of love and duty. It is also a testimony to the example and teaching of Naomi among a nation of idolaters. Evidently both of her daughters-in-law had a knowledge of the true God, if indeed they were not worshipers, as implied in verse 15. But Orpah returned to her people and to her gods, while Ruth chose without reserve to share whatever the future might bring to Naomi, and to serve the Lord God. Verses 16, 17. Orpah represented those who hear the word and are convinced of duty, but allow the society of friends or the blandishments of the world to overrule and determine their course. Ruth chose the better part, and her action is a perfect parallel to the course the true Christian will pursue. Forsaking the world, his duty henceforth is with Christ, wheresoever he may lead, whatsoever he may command, for life or for death.14
3. Naomi means “the lovable,” “pleasant;” Mara, “bitter;” Elimelech, “My God is King;” Ruth, “the friend,” “beauty,” “Rose of Moab;” Orpah, “fawn;” Boaz, “lovely,” “active.”
4. Naomi looked upon her misfortunes as judgments from the Lord, for what cause it is not clearly represented. It may have been because of their leaving Israel and dwelling among the heathen, when the Lord’s promise was to care for his own people. The famine came as a judgment upon the land, but the faithful of all ages are assured of bread and water. Isa. 33:16. No doubt there was a lesson in the experience, a test, even as there was in all the afflictions that the Lord permitted Job to endure. Nevertheless, her life among the heathen bore fruit in the turning of one, at least, to the true God.
5. The barley harvest was usually in the middle of April. “The fact of its being barley harvest suggested to Ruth that she might contribute something to their mutual subsistence by going forth to glean. This right of gleaning was one of the legal provisions for the poor of Israel; and as the landholders were not subject to money taxes for the support of the poor, this claim was literally construed by them.”—Kitto. The story then tells of her gleaning, and the fortunate circumstance of her being led to the field of Boaz, a near kinsman of Elimelech. She won his respect, and the respect of all among whom she lived. Later, Boaz, a man of noble character, took her to wife. She became the mother of Obed, who begat Jesse, the father of David. From David’s line came Christ.
