THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED DY TIIB
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUOESTEB;
AND BY THE
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
RUT H.
(!bposifion tmb Jomiltfics BY REV. JAMES MORISON, D.D., AUTIIOR OF 'COMKENTA.RY ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW,' Era,
Jomilies hy •~1trio1ts ~ufgors: REV. W. M. STATHAM; REV. PROF. J. R. THOMSON, M.A.
.NEW EDlTION.
FUNK & W.A.GN.A.LLS COMP.A.NY LONDON AND NEW YORK 1906 THE BOOK OF RUTH. ----- INTRODUCTION.
§ 1. THE STORY.
SoME time during that period of chequered Hebrew history when the Judges ruled, a famine prevailed over the whole land. There was "cleanness of teeth" everywhere. Even the most fertile districts, such as that of which Bethlehem (the house of bread) is the centre, suffered severely. .Among the sufferers were a respectable family, consisting of Elimelech, a proprietor in the locality, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Machlon and Chilion. This family, being hard pressed by the Hungersnoth, resolved to emigrate for a season to the adjoining country of Moab, where apparently there was exemption from the widespread agricultural calamity. Accordingly, setting out from the place of their nativity, they reached the place of their destination, and were, it would appear, hospitably welcomed by the inhabitants (eh. i. I, 2). Unhappily, however, Elimelech, subject it would seem to some constitu- tional weakness, was prematurely cut off (ver. 3). After his decease his t,vo sons married Moabitish wives, called respectively Orpah and Ruth, and all seemed to go well for a season. There was, hO\vever, no family, no mirth of little ones, in either home. And in the course of some ten years from their entrance into the land of Moab, both Machlon and Chilion, in consequence apparently of delicacy inherited from their father, sickened and died (vers. 4, 5). The three widows were left behind, desolate and destitute. The mother-in- law, Naomi, did not see how she could live in comfort, or maintain herself in respectability, in a foreign land. Still less could she see how it would be possible for her to stand between her daughters-in-law and want. Hence she resolved to return to Bethlehem. Her sorrowing daughters-in-law made up their minds to accompany hor (vers. 6, 7). Naomi, however, felt that it would be too great a burden of responsibility ii INTRODUCTION TO
for her to undertake to make her daughters-in-law comfortable in Bethlehem. Hence, after allowing them to give her a convoy for some distance, she insisted that they should return to their mothers' homes, warmly expressing her prayer and her hope that they might soon have sweet and restful homes of their own (vers. 8-13). The thought of leaving their esteemed and beloved mother-in-law wns liko a bnrbed arrow in the heart of both Orpah a.nd Ruth. But at length, o!ter much pleading and remonstrance, Orpah yielded, a.nd returned to her mother (ver. 14). Ruth, however, would not give one moment's entertninmen.t to the proposal. How could she allow the boloved old lady to p'lll'Sue in solitude her weary way homeward I How could she brook the thought of leaving her to live in solitude after the old home should be reached 1 Her mind was made up firmly and m.6.exibly to accompany her much-loved mother-in-law as her com- panion and attenda.nt. .All the nobler feelings of her soul rose, as she thought of har duty, int.o a heroic mood, while a spirit of deep poetical pathos seized her utterances, as, in unconscious rhythm, she said- " Insist not ou me forsakinir thee, To return from following thee : For whither thou goest, I will go ; And wheresoever thou lodgeat, I will lodge: Thy/oople i.a my people, An thy God my God : Whercsoever thon diest, I will die, And there will I be buried. So may Yahveh do to me, And still more, If ought but death part thee and me" (Tera, 16-17),
N a.omi could insist no more ; and tho two widows ooneequ(l]ltly, with their hearts knit together for ever, wended their weary way toward Bethlehem, which at length they reached. On entering the city gate, travel-worn, and sore, and creeping a.long the streets in quest of some hlIDlble lodging, Naomi was recog- nised, and soon there was quite a commotion among the matrons and othem who had known her.of old. The news of her arrival, in the company of an interesting and pensive-looking young woman, flew from houae to houao, till wondering groups of excited females gathered in the streets, and exclaimed to one another, Is Tllil NAOMI i The name Namni, which brought up to the mind the idea of the 81Jleeine88 of Jah, suggested for the moment a pe.info.J con- trast to the sorely-disheartened widow. .And hence, in her anguish, ehe begged the people not t.o call her Nwmi, as of old, but Mara, inasmuch as the Lord had been dealing very uitterly with her (vers. 18-21). It was fortunately jllBt at the commencement of the barley-harvest that Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem (ver. 22). Hunger wns imminent. Perhaps it had already seized on the two widows, gnawingly. Hence, without delay, Ruth begged permission from her mother-in-law to go out in quest of gleaning. It WIUJ humiliating employment, but honest. _Tho pormiseion asked THE BOOK OF RUTH. iii