Ruth 1
Naomi and Ruth (1:1–22)
1–2 The story of Ruth begins in the days when the judges ruled—that is, between the death of Joshua and the rise of Israel’s first king, or approximately 1350–1050 B.C.3 Elimelech and Naomi and their two sons lived in Bethlehem in Judah4—later the birthplace of both King David and Jesus (1 Samuel 16:1; Luke 2:4–7). Because of a famine in Judah, Elimelech and his family journeyed to Moab,5 where they hoped to stay until the famine was over.
3–7 After settling in Moab Elimelech died, and his two sons married Moabite women,6 one of whom was Ruth (verse 3). But then after ten years both of the sons died, leaving no children (verses 4–5). Thus Naomi was left in a foreign land with no husband or sons—only with two Moabite daughters-in-law.
Then the Lord ended the famine in Judah. While there are many secondary causes for events that take place on earth (such as the ending of a famine), the ultimate cause is always God. He had come to the aid of his people (verse 6). After hearing this good news, Naomi and her daughters-in-law setout for Judah(verse7).
8–10 But on the way, Naomi thought of the welfare of her daughters-in-law: they would be better off going back to their own country where they might find rest in the home of another husband7 (verse 9).They would be less likely to find husbands in Judah.
So Naomi urged them to return to Moab; she released them from any obligation they might feel toward their elderly mother-in-law. And she blessed them: “May the LORD show kindness8 to you,as you have shown. . .to me” (verse 8). But the daughters-in-law refused to leave Naomi.
11–13 Then Naomi used another argument. The Lord had said that if a married brother died without a son, his younger brother was to marry the widow in order to produce an heir for his dead brother (Deuteronomy 25:5–6). However, Naomi was too old to get married again and have children, so she would be unable to provide “younger brothers” for her two widowed daughters-in-law to marry. Therefore, let the two young women go back to Moab and not destroy their chance of getting another husband by continuing on with Naomi. They had hope of future happiness, whereas Naomi had none: the LORD’s hand had gone out against her9 (verse 13).
14–18 At this point, both young women were free to return to Moab—and one did (verse 14).But Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi: “Where you go I will go,and where you stay I will stay” (verse 16).In choosing this course, Ruth was continuing to show kindness and love to Naomi even though it meant sacrificing her own supposed happiness. True love is never self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5).
More important, Ruth refused to go back to her gods (verse 15)—the false gods of Moab.10 She chose instead to believe in Naomi’s God. She even swore an oath using the Lord’s name that she would be prepared to accept the severest punishment if she were ever to leave Naomi (verse 17).
19–22 Back in Bethlehem, Naomi was greeted with amazement—perhaps because she appeared much older and sadder (verse 19).She asked not to be called Naomi (meaning “pleasant”) but rather to be called Mara (“bitter”).She said: “I went away full—with a husband and two sons—but the LORD has brought me back empty—without husband or sons” (verse 21).Again Naomi recognized that it was the Lord who had caused her misfortune, and she probably assumed that He must be displeased with her.11 But as we shall see, the Lord had plans that Naomi didn’t know about: He was going to replace her “emptiness” with “fullness.” And this would happen when the barley harvest was beginning (verse 22).
