how did elimelech diehow did elimelech die

Naomi and her sons lived in Moab for ten years and then both Mahlon and Kilion died as well, childless. What was Moses like? Naomi adds one final argument in favor of Orpah and Ruth returning home to Moab. Ruth, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, while Orpah stayed in Moab. Orpah and Ruth were committed to returning to Israel with their mother-in-law. But the most dramatic new development in Naomis argument is her reference to Orpahs god: 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. They arrived, in fact, just in time for the barley harvest. Lot was turned to salt because she looked back at the city. As you will recall, Mrs. Those who place too much emphasis on marriage and child bearing should listen well to these words of Scripture: 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. A famine plagued Israel in the days of the judges. where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). This is a text that has always puzzled me. Be careful not to jump to conclusions. Clearly as quite young men. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). ), Handbook of Ugaritic Studies (1999), index, 841. My sense is that most of the residents of Bethlehem stayed in Bethlehem, rather than leaving to sojourn in a foreign country during the days of the famine. No wonder they didnt have a great reputation. Somehow God wrote His law on Ruths heart, not unlike Tamar and Rahab, her predecessors. Now it is true that Machlon, Kilyon, and Elimelech pass quickly from the scene and Orpah follows them soon thereafter. This is the edited manuscript of Lesson 1 in the series, Ruth: A Story of Redemption, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh on January 10, 2010. In her second effort, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law must not return with her because it would only cause them to endure some of her affliction (verse 13). Elimelech died, and the sons married two Moabite women: Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah. The danger of practicing pragmatism above principle. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. He lived during the period of the Judges, had a hereditary possession near Bethlehem, and is chiefly known as the husband of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ru and ancestress of David the king. Naomi felt that God was against her, and every indication is that she felt God had dealt with her in a harsh and severe way. Second, Naomis words are even more forceful here,14 issuing Ruth a command to leave her. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? Other than weeping, Orpah remains silent;20 Ruths words and actions are what the author has chosen to report. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Born. They produced offspring for the Benjamites by orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of 200 virgins.26 The Israelites were like Moabs mother in that they were thinking and acting like Moabites. Perhaps he was not even fully aware of this failing but God was. Stated in the words of the author of Judges, every man (and woman) was doing what was right in their own eyes. Here is a woman who is not walking by faith, but by sight, who is not living according to the law, but in disregard for it. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Religion. 36 In this way both of Lots daughters became pregnant by their father. God had just destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great sin. That is precisely what Naomi did with Orpah and Ruth. Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. Naomis first attempt is described in verses 8-10. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. Naomis people (Israel) would be her people, and Naomis God would be her God. 10 But they said to her, No! We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. As the story of Esther unfolds, it looks as though every Jew is doomed to annihilation, but for the providence of God, whereby Gods enemies are destroyed and His people are spared. The younger daughter then did likewise and bore a son named Ammon. 19 So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. The all-powerful God was making Naomis life miserable, so she thought and said. All this is described in the Bible book of Ruth. For I am too old to get married again. She gave them very pragmatic counsel, based upon what could be seen, rather than on Gods Word and the principle of faith. There Ruth married *Boaz, one of Elimelech's relatives. Who thinks of Orpah today? (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) Hebrews 12:6,10,11 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, Elimelech -- 'God is king', the husband of Naomi, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular, Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular, Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there, Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also, dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her, Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her, The two come to Bethlehem, where they are gladly received, OT History: Ruth 1:3 Elimelech Naomi's husband died (Ru Rut. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name (Genesis 12:1-3, emphasis mine). Not even death would separate them. She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. Elimelech was severely punished for his failings but the good within him was preserved and rewarded and he became the progenitor of the Royal line. When the story opens, Naomis sons have just died. The inference is clear: to remain with Naomi has no promise of blessing and every reason to expect that they will share in her divinely-imposed affliction. If our text tells us anything about God, it is that His ways are not our ways. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). This suggests that the Narrator was not happy with him, for when God approves of a journey, it, the participants, their families, and even their livestock are described in loving detail (See Ezra 2, 66-67, after commentary Nachalat Yosef). Take note of the fact that Ruths covenant is not a short-term commitment; it is a lifetime commitment. These are the times of darkness when godliness should shine forth as a brilliant light. Look with me at these words from Genesis 19, taking up just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lots escape, along with his daughters: 30 Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid to live in Zoar. In our text, Naomis conversation with her daughters-in-law is couched in language that gives the appearance that she is encouraging them to return to their families and their land because this would be in their best interest. Word had reached Naomi in Moab that God had visited His people by ending the famine and providing abundant crops back in Israel. Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband; deprived both of her husband and her sons, which was a great affliction, aggravated by her being in a strange country; many are the afflictions of the righteous. Apr. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! She would go where Naomi went and live where she lived. And so this older daughter persuaded her younger sister that both of them needed to get their father drunk, and then each should lie with him, so that they might produce offspring for their father. The contrast between Naomi and Ruth is very clear when the two womens words and actions are viewed from the vantage point of the Abrahamic Covenant. But what she fails to see is that God is only increasing her problems to the level of human impossibility, so that He can demonstrate His power and grace through her weakness. Having started off on a rather negative note, let me hasten to say that the Book of Ruth is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have just come from the Book of Judges. It had been at least ten years since Naomi and her family had left them. Best Answer. She persuaded her younger sister to help her get him drunk, and then for both of them to sleep with him to produce offspring for him. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. She believes in a God who is all powerful, but who is not merciful and compassionate. Web(5) And they died. He will do what he says he will do. In short, Naomi is a picture of Israels spiritual condition at this point in their history. She was not a Jew, and she had not been raised by parents who taught her the law. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces (Exodus 23:24). Naomi tended to focus only on herself, on her lack of sons to give in marriage, and on her lack of a child to carry on the family line. As the years have gone by, I may have mellowed in the terms I would use to portray Naomi, but my opinion of her has not really changed. The woman was left of her two sons and her husband , The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread . What is A person who sells flower is called? Create a Memorial The second clue that this name is meant to be interpreted is how the verse presents it. Naomi counseled Orpah and Ruth to do what seemed right in their eyes. We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. The chapter ends with the authors assessment of where things stand, with a hint of what lies ahead. The benchmark by which we need to compare Ruth and Naomi is the Abrahamic Covenant: 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father's household to the land that I will show you. 34 So in the morning the older daughter said to the younger, Since I had sexual relations with my father last night, lets make him drunk again tonight. There were no men nearby to marry, she reasoned, so there was no conventional way25 for them to bear children and thus to preserve their fathers line. Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. The more Naomi moans on about how bad things are for her, and how hopeless it would be for Orpah or Ruth to stay with her, the more we see the mighty hand of God working all things for the good of His people, as well as for His glory. No details, however, are given, as, on the one hand, no blame is attached to the conduct Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah Bethlehem was otherwise called Ephratha. WebElimelech was a member of the tribe of Judah, a native of Bethlehem Judah, a man of wealth and probably head of a family or clan ( Ruth 1:2,3; 2:1,3 ). Her boys ended up choosing Moabite women to marry and these women became part of Naomis family. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. Perhaps one reason why the author does not make a major point out of the theme of divine judgment is because his purpose is to emphasize divine mercy, not only as God provided food for His people, but also in His providential provision of a family and a posterity for Naomi and Elimelech. When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she finds most of the residents of the city still living there, and judging by what we are told about Boaz, they appear to have done fairly well. 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