Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:1 days when the judges ruled. This period of spiritual, social, and political unrest (Judg. 2:6-3:6; 21:25b) engendered the desire for a king (Judg. 21:25) who could give rest (like that finally achieved by David; Ruth 4:17, 22; 2 Sam. 7:11; 1 Kings 5:4). A famine was sometimes a divine scourge (Deut. 11:14; 32:24; cf. Lev. 26:3-4), but it could also advance God's purposes, as it did for the sons of Israel in Joseph's time (Gen. 42:5; 45:5-8; Ps. 105:16-17, 23). Bethlehem (lit., "house of bread/food") is often associated with David in the OT (e.g., 1 Sam. 20:6) and with Jesus' birth in the NT (Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4; John 7:42). Because of Bethlehem's location in a fertile region, Rehoboam turned it into a fortress city (2 Chron. 11:5-12). to sojourn (Hb. gur). To be a resident alien (Deut. 24:17), as in times of famine (Gen. 12:10; 26:1-3; 47:4; see also 2 Kings 8:1) or war (2 Sam. 4:3). Moab. A country across the Dead Sea from Judah, and one of Israel's traditional enemies (see Num. 22:1-25:9).

1:2 This verse lists the clan (Ephrathites), city (Bethlehem), and tribal territory (Judah) of the family of David (see note on 4:11; cf. 1 Sam. 17:12), and the family of the coming Messiah (Mic. 5:2).

1:4 Moabite wives. Ruth's husband was Mahlon (4:10). There was no formal prohibition against marrying Moabites (cf. Canaanites in Deut. 7:1-4). However, marriage to Moabites was discouraged because of their commitment to other gods (such as Molech), the Balaam debacle, Israel's debauchery with Moabite women in the wilderness, and the 10-generation Moabite male exclusion from the assembly of the Lord (Numbers 22-25; Deut. 23:3-7; Ezra 9:2, 12; 10:44; Neh. 13:25). There is a progression in the words "sojourn" (Ruth 1:1), "remained" (1:2), and lived there, or "settled down there" (1:4). Ten years, and no children, recalls the barren Sarah, who after 10 years gave Abraham her servant to have a son (Gen. 16:3; see notes on Ruth 4:11; 4:13; 4:18-22).

1:5 left without. She was the last remaining person in her family (cf. 2 Sam. 14:7); Elimelech had no immediate (living) brothers (see notes on Ruth 2:20; 3:12-13). A childless widow was in a precarious position, lacking long-term financial support. Thus she needed community help (Gen. 38:6-11; Deut. 25:5-10; 1 Kings 17:17-20; Luke 7:11-17; 1 Tim. 5:4-5).