why did elimelech and his family go to moab

var addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'spronk' + '@'; Moab was a pagan land that worshipped many false gods and practiced human sacrifices. No! So she set out from the place [Moab] where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.. Thus, when Elimelech began to purse daughters for his sons, ironically, he went to a place cursed for this very action. and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. We may only intend to walk somewhere for a brief time. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. var addy_text6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19').innerHTML += ''+addy_text6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19+'<\/a>'; Classis WestThis email address is being protected from spambots. married Boaz. 32 Come, lets make our father drunk with wine so we can have sexual relations with him and preserve our family line through our father. 33 So that night they made their father drunk with wine, and the older daughter came and had sexual relations with her father. For example, one might wonder, "Who is this guy anyway? How wrong she was! What will he do? But it is not the essence of what our life in Christ is about. New Living Translation (NLT). Start for FREE. For did Elimelech and his family really go up to all of the three pilgrimage feasts each of the ten or so years they spent in Moab (Ruth 1:4)? Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. And he mentions Naomis return out of the country of Moab, to intimate that her poverty constrained her to sell her estate which her husband left her. (6) Most (if not all) of Naomis actions, attitudes, and advice were misguided and downright wrong. Ruths words are beautiful, and thus it is no wonder that some have chosen to employ them for their marriage vows. PRC-Related: RFPA, Standard Bearer, Reformed Witness Hour, Etc. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. Boaz commanded his field-workers to be considerate toward her. People of faith in God often stand out in times of crisis, so let us live by the principles of Scripture, rather than by pragmatism. And she was honored to be a part of the messianic line.34. She had to leave her family, her homeland, and her gods and go to the place of Gods blessing. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. Rather, he searched for other places of blessing; he left the land of promise. The author uses the literary setting to highlight for us that matters for this man are about to go from bad to worse. Just being Jewish and knowing the Law of Moses isnt enough; one must also live by the law. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He was not a faithful husband. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Naomi The oldest daughter went first, bearing a son whom she named Moab. Ruth 1:1b. From start to his family's finish, Elimelech acted contrary to his name and to the lessons of redemptive history. She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. So a man named Elimelech, who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah, went with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live for a while in the country of Moab. 3 Sometime later Naomis husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. Lots older daughter neatly avoided the moral implications of what she proposed. Boaz informed her that there was another relative who, according to custom, had prerogative to redeem Elimelech's field and marry her. and a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; God loves to show mercy and compassion. A sensitive reader would have learned in covenant history that there are certain places one should never go for bread. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! From these events, we can easily see that the Moabites were no friend to Israel. Thus, there was something covenantal about this famine. addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; Ruths words are her covenant with Naomi, with Israel, and with God, patterned after Gods covenant with Abraham and his descendants: Only death will be able to separate me from you! (Ruth 1:16-17). Each of you should return to your mothers home! And so they did. We are connected theologically with the last verse of Judges as it unfolds in Ruth, but with curses that will be reversed by a faithful husband rather than a judge. The first chapter of Ruth is very important because our appraisal of Ruth, Naomi, and (soon) Boaz in the first chapters of Ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. Bible: Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet Is this merely a sad story of a family fleeing famine in Israel, only for most of them to end up in a graveyard in Moab? 21 I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. There the sacrifices were made, bespeaking the full and rich atonement made for our sins on the cross. Were Orpah and Ruth Israelites? That is to say, the setting has redemptive or covenantal significance. 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. Elimelech died (of what, we are not told), leaving Naomi a widow, and Mahlon and Chilion orphans, in a foreign land (3). The two sons married: Mahlon was joined to Ruth and Chilion wedded Orpah (4).However, the two marriages remained childless and worse was to follow. 10 But they said to her, No! Ruth's story springs up beautifully in the context of this agonizing cycle of failure, except with Ruth we are pointed to the need for more than a judge; there is a need for a faithful husband. First, we have references to three deaths in one small family (3, 5). Webwhy did ruth and orpah make a different decision +27(0)11 048 1418 / (0)11 656 2000; subaru sambar parts canada; arkansas game wardens by county. A descendant of Nahshon mentioned in connection with the erection of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:7). addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; Judging for sin? addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; They emigrated from famine-stricken Israel to Moab (1-2). 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). Sin has a way of making progress in our lives even if we start in rather small ways. They entered the region of Moab and settled there. 28:23-24).Together these first three factors are, to say the least, suggestive (three deaths, no reference to God in this scene alone in Ruth, and the dark days of the judges); the next two arguments are more explicit and are based on the words of Naomi and Ruth.Naomi states that, in the death of her three menfolk, the hand of the Lord is gone out against me (Ruth 1:13) and the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me (20). There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? during the time of the judges in Israel. If her daughters-in-law could snag a good (Moabite) husband, bear some children, and have a bountiful harvest they were indeed blessed, at least as Naomi viewed it. This forces our first character, Elimelech into a very important choice. Ruth was born in Moab about B.C. Naomi advised Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz, since he was a relative of Elimelech. Leaving the people of God is leaving the God of His people. And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the church, and to join themselves to this congregation wheresoever God hath established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes be against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. It has been supplied by the translators. Why did Elimelech live with his family in Moab? Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. WebScarcity of food compelled him to emigrate with his family to Moab, where he died, and where one of his sons married Ruth ( ib. - Quora Answer (1 of 4): Because there was a famine in Israel, so he went to another country presumably Elimelech felt his family was at a crossroadsand made a decision to leave. Naomi was Ruth's mother in law. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; 1, iv. Because Moab was a place known for its refusal to feed Israel bread. Ruth, the eighth book in the Bible, is relatively short, consisting of just four chapters. 91a), Elimelech, Salmon (the father of Boaz), Peloni-Almoni, and the father of Naomi were the sons of Nahshon ben Aminadab. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; WebSee Page 1. WebHence, Elimelech decided to go to Moab anticipating that his sons might marry the daughters of Eglon. land of Israel, which included Bethlehem where Elimelech and Naomi As Elimelech searched for bread, he went to the worst place in the world for bread. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. Lots daughters, the Israelites (on behalf of the Benjamites), and Naomi are inclined to resort to a pragmatic solution, rather than one that is faith-based and rooted in principle. May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the LORD God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection! (Ruth 2:10-12, emphasis mine). Ruth focused on Naomi and her need and on Naomis people and their God. While they were in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and her two sons. What route might one take from Bethlehem to Moab? Naomi returned to her homeland accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. Ruth was determined to serve and care for her mother-in-law; Orpah chose to look out for herself. The Hebrew term Elohim is plural, but some render it god here, and others gods. Chemosh appears to be the primary Moabite god, but there may well have been others. Orpah and Ruth were committed to returning to Israel with their mother-in-law. Then we find that such ways become comfortable, and so we stand or linger in them. Many of the commentaries on Ruth argue that the initial setting provides a mere backdrop to the story and nothing more. WebElimelechs Family Goes to Moab. It is also true (as God Himself says above) that God also punishes the guilty, but that is not the totality of who God is. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; during the time of the judges in Israel. There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. Elimelech was a faithless husband who led his family into the yawning jaws of death. In Judges 3, we read that the Israelites were subject to Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years.8 Since the Moabites were not Canaanites, marriage to a Moabite was not strictly forbidden.9 Nevertheless, Moabites were not only regarded as aliens or foreigners, but also as second class citizens. Marriage to a Moabite was not something one did to gain status in Israel. Naomis first attempt is described in verses 8-10. 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. There may have been others who traveled to Moab with Elimelech and his family, but the author does not make a point of telling this to his readers. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? | Bible Trivia than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. 8 Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, 9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans. PRC-Related: RFPA, Standard Bearer, Reformed Witness Hour, Etc. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. It reminds me of a horror movie in which the setting lets everyone know that something terrible is inevitable. She returned to Moab. 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. I want you to think about Moab. The latter chapters of the book of Judges contain variations of In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities (Isaiah 54:1-3). moved to Bethlehem with her mother in law, Naomi, she met and That is precisely what Naomi did with Orpah and Ruth. How could Naomi encourage Ruth (and, by inference, Orpah) to return to their god(s), when doing so would condemn them eternally? The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. Likewise, the foolish person who decides to live like this soon discovers the deadly character of such a decision. Famine should have provoked the faithful person to inquire, "How could there be famine in the land that was supposed to be flowing with milk and honey?" Sadly, many professing Christians today will accept a job in another part of the country or world, before even asking themselves if there is a good Reformed church there and without doing the requisite research. My passion is helping women connect Faith + Life in authentic and meaningful ways. var addya1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 = 'billlangerak' + '@'; That is why some men and women will choose never to marry or to bear children. var addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'spronk' + '@'; WebElimelech and His Family Move to Moab 1 1-2 Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was a famine in the land. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has resolved to sell the portion of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. In this emergency, she was proposing an unconventional solution to their problem. At the very times when outward appearances look to us as though God is against us, God is at work behind the scenes for us. Depending on where they settled, the trip would have been about one hundred miles and would have taken about a week. Second, this book points ahead to the New Testament days of the catholic or universal church, for Ruth is a Moabitess, a Gentile who is grafted into Israel. var addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'laning' + '@'; No wonder they didnt have a great reputation. 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. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1:2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Ruth: A Loyal Love Story | Keep Believing Ministries His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. . Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 31 Later the older daughter said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man anywhere nearby to have sexual relations with us, according to the way of all the world. She seems to have little or no conviction regarding her sins, the sins of her husband, or of the sins of the nation. 1 Copyright 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. I love how God works! 2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. When famines strike the land, they are not the result of a bare meteorological phenomenon. Your email address will not be published. Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite Bible teachers, puts it like this: Emilelech walked by sight not by faith and took his whole family right down with him. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Ruth 1:1-6 - Famine in the House of Bread. His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. Elimelech's actions are an apt illustration of this principle. 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. WHEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MOAB | At the Crossroads. Hi, I'm Carla! James 1:15. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law had already set out for Israel11 when Naomi began to have second thoughts not about her return, but about having two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow when she arrived at her home town of Bethlehem. that Elimelech was one of the chiefs of Israel, andthat his premature death was his punishment for having left the Holy Land and having settled in the land of Moab. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. Abraham had been faced with similar choices and God had used a famine to challenge him. And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; He took his wife and While they were there, Naomis husband died, and her two sons married women from Moab, one of whom was named Ruth. WebAs a result, the socio-economic fabric of society was falling apart, and a famine gripped the land. Ruth's story has exactly this kind of setting as it regards the covenant. And then, within 10 years, both Naomis sons died. Chilion, the only remaining son, also expired (5).Of the four who had left Bethlehem, only Naomi remained. The lot of widows was especially hard in those days, but for a widow in a foreign land, like Naomi, it was even more difficult.We are not altogether unfamiliar with stories like this. WebAnalyzes how ruth opens with a man leaving bethlehem of judah, along with his wife and two sons, for the land of moab during the time of the judges. has Naomi sold. Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. WHY DID ELIMELECH GO TO MOAB? The Story of Ruth It was my friend Dave Austin who reminded me of the danger of pragmatism from this text. Required fields are marked You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. His name was Nate Mirza. We read of the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19,3 just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. One manifestation of Gods mercy, expressed through His sovereignty, is His providential working at times when there appears to be no hope. Ruth opens with a startling statement of famine. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? It appears from redemptive history that the Moabites had deliberately schemed to intermarry with the Israelites in order to conquer them. Ruth Without a doubt, this is the most amazing and distressing thing Naomi has said so far. You can easily imagine the many tears she shed, tears which were all stored in Gods bottle (Ps. We see how heedless it was for Elimelech to seek refuge in this land for the reasons that he did. Obviously, Naomi had changed. But ten years later tragedy hit struck again as both of Naomis sons diednow leaving three women defenseless, alone, and with no way of supporting themselves. From Ruth 4:13, one might infer that God prevented both Orpah and Ruth from bearing children to their husbands. Certain decisions have a way of progressing to their natural conclusion. She would go where Naomi went and live where she lived. When they return, Ruth meets Boaz, and he fulfills the role of kinsman redeemer. Bible quiz - Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet I might have taken her as my wife. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. Where will he turn to find food for his family? Rabbi Ginsburg argues that Elimelech is really not the problem; his sons are the problem. He promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Though a widow, Naomistill had her two sons to provide for and protect her. Ruth provides us with a vital part of our Saviours genealogy, for she was the great-grandmother of King David from whom came the Messiah, according to His human nature. Its tough to do. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. If we are correct about the date of the book, then it fits perfectly with how the book of Judges ends and how Ruth's story begins. And when both her sons died without bearing children, her situation seemed impossible. For the Lord is afflicting me!. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. Naomi seems to be encouraging Ruth to accompany Orpah as she returns home. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Leaving Bethlehem for Moab (Ruth # 2) - prca.org The Moabites were known for their evil and for their false worship. God had given the Israelite a way of understanding the world and life in the land. Her husband and sons are gone, so the choice is now hers. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? Her commitment is not just to Naomi; it is a lifetime commitment to Israel and to her God. Pat. Shouldnt Ruth follow her lead? Ill attempt to support my conclusions as we proceed in our study of this book. Who was Elimelech in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org No wonder Naomi finally ceased trying to convince her to turn back (verse 18). Mahlon, the older son, died. She would have been very much at home in our Postmodern world. document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML = ''; This is completely secular thinking. To this we shall return in our next article in theNews, DV. 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. The barley harvest will play a significant role in moving this story forward in the next two chapters. They did not seem to live by it, so why would they consider it important to teach it to a Moabite? (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. To develop this point, I would have to summarize the four chapters of Ruth, but you can read the book for yourself to trace Jehovahs sovereign decree and hand guiding the various characters.Fourth, this book is significant because it presents the godly examples of Ruth herself, Naomi and Boaz, people whose virtues we would do well to emulate.But there is another important theological and practical lesson from the book of Ruth, especially chapter 1, that is often unnoticed or underdeveloped in sermons and writings on the eighth book of the Bible.

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