1:1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that
there was a famine in the a land. And a certain man of
b Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab,
he, and his wife, and his two sons.
The Argument - This book is called Ruth, who is the main person
spoken of in this writing. In which also the state of the
Church is set forth figuratively, being subject to many
afflictions and yet eventually God gives good and joyful
offspring, teaching us to abide with patience till God
delivers us out of troubles. In this also it is described
how Jesus Christ, who according to the flesh came from
David, proceeded by Ruth, of whom the Lord Jesus promised to
come, nonetheless she was a Moabite of base condition, and a
stranger to the people of God; declaring to us by it that
the Gentiles would be sanctified by him, and joined with his
people, and that there would be one sheepfold, and one
shepherd. It would appear that this account belongs to the
time of the judges.
(a) In the land of Canaan.
(b) In the tribe of Judah, which was also called Bethlehem
Ephrathat, because there was another city so called in
the tribe of Zebulun.
1:4 And they took them wives of the c women of Moab; the name
of the one [was] Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and
they dwelled there about ten years.
(c) By this wonderful providence of God Ruth became one of
God's household, of whom Christ came.
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might
return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the
country of Moab how that the LORD had d visited his people
in giving them bread.
(d) By sending them plenty again.
1:9 The LORD grant you that ye may find e rest, each [of you]
in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they
lifted up their voice, and wept.
(e) By this it appears that Naomi by dwelling among
idolaters, had become cold to the true zeal of God,
having more respect for the comfort of the body than the
comfort of the soul.
1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah
f kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
(f) When she took leave and departed.
1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto
her people, and unto her gods: g return thou after thy
sister in law.
(g) No persuasion can convince them to turn back from God,
if he has chosen them to be his.
1:19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came
to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the
city was h moved about them, and they said, [Is] this
Naomi?
(h) By which it appears that she was of a great family of
good reputation.
1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in
law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab:
and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of i barley
harvest.
(i) Which was in the month of Nisan, that is, part March
and part April.
