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Ruth 1-4
Today we get to read the Book of Ruth, all of the Book of Ruth.
The two major themes of the book of Ruth are redemption (protection) and "hesed" (loving kindness).
Today we get:
Ruth 1
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
So this is before the time of the kings.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Elimelech means "my God is king". Naomi means "my gracious one". Mahlon means "sick". Chilion means "weakening". So, we see that my God is king named his sons sick and weakening. Foreshadowing?
3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
It's always sad when a husband dies.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Orpah means "back of the neck". Ruth means "friend". They were of Moab. NOT, daughters of Israel.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Sick and weakling died. Naomi was left with back of the neck and friend.
Naomi decides it's time for her to leave Moab, and return to Judah. So she tells neck and friend that they should go back to their parents.
They decided to go with Naomi, they didn't really have anywhere else to go.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Remember back to Deuteronomy 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. Naomi wasn't going to wait to have two more sons so that neck and friend could remarry them.
So Naomi again asks them to leave.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Orpah turned and left, turned her back, her NECK on Naomi, but Ruth, the friend, stayed.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Ruth was staying with Naomi until the end.
They go back to Bethlehem. Everyone there was happy to see her back, and exclaiming how she changed in the past few years.
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Mara means "bitter one".
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 barley harvest.
MMMMM.... Barley.
Ruth 2
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
Boaz means "strength is in him".
It's amazing how well everyone named their children in those days. People sure seemed to grow into their names.
Ruth went and got the gleanings of the field. Remember, the people are commanded not to gather ALL of the field. Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Ruth and Naomi would be considered poor, and the corners of the field were for the poor.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Ruth is picking up the crumbs in Boaz's field. He wonders who she is, the men tell him that she's the girl that came back from Moab with Naomi.
Boaz tells her to continue cleaning his field and not to go to another. He also lets her drink from his vessels and stay with his maidens.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Well, remember, the law says they are supposed to leave the corners for the strangers. She apparently wasn't familiar with the law.
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
Boaz said it was because of how well she took care of Naomi. He then asks her to go to dinner with them.
So she ate, then left.
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Awww, that's sweet. He tells the men to let her glean in the area of the field that she's not supposed to, and that the men are also to just "accidentally" leave some of the good stuff behind. So she gleans all day, and takes it back to Naomi.
19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
Who was so nice to leave THIS MUCH for the poor, nobody does that...
So Naomi tells Ruth that she should stay gleaning the fields of Boaz and not go to anyone elses.
Ruth 3
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Naomi is trying to get her hitched. How would she find rest for her? By marrying her off.
2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
Winnowing is the separating of the chaff.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
Wait until after he's full and probably drunk.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
Taking off the shoes of a drunk guy is a really nice thing to do.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
So far so good.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
This spreading of the skirt was more than just asking for a blanket, she was asking for the protection, and REDEMPTION from her kinsman.
He replied.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Boaz is a close kinsman, but there is a closer relative, he is the one who SHOULD fulfill the Deuteronomy 25:5 law.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
He kind of likes her. He gives her 6 measures of barley to take back to Naomi. That's a lot of like.
Ruth 4
1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Here he is, the kinsman.
3 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:
Due to the way the rules worked with the dividing of the land, it would have to stay in the same tribe. Therefore the nearest of kin would have first dibs at the purchase of the land.
4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
The kinsman says he'll buy it... crapola!
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Well, ok, if you are gonna buy the land, you also have to buy the widow. AND, the land will pass to her son. That's the rules, do you still want the land?
6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
Uh, no, he doesn't want it after all.
7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Back to Deuteronomy 25.
Deuteronomy 25:9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Apparently they didn't require the spitting in the face.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I also bought Ruth, to raise up the name of the dead, Therefore their first child would have the name Mahlon.
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
PRAISE JESUS!!!
17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Obed, the grandfather of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Wait a second. Boaz begat Obed? I though the rules were that the firstborn would have the name of the deceased father. Therefore, David's lineage would be something like this. David>Jesse>Obed>Mahlon>Elimelech.
Deuteronomy 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
Specifically states that the firstborn (Obed) shall bear the name of the dead.
Slightly more interesting in that Obed should belong to the tree of Mahlon, is that David great grandmother was NOT of the daughters of Israel. Ruth was a Moabite (descendants of Lot), not a descendant of Jacob.
So what have we learned today.
1. The rules sometimes apply.
2. Sometimes they don't.
3. Those Jews really knew how to name their kids.
YIC
V
Today we get to read the Book of Ruth, all of the Book of Ruth.
The two major themes of the book of Ruth are redemption (protection) and "hesed" (loving kindness).
Today we get:
- Naomi
- Ruth
- Boaz
- The kinsman
Ruth 1
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
So this is before the time of the kings.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Elimelech means "my God is king". Naomi means "my gracious one". Mahlon means "sick". Chilion means "weakening". So, we see that my God is king named his sons sick and weakening. Foreshadowing?
3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
It's always sad when a husband dies.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Orpah means "back of the neck". Ruth means "friend". They were of Moab. NOT, daughters of Israel.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Sick and weakling died. Naomi was left with back of the neck and friend.
Naomi decides it's time for her to leave Moab, and return to Judah. So she tells neck and friend that they should go back to their parents.
They decided to go with Naomi, they didn't really have anywhere else to go.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Remember back to Deuteronomy 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. Naomi wasn't going to wait to have two more sons so that neck and friend could remarry them.
So Naomi again asks them to leave.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Orpah turned and left, turned her back, her NECK on Naomi, but Ruth, the friend, stayed.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Ruth was staying with Naomi until the end.
They go back to Bethlehem. Everyone there was happy to see her back, and exclaiming how she changed in the past few years.
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Mara means "bitter one".
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 barley harvest.
MMMMM.... Barley.
Ruth 2
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
Boaz means "strength is in him".
It's amazing how well everyone named their children in those days. People sure seemed to grow into their names.
Ruth went and got the gleanings of the field. Remember, the people are commanded not to gather ALL of the field. Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Ruth and Naomi would be considered poor, and the corners of the field were for the poor.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Ruth is picking up the crumbs in Boaz's field. He wonders who she is, the men tell him that she's the girl that came back from Moab with Naomi.
Boaz tells her to continue cleaning his field and not to go to another. He also lets her drink from his vessels and stay with his maidens.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Well, remember, the law says they are supposed to leave the corners for the strangers. She apparently wasn't familiar with the law.
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
Boaz said it was because of how well she took care of Naomi. He then asks her to go to dinner with them.
So she ate, then left.
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Awww, that's sweet. He tells the men to let her glean in the area of the field that she's not supposed to, and that the men are also to just "accidentally" leave some of the good stuff behind. So she gleans all day, and takes it back to Naomi.
19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
Who was so nice to leave THIS MUCH for the poor, nobody does that...
So Naomi tells Ruth that she should stay gleaning the fields of Boaz and not go to anyone elses.
Ruth 3
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Naomi is trying to get her hitched. How would she find rest for her? By marrying her off.
2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
Winnowing is the separating of the chaff.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
Wait until after he's full and probably drunk.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
Taking off the shoes of a drunk guy is a really nice thing to do.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
So far so good.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
This spreading of the skirt was more than just asking for a blanket, she was asking for the protection, and REDEMPTION from her kinsman.
He replied.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Boaz is a close kinsman, but there is a closer relative, he is the one who SHOULD fulfill the Deuteronomy 25:5 law.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
He kind of likes her. He gives her 6 measures of barley to take back to Naomi. That's a lot of like.
Ruth 4
1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Here he is, the kinsman.
3 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:
Due to the way the rules worked with the dividing of the land, it would have to stay in the same tribe. Therefore the nearest of kin would have first dibs at the purchase of the land.
4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
The kinsman says he'll buy it... crapola!
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Well, ok, if you are gonna buy the land, you also have to buy the widow. AND, the land will pass to her son. That's the rules, do you still want the land?
6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
Uh, no, he doesn't want it after all.
7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Back to Deuteronomy 25.
Deuteronomy 25:9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Apparently they didn't require the spitting in the face.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I also bought Ruth, to raise up the name of the dead, Therefore their first child would have the name Mahlon.
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
PRAISE JESUS!!!
17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Obed, the grandfather of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Wait a second. Boaz begat Obed? I though the rules were that the firstborn would have the name of the deceased father. Therefore, David's lineage would be something like this. David>Jesse>Obed>Mahlon>Elimelech.
Deuteronomy 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
Specifically states that the firstborn (Obed) shall bear the name of the dead.
Slightly more interesting in that Obed should belong to the tree of Mahlon, is that David great grandmother was NOT of the daughters of Israel. Ruth was a Moabite (descendants of Lot), not a descendant of Jacob.
So what have we learned today.
1. The rules sometimes apply.
2. Sometimes they don't.
3. Those Jews really knew how to name their kids.
YIC
V
Trump / Arpaio 2016 -- The Government We Deserve
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