Ruth 1:2

2 He was called Elimelech, and his wife (was) Naomi, and his two sons, the one was called Mahlon, and the tother Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem of Judah; and they entered into the country of Moab, and they dwelled there (and they went to the country of Moab, and they lived there).

Ruth 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:2

And the name of the man was Elimelech
Which signifies "my God is King", as he was King over Israel. In the times of the judges, the government was a theocracy; the judges were raised up immediately by the Lord, and ruled under him; the Targum calls him a great man, and so Jarchi; and it is very likely he was, especially if it be true what is said the Jewish chronology ^F21, that he was the brother of Salmon, prince of the tribe of Judah; and it is certain that Boaz the son of Salmon was a kinsman of his, ( Ruth 2:1 ) ,

and the name of his wife Naomi;
which signifies "sweet, pleasant", very likely a comely person, and of a sweet disposition; a name of the same signification with Naamah, the sister of Tubalcain, ( Genesis 4:22 ) and according to the Talmudists she was Elimelech's brother's daughter; for they say ^F23, that Elimelech, Salmon, and the kinsman (spoken of in this book), and the father of Naomi, were all of them the sons of Nahshon, prince of the tribe of Judah; the same Jarchi observes on ( Ruth 1:22 )

and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion;
which seem to have their names from weakness and consumption, being perhaps weakly and consumptive persons; and it appears they both died young. It is a tradition of the Jews, mentioned by Aben Ezra, that these are the same with Joash and Saraph, who are said to have dominion in Moab, ( 1 Chronicles 4:22 ) which is not likely:

Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah:
Jarchi interprets Ephrathites by men of worth and esteem; and the Targum is,

``Ephrathites, great men of Bethlehemjudah''

but no doubt they were called so, because Ephratah was one of the names of Bethlehem, ( Genesis 35:19 ) ( Micah 5:2 ) so called from its fruitfulness; though Aben Ezra thinks it had its name from Ephratah the wife of Caleb; but it was so called in the time of Moses, as in the passage referred to:

and they came into the country of Moab, and continued there;
unto their death; all excepting Naomi, who returned when she heard the famine was over.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 12. p. 34. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 8. 1.
F23 T. Bab Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 1.

Ruth 1:2 In-Context

1 In the days of one judge, when judges were sovereigns in Israel, hunger was made in the land; and a man of Bethlehem of Judah went to be a pilgrim in the country of Moab, with his wife and [his] two free sons. (In the days of the judges, when they were the rulers in Israel, there was hunger in the land; and a man of Bethlehem of Judah went to live in the country of Moab, with his wife and their two sons.)

2 He was called Elimelech, and his wife (was) Naomi, and his two sons, the one was called Mahlon, and the tother Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem of Judah; and they entered into the country of Moab, and they dwelled there (and they went to the country of Moab, and they lived there).

3 And Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she (was) left with her sons;

4 and they took wives of Moab, of which wives one was called Orpah, the tother Ruth. And the sons dwelled there ten years (And the sons lived there for ten years),

5 and both died, that is, Mahlon and Chilion; and the woman (was) left, and was made bare of her two free sons, and her husband. (and then both of them died, that is, Mahlon and Chilion; and so the woman was bereaved of her two sons, and her husband.)