Teks -- Ruth 1:1 (NET)

A Family Tragedy: Famine and Death

1:1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Rut 1:1 - In the land

Of Canaan. It must be early: for Boaz was born of Rahab. So Christ descended from two Gentile mothers.

JFB: Rut 1:1 - in the days when the judges ruled

The beautiful and interesting story which this book relates belongs to the early times of the judges. The precise date cannot be ascertained.

Clarke: Rut 1:1 - When the judges ruled

When the judges ruled - We know not under what judge this happened; some say under Ehud, others under Shamgar. See the preface

Clarke: Rut 1:1 - There was a famine

There was a famine - Probably occasioned by the depredations of the Philistines, Ammonites, etc., carrying off the corn as soon as it was ripe, or destroying it on the field

The Targum says: "God has decreed ten grievous famines to take place in the world, to punish the inhabitants of the earth, before the coming of Messiah the king. The first in the days of Adam; the second in the days of Lamech; the third in the days of Abraham; the fourth in the days of Isaac; the fifth in the days of Jacob; the sixth in the days of Boaz, who is called Abstan, (Ibzan), the just, of Beth-lehem-judah; the seventh in the days of David, king of Israel; the eighth in the days of Elijah the prophet; the ninth in the days of Elisha, in Samaria; the tenth is yet to come, and it is not a famine of bread or of water but of hearing the word of prophecy from the mouth of the Lord; and even now this famine is grievous in the land of Israel."

Defender: Rut 1:1 - when the judges ruled

These introductory verses, as well as the closing genealogy (Rth 4:17-22), show that the book of Ruth was written after "the days when the judges ruled," during the days of the monarchy. Possibly Samuel, or even David (who was said to be Ruth's great grandson and thus may have heard the story from his parents) may have written it. Ruth's husband, Boaz, was said to be the son of Rahab (Mat 1:5), the converted harlot who had joined with the Israelites at the fall of Jericho. The story of Ruth, therefore, possibly took place during the early part of the judges' rule. See discussion in the Introduction.

Defender: Rut 1:1 - Bethlehem-Judah

Bethlehem means "house of bread." The home of Elimelech and later of Ruth was also destined to be the birthplace of King David (1Sa 16:1) and, eventually, of the Messiah (Mic 5:2). It was first noted in Scripture as the place of Rachel's death (Gen 35:19; note also the reference to Rachel and her children in Mat 2:16-18)."

TSK: Rut 1:1 - the judges // ruled // a famine

the judges : Jdg 2:16, Jdg 12:8

ruled : Heb. judged

a famine : Gen 12:10, Gen 26:1, Gen 43:1; Lev 26:19; Deu 28:23, Deu 28:24, Deu 28:38; 2Sa 21:1; 1Ki 17:1-12, 1Ki 18:2; 2Ki 8:1, 2Ki 8:2; Psa 105:16, Psa 107:34; Jer 14:1; Eze 14:13, Eze 14:21; Joe 1:10, Joe 1:11, Joe 1:16-20; Amo 4:6, Beth-lehem-judah, Jdg 17:8, Jdg 19:1, Jdg 19:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rut 1:1 - THE ARGUMENT // In the days when the judges ruled // The country of Moab

THE ARGUMENT

THIS little Book, by whomsoever written, which is not material to know, is annexed to the Book of Judges, and by some of the Hebrew doctors made a part of it. It is useful, as for many other points, so especially to show the genealogy of David, and consequently of Christ; and the rise of Christ from a Moabitish woman; which was a useful document, and a great encouragement to the Gentiles to believe in Christ.

A famine in Canaan. Elimelech removes to Moab; with Naomi his wife, and his two sons, who marry Orpah and Ruth there; and die, Rth 1:1-5 . Naomi returns to Judah; her daughters-in-law accompany her on her way, Rth 1:6-13 . Orpah returns home to her people and gods; Ruth remains, being converted, Rth 1:14-18 . They come to Beth-lehem, Rth 1:19-22 .

In the days when the judges ruled which is noted as the cause of the following famine, because in much of that time they were guilty of great defection from God. But under which of the judges this happened, Scripture being silent, it seems presumptuous to determine; nor is it necessary to know. What is said about this matter from the genealogy, mentioned Rth 1:18 , &c., it will be most proper to consider it there.

In the land , or, in that land , to wit, of Canaan.

The country of Moab a fruitful land beyond Jordan, eastward.

PBC: Rut 1:1

Ru 1:1

Introduction:

Even though the book of Ruth bears her name, the real importance of the teaching of this little book is not to find sympathy for the afflictions of sin in the life of Ruth, but it's to point us to the greatness of her redeemer, Boaz.  It's a book that teaches redemption.

Haydock: Rut 1:1 - Of one // Land

Of one. Hebrew, "And it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled." (Haydock) ---

The and shews the connection with the former book. (Calmet) ---

Land. Chaldean adds, "of Israel," (Menochius) while the less fertile country of Moab had abundance. God thus punished the idolatry of his people. Some say the famine lasted ten years; but this is uncertain, though Noemi continued so long out of the country, ver. 4. (Salien)

Gill: Rut 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 // and went to sojourn in the country of Moab // he and his wife, and his two sons

Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled,.... So that it appears that this history is of time and things after the affair of Micah, and of the concubine of the Levite, and of the war between Israel and Benjamin; for in those times there was no king nor judge in Israel; but to what time of the judges, and which government of theirs it belongs to, is not agreed on. Josephus ^o places it in the government of Eli, but that is too late for Boaz, the grandfather of Jesse, the father of David, to live. Some Jewish writers, as Jarchi, say it was in the times of Ibzan, who they say ^p is the same with Boaz, but without proof, and which times are too late also for this history. The Jewish chronology ^q comes nearer the truth, which carries it up as high as the times of Eglon, king of Moab, when Ehud was judge; and with which Dr. Lightfoot ^r pretty much agrees, who puts this history between the third and fourth chapters of Judges, and so must belong to the times of Ehud or Shamgar. Junius refers it to the times of Deborah and Barak; and others ^s, on account of the famine, think it began in the times the Midianites oppressed Israel, and carried off the fruits of the earth, which caused it, when Gideon was raised up to be their judge; Alting ^t places it in the time of Jephthah; such is the uncertainty about the time referred to:

that there was a famine in the land; the land of Canaan, that very fruitful country. The Targum says this was the sixth famine that had been in the world, and it was in the days of Boaz, who is called Ibzan the just, and who was of Bethlehemjudah; but it is more probable that it was in the days of Gideon, as before observed, than in the days of Ibzan

and a certain man of Bethlehemjudah; so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos 19:15 which had its name from the fruitfulness of the place, and the plenty of bread in it, and yet the famine was here; hence this man with his family removed from it:

and went to sojourn in the country of Moab; where there was plenty; not to dwell there, but to sojourn for a time, until the famine was over:

he and his wife, and his two sons; the names of each of them are next given.