I N D E X
of the inheritance, while the closing verses of the fourth chapter reveal its
redemption:
Ruth
A 1:1-22.
Sons dead.
No more sons possible.
Inheritance suspended.
B 2:1-23.
Kindness to living and dead
Kinsman-
B 3:1 to 4:13.
Name of dead not cut off
Redeemer.
A 4:14-22.  Better than seven sons.
Genealogy to David.
Inheritance redeemed.
After the death of Elimelech, the two sons married two women of Moab, and
lived together for ten years.  In both cases the marriages were childless, and
at the death of the two sons, the three widows were faced with a serious
problem.  Elimelech's inheritance which passed on to Mahlon and Chilion was
temporarily suspended owing to the fact that no child had been born to either of
them.  This gives point to the otherwise rather strange reference that Naomi
makes, to the idea of the two widows waiting until she, Naomi, might remarry and
have further sons, a far-fetched argument to our ears, but not so when read in
the light of the law of Moses, to which we must make reference later.  We do not
give here the full outline of this first chapter, but that of 1:8-18.
Ruth 1:8-18
A 1:8-18.
d
Ye dealt kindly with me.
e  `Rest' in house of husband.
e  `Tarry' for husband.
d
The Lord against me.
F  Orpah.
Kissed.
Ruth.
Clave.
d
She has gone back.
e
Her people.
Her gods.
d
Intreat me not to leave.
e
Thy people.
Thy God.
In those days, the lot of an unmarried woman was such that marriage with
almost anyone, however irksome, was preferable.  Naomi speaks of Orpah and Ruth
`finding rest' (menuchah) in the house of a husband.  The same word is repeated
in Ruth 3:1, `Shall I not seek rest for thee?'  This figure, too, is prophetic;
for in Isaiah we find marriage terms employed to describe the glory of that
future day when Israel shall be restored.  In Isaiah 62:4 (margin)
we read that Israel shall be called Hephzi-bah, `My delight is in her', and the
land Beulah, `Married'.  Again, in Isaiah 32:
`And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure
dwellings, and in quiet resting places' (menuchah) (18).
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