Introduction
The strong leadership of Moses and Joshua had brought Israel from Egypt into Canaan. Under Joshua the land had been occupied with each of the tribes having their own area to inhabit. For several centuries after Canaan had been divided up and each tribe had settled in a different area, there was hardly a time when the nation was again united. The surrounding nations took advantage of this fragmentation of Israel and mounted invasions against them. The book of Judges is the history of this period. It was a time of testing, permitted by the Lord, to see if the new generations of Israelites would keep the Law that was mediated by Moses, and remain faithful to Him who had redeemed them. But the Israelites did not stand the test. Dwelling in the midst of the Canaanites, they contracted marriages with them, and served their gods, contrary to the express prohibition of the Lord in Ex. 34:16; 23:24, and Deut. 7:3, 4. When this took place, they lost the protection of Jehovah and became servants to foreign rulers. It was only when they repented of their folly and returned to the old paths that they were delivered.
At the time of the book of Ruth, parts of Israel had gone through several such periods of apostasy followed by deliverance.
The oppression by Chushan-Rishathaim of Mesopotamia lasted 8 years before they were delivered under the leadership of Othneil, after which they had 40 years of peace.
The oppression by the Moabites lasted 18 years, before Ehud rose up to deliver them. They then enjoyed an extended period of peace which lasted 80 years.
The oppression by the Canaanitish king Jabin lasted 20 years before Deborah and Barak arose to deliver them. The peace that was then secured lasted 40 years.
The oppression by the Midianites lasted 7 years before God raised up Gideon as their deliverer. The peace obtained lasted 40 years.
Many suggest that the events recorded in the book of Ruth took place during the 40 years of peace that followed the Midianite invasions. The first verse of the book gives the historic location of this personal history of the family from Bethlehem. “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1). This places the events of the book of Ruth into the period when Israel’s experience was very unstable. There was no unity among the tribes and the worship of Jehovah was often neglected. It was an uncertain world. There was no prophet to speak a word from the Lord and there was no word from the priest to keep the nation close to God. Even after the remarkable victories achieved by Gideon, Israel was never fully cleansed of idolatry. It was at this time that Bethlehem knew a lengthy and severe famine. It seemed as if the heavens were as brass both physically and spiritually.
The famine had compounded the devastation that seven years of Midianite invasions had produced. Although the invaders had been only loosely organized, there was a clear pattern to their tactics. Just when the freshly seeded crops had begun to sprout, hordes would erupt from across the Jordan, bringing with them their own livestock and camels, and even their tents. The raiders would set up camp at strategic locations, from where they would send their herds out in search of pasture and launch their raiding parties. This extended period of Midianite terror had had a devastating effect on the Israelite economy and emotion. They had been like locusts, consuming every green plant in sight, leaving the land ravaged, with nothing left over for the Israelite flocks and herds. Fearing the brutality of the invaders, as soon as they appeared on the horizon, the Israelites had fled to the hills, using natural geological features as defensive strongholds.
Elimelech lived in Bethlehem with Naomi his wife and his two sons, Mahlon and Chillion. Because of the famine there was little food available. This is especially poignant inasmuch as Bethlehem means ‘house of bread’. There was no bread in the house of bread! Elimelech and Naomi decided to escape to Moab for a while. If they had been caught up in the national apostasy and served other gods, then it would explain the attraction of Moab for them. It turned out to be a disastrous decision. If Elimelech had been an Israelite committed to Jehovah he would have known better. He should have lived up to his name, which means ‘My God is King’. History should have warned him that Moab was not the place to take his wife and children. No doubt he took the course of action he did, because he thought he was doing his best for his family. However, in taking them to Moab he failed in his responsibility. In Scripture, Moab represents the flesh. The father of the nation is the son of Lot who was the child of an incestuous alliance. The activities of Moab in their relationship to Israel also support the sense that it was a sensual nation. When Israel was journeying towards Canaan, on the advice of Balaam the prophet, they offered their prettiest women to the men of Israel. Moses recorded the event. “While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel” (Numbers 25:1–3). Intermarrying between an Israelite and a Moabite was displeasing to God. Elimelech should not have left Israel for Moab, especially as his sons married Moabite women. The story of Elimelech’s family demonstrates what can go wrong when there is a lack of commitment to the Lord.
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