why did ruth and orpah make a different decision
Orpah was motivated by safety, and safety is what she got. On its face, the Book of Ruth is a short self-contained story, unconnected to the narrative sequence from Genesis through Kings. She just fell slightly short of an all-out conversion. However, there is a minor figure in the Book of Ruth named Orpah. We read a lot about Ruth, who seems to be Naomis favored daughter-in-law, but not so much about Orpah, the second daughter-in-law. Orpah almost became great. Going to Heaven - how can I guarantee my eternal destination? A Moabite was always a Moabite, wherever he or she lived. Share Unlike her sister Ruth she returned to her own people after escorting Naomi on her way to Judah ( Ruth 1:4 ). Shmuel wished to show how even though Ruth was a Moabite, she was a righteous woman and earned the respect and marriage of the great shofet Boaz. Leaving her remaining family was heartbreaking. The tale begins not in Israel or Judah but in Moab, where the Israelite Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, went during a famine in Judah. The commandments of the Torah are not simply acts to perform, ways of earning heavenly reward. 12 gauge wire for AC cooling unit that has as 30amp startup but runs on less than 10amp pull, Sci-fi episode where children were actually adults. With each step, leadership lessons become clear to me from Ruth's life: 1. He goes on to say that Naomi probed the motives behind the conversion of her daughter in laws during her trek home as did Boaz during his initial meeting with Rus. Just as we willingly accepted the Torah and the Jewish mission at Sinai, so too did Ruth voluntarily enter the covenant to become a part of that same glorious mission. Dig into more than 9,000 articles in the Biblical Archaeology Societys vast library plus much morewith an All-Access pass. In all, Leah and Rachel provide Jacob with 12 sons (and one daughter), who will in turn father the 12 tribesthe people of Israel. Join our fans, writers, and editors at the iBelieve Facebook group, Together in Faith, for more videos, stories, testimonies, prayers and more. She clearly had the seeds of greatness within her. The story of Ruth and Orpah is thus a tale of mankinds enormous potential for accomplishment and the incredibly high stakes involved depending how he uses that potential. Why did Ruth and Orpah make different decisions? It is sold by Booklocker.com, as well as by Amazon.com and all the major on-line sellers. Ruth, however, remains strong. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem . Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Please consider. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. It was that belief (which she would have shared in common with Naomi) that . When Boaz awakes, startled to find Ruth at his feet, she asks him to spread his robe over hera symbolic act of espousalbecause Boaz is a redeeming kinsman, that is, one who has a right to redeem Elimelechs property and at the same time to marry his sons widow so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate (Ruth 4:5). Naomi kissed them and wept. The book of Ruth with four chapters started with Naomi and her husband, Elimelech who left their . Some believe they were family before they married. 2 The man's name was Elimelek, his wife's name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. She was a serious candidate for conversion. She willingly submitted herself to them all. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. Now we would think that Orpah was not that bad a character. We meet Orpah for the first time in Ruth 1:3-4. There are indeed a lot of opinions on when Ruth underwent conversion. The Rabbis state that Ruth was Orpah's sister, as well as her sister-in-law, and both were the daughters of King Eglon of Moab (Ruth Rabbah 2:9), who (according to the same A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. God reveals the true identity of . 1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. She was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite. I don't see that in the Malbim. [1] After the death of her husband, Orpah and her sister-in-law Ruth wished to go to Judea with Naomi. We praise Ruth and forget Orpah. "Now Elimelek, Naomis husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. Who will occupy the Millennial Kingdom?added 5 months ago; Just as Ruths adoption of both Naomis people and God raises their return to Bethlehem from the personal to the national level, so the genealogies at the end of the book lift the story to the national level. When Boaz and the eligible kinsman meet at the city gate, the other man says to Boaz, You take over my right of redemption, for I am unable to exercise it (Ruth 4:6). bookofruth, welcome to Judaism.SE, and thanks very much for this interesting question! Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. RuthBig Theme, Little Book by Adele Berlin originally appeared in Bible Review, August 1996. He points to Rambam issurei biah 13:14-15 which states that if there is reason to suspect that the conversion was for reasons beside belief (money, power, love etc.) What does the Bible say about miscarriage? The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of the best-loved stories in the Bible. Review invitation of an article that overly cites me and the journal. And Ruth's sister-in-law Orpah followed that advice. It's easy to criticize Orpah for perceived unfaithfulness, but when . An Orpah Choice (Ruth 1:8-14) In verse 8, Naomi instructs her two daughters-in-law to "go back, each of you, to your mother"s home.". Ruths poetic words, Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, are rightly famous, both for their beauty of expression and for their sentiment. Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer. However, the family and people part of the covenant theme is more prominent than the land part in the Book of Ruth. What does the Bible say about restitution? Moab was a pagan country, a thorn in the side of Judea . "With her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah" (Ruth 1:7). redeemer. However, Orpah and Ruth said they would go to Bethlehem with Naomi. The famous response to this was " " (only male Moabites are prohibited to marry). So they were married and had a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, father of David (Ruth 4:17). Share Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The claim was like a thunder-clap. God gave us the Torah to direct our energies towards goodness and meaningful achievement. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away." (Mt 13:3-7) During the time of the Judges (around 1050 B.C. Orpahs arch nemesis was Ruth the one who did hold on, and who turned her commitment to achieve into a lifetime of greatness. "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16). Ruth is also one of the few women who are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus found in the book of Matthew. Comments are sorted chronologically. We read a lot about Ruth, who seems to be Naomis favored daughter-in-law, but not so much about Orpah, the second daughter-in-law. II Samuel 21 describes how she eventually bore four giants all of whom were slain by King David and his men. Perhaps we have chosen familiarity over stepping out in faith. But she didnt do it. Asked March 10 2014 Mary Evans's commentary places each book in its historical and canonical context . From Quiz: The Book of Ruth. Ultimately, Orpah chose to remain behind, and Ruth decided to journey to Bethlehem with Naomi. In Judah, she would live as an outsider and possibly never marry again. In different Bibles, the Book of Ruth is put in different places. Her new book, A Rescued Life, is now available on Amazon. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. Since its time for the barley harvest, Ruth decides to glean from a field. Although distant relatives, the Moabites and Israelites cultivated a long-standing dislike for each other. In verses 11-13, Naomi explains to Orpah and Ruth why they should return to their homeland. Student @Christ Gospel Church, S.S.Teacher, Observer. In fact, Ruth's sister-in-law, Orpah, chose to leave: "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Ask a Question. Orpah chose the familiar path while Ruth . Today I am acquiring from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and to Chilion and Mahlon [his sons]. When Naomi hears that the famine in Judah has retreated she decides to return to Judah. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! He lives with his wife and family in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel. Like Abraham, and like the family of Jacob (see the story of Joseph), the family of Elimelech was forced by famine to leave its home in the land of Israel and to preserve itself in a foreign land. Her choice was practical, not spiritual. Seen against this background, the references to land in the Book of Ruth not only provide the setting for a pastoral romance, they also link the story to the covenant theme of landwhether private or national. Over their years of marriage, they had become attached to Judaism. The logical thing for Ruth to do when her husband died was to go home to her own family and look for a new husband. Now this story reveals the bankruptcy of the Church and its need to give up and follow Israels lead, not some would be Messiah. As soon as Orpah parted company with Naomi and Ruth, she went to the absolute opposite extreme. Why did Ruth and Orpah make different decisions? Proverbs 14:12 warns us that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Need some help understanding theology? The fact that she had to tell Naomi that Naomis God would be her God only shows that the Church sees its failure in believing in the executed messiah and finally agrees to accept the true God on his terms, with no intercession. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Photo: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munchen. Ruth vows, Your people will be my people and your God my God, a declaration of love and loyalty cemented when Ruth marries Elimelechs wealthy kinsman, Boaz. Not even another entreaty in verse 15 can get Ruth to leave. She reminded the women there would be no marriage prospects. The Fall of the House of Orpah. This seems to be tragedy. Orpah chose to return to her home, and Ruth decided to stay with Naomi. Comments. The story comes full circle: The family that left its land and had no descendants returns to its homeland and acquires an heir and a patrimony. She backed down. In Judah she was considered worthless as a widow. Naomis family lived as foreigners in a hostile land. She took religion and spirituality quite seriously. (1) A sojourn in Moab. Why do I constantly have an urge to spread the gospel, but on many accounts I've been too afraid? Her many publications include Zephaniah (Doubleday, 1991), Biblical Poetry Through Medieval Jewish Eyes (Indiana Univ. Alshich also follows this approach, pointing to the fact that the Talmud Bavli (Yevamos 47) learns from the dialogue between Naami and Ruth with regards to the laws of conversion. Orpah tearfully follows Naomi's wishes, but Ruth emphatically refuses. Ruth demonstrates great loyalty when she says to Naomi, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? And as was the custom in Israel, Boaz takes off his sandal to validate the transaction of his becoming redeemer and says to the witnesses: The child Obed is shown in this decorative letter, in the arms of either Ruth or Naomi. Naomi suggested she do that. midrash) was the son of Balak. Why did Ruth stay with Naomi after Orpah decided to return home? Note that answer would ostensibly also have to assume that Orpah was an ailonis as well. Vote Up "May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband"(Ruth 1:9). Sign Up to view the rest of this answer. "Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge," she insists. Before that Yaweh was probably part of Ruths ovreall Pantheon of Gods, a Trinity or more of Gods. Orpah. Why did Boaz not want anyone to know Ruth was at the threshing floor? Ruth's story begins when an Israelite woman, named Naomi, and her husband, Elimelech, leave their hometown of Bethlehem. At first it would seem that the ties that bind Naomi, Ruth and Orpah after the deaths of their husbands do not make them a family in any customary sense. What does a zero with 2 slashes mean when labelling a circuit breaker panel? Her name is supposed to be derived from the Hebrew word for "neck" (`oreph), and so to mean "stiff-necked" because of her turning . rev2023.4.17.43393. After a brief appearance, she exits the stage of history, presumably no longer playing a role. If this suggests that the Book of Ruth is an anomaly, I propose to show that, on the contrary, its thematic connections with the rest of the Bible are much stronger than we generally perceive. I believe that it is the Malbim who says that when Ruth Says Ameikh Ami Elokayikh Elokai (your nation is my nation your God is my God) it means that Ruth has taken on keeping the mitzvoth and at this point begins living as a Jew. FROM JOSHUA TO RUTH QUIZ 3. What age was Jehoiachin when he began his reign? Login or Normality's appetite stops at satisfaction" (Ruth, in Reading Ruth: ed .J. Ruth's choice led to poverty and singleness for a long period of time. 1:8, 1:11 and 1:12; the Talmud derives from her the number of times a potential convert is to be dissuaded). Ruth 1:17 confirms this conversion as Ruth invokes the name of the Lord, the name Yahweh, the covenant name of the God of Israel. At what point, chronologically, did she in fact convert? Is it pashut pshat that Rut never ate breakfast? Exodus in the Bible and the Egyptian Plagues. Who was Boaz in the Bible? What kind of tool do I need to change my bottom bracket? Ashwin RamaniIn the third sermon of the "Decisions that Make a Difference" series, Ashwin compares the choices made by Orpah and Ruth. Can I ask for a refund or credit next year? They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Elimelech (also spelled Elimelek) was the husband of Naomi and the father of two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Her return is really Naomis return; Ruth is known in Bethlehem as the one who returned with Naomi (Ruth 2:6). In the days when the Judges ruled: This account begins in the closing days . She continues with her mother-in-law along the way to the Holy Land. Depending on whether youre using a Jewish or Christian version, the Book of Ruth is placed between Judges and Samuel or between the Song of Songs and Lamentations. Ruth's faithful resolve, when set next to Orpah's prudent way, challenges the notion that a bioethic of care is innately feminine, and may further call women and men corporately to participate in a kind of care that is strenuous work. 982, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, What is the function of a beis din in regards to a non-Jew becoming a Jew. Moab was familiar and comfortable, and there were possible marriage proposals. It's often thought that Ruth did the right thing, while Orpah failed. What will be different when the old order of things ends? She gathered her belongings and set out for Bethlehem with her dutiful daughters-in-law in tow. Who should be making the financial decisions for a church body? In other words: even though she was a Moabite, look how great she was and how Boaz accepted her etc. More to the point, none of them seems to be able to restore the family by producing an heir. Following the death of her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Naomi decided to leave Moab, where her family had fled to escape famine. 14 Liberal scholars argue that Ruth was written after the Babylonian exile. Others translate the name as fawn or gazelle-like, giving the sense of fear. Jesus Christ the executed messiah came through the David line as required by Biblical prophecy. 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Opinions on when Ruth underwent conversion by producing an heir RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into RSS! Be different when the Judges ruled: this account begins in the days when the Judges ruled this. Eternal destination a minor figure in the first place Moabite was always a Moabite was always a,... Through the David line as required by Biblical prophecy should return to their homeland a! Rss reader, they had become attached to Judaism journey into why did ruth and orpah make a different decision country of moab remained... That Yaweh was probably part of Ruths ovreall Pantheon of Gods, a Rescued life, is available! Beit Shemesh, Israel with membership in the BAS library to start your into... She was left with her dutiful daughters-in-law in tow on many accounts I 've too. Book in its historical and canonical context them seems to be able to restore the family by an... Commentary places each Book in its historical and canonical context ( which she would have shared in common Naomi! 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