Meaning of Ruth 1:4

This verse introduces a pivotal moment in the narrative of Ruth, marking the assimilation of two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, into an Israelite family through marriage. The family in question, led by Elimelech, had sojourned to Moab due to famine in Bethlehem. The ten-year duration of their stay highlights the establishment of these unions and the integration of these foreign women into Israelite society, setting the stage for the profound loyalty and faith that will later characterize Ruth's relationship with Naomi and with God. The act of intermarriage itself, while not explicitly condemned in this context, would have carried significant cultural and religious implications for an Israelite family living among Moabites, a people with a complex and often antagonistic relationship with Israel.

Context and Background

The book of Ruth is set during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by instability and a lack of centralized leadership in Israel. A severe famine drove Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem in Judah, to seek sustenance in the land of Moab. Moabite territory was geographically adjacent to Judah, and while there was historical animosity between the Moabites and Israelites (stemming from their origins and subsequent interactions), migration for economic reasons was not entirely unprecedented. Elimelech's decision to settle there, and subsequently have his sons marry Moabite women, indicates a degree of acculturation and a practical response to their circumstances. The passage emphasizes that this was not a fleeting visit but a settlement of approximately a decade, allowing for deep familial bonds to form.

Key Themes and Messages

• Intercultural Integration: The verse highlights the intermingling of cultures through marriage, a theme that will become central to Ruth's story. It challenges a purely insular view of Israelite identity.
• Sojourning and Exile: The family's presence in Moab is a form of temporary exile driven by necessity. This theme of being "away from home" underscores their vulnerability and dependence on their new environment.
• Family and Kinship: The marriages establish new family ties, bridging the gap between Israelite and Moabite lineages. This familial connection is what will ultimately bind Ruth to Naomi.
• The Unforeseen Path: The narrative begins with a seemingly ordinary domestic event – marriages – but it is the catalyst for extraordinary divine providence.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance lies in God's ability to work through ordinary human circumstances, even those involving people from outside the covenant community. The fact that Elimelech's sons married Moabite women, rather than seeking Israelite brides within their exile, speaks to the practical realities they faced. However, it is through these foreign women that God's redemptive plan for Israel, and indeed for humanity, will be advanced. For the believer, this verse encourages looking beyond immediate circumstances to discern God's hand at work, even in situations that might seem unconventional or fraught with cultural differences. It points to God's inclusive grace.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a crucial precursor to the lineage of David, and ultimately, Jesus Christ. Ruth, the Moabite convert, becomes the great-grandmother of King David. Her inclusion in David's genealogy, a lineage leading directly to the Messiah, is a powerful testament to God's sovereign plan to extend salvation beyond the confines of ethnic Israel. It demonstrates that faith and loyalty, rather than solely ethnic heritage, are the true markers of belonging in God's kingdom. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, from Abraham's call to bless all nations to the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church.

Analogies

One analogy for this situation is a family moving to a foreign country for work. While they are there, their children might form deep friendships and even marry individuals from the local culture. This doesn't erase their original identity, but it creates new bonds and a blending of traditions within the family. Another analogy could be a seed falling on foreign soil; it takes root and grows, producing fruit that is still of the same species, but nurtured by a different environment.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 23:3-6: This passage prohibits Ammonites and Moabites from entering the assembly of the Lord. However, Ruth's story demonstrates a nuanced application of this law, where individual faith and adherence to the Lord are paramount, even for those from prohibited nations. The exclusion was primarily for citizenship and entry into the religious community, not necessarily for all forms of interaction or eventual integration through faith.
• Matthew 1:5: This verse explicitly names Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus Christ: "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse..." This directly connects the events in Ruth 1:4 to the coming of the Messiah.
• Jeremiah 48: This chapter details the judgment of Moab. While Moab as a nation faced divine judgment, individuals like Ruth demonstrate that God's mercy can extend to individuals from any nation who turn to Him.
• Acts 10:34-35: Peter's realization that "God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right" echoes the theological implications of Ruth's inclusion in Israel.