Ruth
The Book of Ruth
These four-chapters of the Old Testament narrate details of the loyalty of a Moabite widow, Ruth, who accompanies her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem during the time of the Judges.
Through her devotion to the God of Naomi, she marries a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz, becoming the great-grandmother of King David.
Chapter 1
- The Decision of Loyalty (Tragedy in Moab and Return to Bethlehem)
- Famine forces Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons to move from Bethlehem to Moab.
- Elimelech and his sons die; Naomi is left with her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.
- Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth pledges her loyalty, faith, and life to Naomi and her God.
- They return to Bethlehem in poverty, with Naomi feeling bitter.
Chapter 2
- The Providential Meeting (Ruth Gleans in Boaz's Field)
- Ruth goes to glean in the fields to provide for her and Naomi.
- She happens upon the field of Boaz, a wealthy, godly relative of Elimelech.
- Boaz treats Ruth with kindness and favor, having heard of her loyalty to Naomi.
Chapter 3
- The Request for Redemption (The Threshing Floor)
- Naomi, seeking security for Ruth, instructs her to go to Boaz on the threshing floor.
- Ruth asks Boaz to act as their "kinsman-redeemer" (protector/guardian) and marry her.
- Boaz praises her loyalty and vows to marry her and redeem her family's land.
Chapter 4
- The Redemption and Blessing (Marriage and Legacy)
- Boaz legalizes the redemption at the city gate, clearing the way to marry Ruth.
- Boaz and Ruth marry, and the Lord blesses them with a son named Obed.
- The book concludes by highlighting that Obed is the grandfather of King David, placing Ruth in the lineage of David and Jesus.
Death of Mahlon and Kilion
According to the Book of Ruth in the Bible (Ruth 1:3-5), the specific cause of death (04191 way·yā·māṯ וַיָּ֥מָת) for Naomi's husband (Elimelech) and her two sons (Mahlon (04248 maḥlōwn writton מַחְל֤וֹן)[1] and Kilion(03630 wəḵilyōwn וְכִלְיוֹן֙)[2] is not mentioned. They died in Moab after moving from Bethlehem due to a famine there. These events left Naomi and her daughters-in-law widowed. One remained, returning to her family but Ruth went with Naomi.
According to The Targum of Ruth, Ruth 1:4 "They [Mahlon and Chilion] transgressed the decree of the Memra of the Lord[3] and they took for themselves foreign wives from the house of Moab."
A similar reference is also found in the Midrash.
Ruth R. II:9. AND THEY TOOK THEM WIVES OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MOAB (1, 4). "It was taught in the name of R. Meir: They neither proselytised them, nor gave them ritual immersion, nor had the new law, Ammonite, but not Ammonitess, Moabite, but not Moabitess, been propounded, that they should escape punishment on its account."
The Bible does not provide a specific cause for the deaths of Mahlon and Kilion in Ruth 1:5, but their names and cultural context offer clues. Their names are often interpreted to mean "sickly" (Mahlon) and "frail" or "wasting" (Kilion/Chilion), suggesting they may have been weak, sickly individuals.
Ruth | Ruth 1 | Ruth 2 | Ruth 3 | Ruth 4
Preceded by: Judges - Followed by: 1 Samuel
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- ↑ 04248 מַחְלוֹן Machlown makh-lone’ MemChetLamedVavNun from 02470 חָלָה chalah [khaw-law’] ChetLamedHey ; n pr m; [BDB-563a] {See TWOT on 660 @@ "660f" } AV-Mahlon 4; 4
Mahlon= "sick"
- 1) son of Elimelech by Naomi and first husband of Ruth
- ↑ 03630 כִּלְיוֹן Kilyown kil-yone’ a form of 03631 כִּלָּיוֹן killayown complete; n pr m; [BDB-479a] {See TWOT on 983 @@ "983a" } AV-Chilion 3; 3 Chilion= "pining"
- 1) an Ephraimite and son of Elimelech by Naomi and the deceased husband of Ruth (or maybe deceased husband of Orpah)
- ↑ The Memra (Aramaic for "Word") represents the acting, speaking, and intervening Word of God in the Targumim (ancient Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible), often acting as a mediator in creation, covenant-making, and salvation. A "decree of the Memra" refers to the divine, authoritative command or word of God that brings reality into existence, such as "Let there be light," or initiates action.