Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1 · Verse 4
Verſ. 4. And they tooke them wiues of the women of Moab, the name of the one was Orpha, and the name of the other Ruth, and they dwelled there about tenne yeeres.
THis ſheweth what courſe the ſonnes tooke after their fathers death, they returned not home: this croſſe brought them not to thinke of leauing that idolatrous Countrey, but they ſetled themſelues to marry there; ſo as this verſe telleth vsus of two things; the firſt is, of a marriage, and herein who they were, the men, Elimelechs ſonnes, the women, who are ſet out by their Countrey, then by their names: the ſecond is, of their abode in Moab, and time how long.
Note (before I come to the words) that eueryevery croſſe bringeth not men home againe: their fathers death made them not reſolue to goe backe vntounto Gods people againe: Lot was taken priſoner, yet would he ſtill abide in Sodom, after his deliuerance. Iehoſaphats danger with Achab, made him not wholy to forſake that houſe, but he muſt hauehave more afflictions, and the Prophet openly to rebuke him. And this commeth for want of waighing the true cauſe of afflictions, when they happen, or deſire to pleaſe other, or the louelove of this world, or ſome ſuch corruption of our heart. To bewaile this our peruerſe nature not eaſily reformed, a great affliction muſt worke on Manaſſes, great diſtreſſe muſt preſſe the prodigall ſonne, before they will come to themſelues, and turne to the Lord, yea ſome are worſe for afflictions, as may be ſeene in Achaz, 2. Chron. 28. 22. in Amon, Chap. 33. 23. in the Antichriſtians, Reue. 16. 11. and in the Iewes, Ier. 5. 3.
And they tooke them.] This may ſeeme an act of their owne, as that of Lamech, Geneſis 4. 19. and that of the ſonnes of God, 6. 2. and not their mothers deed, as is ſaid of Hagar, Gene. 21. 21. If they did this with her conſent, it was as godly children ſhould doe, to marry with conſent of parents: For parents hauehave authoritie in this caſe, 1. Cor. 7. children owe this honour to them. Examples of the godly, as in Iſaac, and Iacob, and Samſon, moue to it: and the contrary is found fault with, Gen. 6. 2. and in Eſau; our lawes require it, godly men and learned Diuines ſo teach out of the Word. Let children therefore herein take aduice of their parents; they ſhall thriue the better: if they doe well, their parents will reioyce: if otherwiſe, then children may more boldly ſeeke to parents for comfort, and expect helpe at their hands.
Wiues.] So women be called, when they be marryed vntounto men, or betrothed. It is as if it had beene ſaid, They tooke yong women for wiues to liue in Gods ordinance, and not for wantons, to liue in vncleanneſſe. Though they were not in Iſrael, yet they let not looſe the vnbrideled luſt of nature, but vſed marriage the ordinance of God. So men are to take women as wiues, to liue together in Gods holy ordinance; as the godly hauehave euer made conſcience to doe; and not to liue as bruite beaſts, to defile themſelues; as Hamor did Dinah, and Zimri did Cozbi, in the ſinne of fornication. From this muſt we flie, as the Apoſtle exhorteth, and from other degrees of vncleanneſſe, as adulterie which God ſeuerly puniſhed, 2. Sam. 22. 10. Iob 31. 9, 11. ſo inceſt, Gen. 19. 36. 1 Cor. 5. 1. 2. Sam. 13. 14. and other vnnaturall pollutions not to be named, Rom. 1. which God giueth reprobate mindes ouer vntounto.
Of the women of Moab.] With theſe they were not to marry, Deut. 7. 3. and 23. 3. Eſdras 9. 1, 2. Neh. 13. 23, 25, 26. Young perſons in their choyce ſoone erre, if they ſuffer luſt to rule, and follow not the Law of God, Gen. 6. 2. Herein wiſe Salomon was ouertaken, Neh. 13. 26. 1. King. 11. 1. Therefore men are to bridle appetite and luſt; and let the Lord rule them, Religion and reaſon guide them herein. The children of God are not to marry with the daughters of men: it is condemned, Gen. 6. 2. the contrary commanded, Deut. 7. 3, 4. See there the reaſon, and equity therof euer, ſuch marriages are not made in the Lord, as they ought, 1. Cor. 7. 36, and God hath puniſhed ſuch matches: ſee in Salomon, 1. King. 11. and in Iehoſaphat, in marrying his ſonne to Athaliah, 2. Chro. 21. 6. If Rahab bee a beleeuer, Salomon may take her to wife, & ſo Boaz may marry Ruth: and if there were none other to match with in the world, Abraham may take one out of another countrey for Iſaac; and Iacob may marry Labans daughter: but there is no ſuch want, but that the ſonnes of Abraham may match with the daughters of Abraham now.
The name of the one was Orpha, and the name of the other Ruth.] This was the wife of Mahlon, Cha. 4. 10. the elder brother, and Orpha the wife of Chilion the younger: whether ſiſters or no, or of what parents theſe came, is not mentioned. Theſe Heathen people refuſed not in thoſe daies to match with ſtrangers; Iethro giueth his daughter to Moſes, which muſt be for his vertue, and not for his wealth; for hee had none, hee was brought vp like a Prince, but he humbled himſelfe to keepe Sheepe, and ſo obtained his wife. Mens manhood, vertues, and painefulneſſe in thoſe dayes got them wiues. Caleb will marry his daughter for the mans vertue ſake, and valorous ſpirit; Saul will pretend as much towards Dauid▪ but that was pretended in policy, not in truth; Laban the worldling will marry his daughters for the world, and ſell them for gaine: but a godly man preferreth grace before goods, and wiſedome before the world; though where grace is, if goods may come with it, it is a bleſſing, and the better to be liked of, for helpe to vphold the burthen of marriage.
And they dwelt there about tenne yeeres.] Whether this time beginneth at their firſt cōming, or after this marriage, is not certaine, but it is ten yeeres before Naomi heares of the Lords viſiting of Iſrael with plenty. It is a long time for a godly woman to bee kept from Gods people, and publike ſeruice of his name. Dauid lamented it much, Pſal. 120. 5. and deſired the preſence of God and his Tabernacle, Pſal. 84. 1, 4. In Moab was corporall plenty, but not ſpirituall; for the one, the other was neglected. Such is our corruption; a comon ſinne now, I wiſh it had not taken poſſeſſion of the beſt. But beſides this, we may further note, how a heauy calamity may long reſt vponupon Gods people: we may reade of a famine, three yeres and a halfe in Achabs daies: three yeeres in Dauids time, 2. Sam. 21. 1. 1. King. 17. 1. Luke 4. 25. and ſeuen yeeres at another time, 2. King. 1. and here alſo, for a great many of yeeres. And this commeth through mens obſtinacie in ſinne, and for that ſuch things are not reformed, as God commandeth, or for that ſome euils are not puniſhed, as they ought to bee; as for innocent blood-ſhed, 1. Sam. 21. 1. for open idolatrie, and murthering of the Saints, as in Achabs dayes. We are in ſuch continuing iudgements, to looke to our waies, and bewaile our ſinnes: alſo ſeeing thus Gods hand againſt his people ſo long, wee may learne patience in the yeres of ſcarcity, and bleſſe God that neuer thus afflicted vsus in any of our remembrances; for ſuch a famine would in theſe Northerne parts be moſt intolerable, farre more vnſufferable, than in hot countreyes, where people could humble themſelues with faſting, many dayes together.