Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 1:5
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Rth 1:5
Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them.
Bereavement a blessing
What a melancholy collapse it all had been! For those so dear to her, death; for herself, solitude–the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. And yet what a marvellous blessing bereavement not only may be but often is. Surrounded by those who make up to us our world, we are slow to raise our eyes above or beyond them, or to realise that we have any need which they are incapable of supplying; but when they are taken from us, these beloved ones upon whom alone we have leaned and to whom alone we have been in the habit of looking for strength and consolation and advice, then it sometimes is that the soul looks up as she hears the Master calling her by name, and through her tears recognises for the first time the patient Lord who has ever been her truest friend. God would not have us love our dear ones one whit the less, but He would have us learn to put Him first and to trust Him implicitly about them no less than about ourselves. (H. A. Hall, B. D.)
Enormous trials
Observe–
1. That many afflictions do attend the most gracious souls (Psa 34:19).
2. Crosses seldom come single upon Gods servants.
3. God did wonderfully support her in all these her great trials, and left her upon Scripture record as a pattern of patience unto all succeeding generations. (C. Ness.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. And Mahlon and Chilion died] The Targum adds, And because they transgressed the decree of the word of the Lord, and joined affinity with strange people, therefore their days were cut off. It is very likely that there is more here than conjecture.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them,…. As well as their father, in the land of Moab, after they had lived with their wives in it about ten years; the Targum is,
“because they transgressed the decree of the Word of the Lord, and joined in affinity with strange people, their days were cut off;”
or shortened:
and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband; deprived both of her husband and her sons, which was a great affliction, aggravated by her being in a strange country; many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) And they died.Clearly as quite young men. It is not for us to say how far those are right who see in the death of Elimelech and his sons Gods punishment for the disregard of His law. Thus Naomi is left alone, as one on whom comes suddenly the loss of children and widowhood.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. The woman was left of her two sons and her husband That is, she alone remained of the family that came from Beth-lehem. They emigrated from the land of their people to escape the miseries of famine, but in the plenteous land of Moab death overtook them. The Targum and the Jewish writers generally regard these deaths as a judgment on the family of Elimelech for seeking comfort among idolaters, and intermarrying with them. Generally, those who are easily induced by losses or difficulties to change their places or pursuits in life seldom reap advantage from their changes. The bitter losses and changes of Naomi, however, were overruled by a wise and gracious Providence to the honour of her name and the blessing of the world.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them, and the woman was left by her two children and by her husband.’
The two sons also died. This may have been as a result of some pestilence or illness, the effect of which was possibly exacerbated by their weakly condition, or it may have been at the hands of brigands. That they apparently died around the same time would suggest some such thing. But it resulted in the consequence that Naomi found herself alone in a foreign country, with no sons and no husband, something which she had not foreseen.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
How reviving is the thought to the people of God, amidst the devastations and ravages of death, that Jesus ever liveth: and as he ever liveth, so he ever loveth his people. And doth he not say, in the soft whispers of his grace, Am I not better to thee than ten sons? 1Sa 1:8
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Ver. 5. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them. ] For a further trial and exercise of Naomi’s faith and patience.
And the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
left = left survivor.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 2696, bc 1308, An, Ex, Is, 183
Mahlon: Deu 32:39, Psa 89:30-32, Jer 2:19
died: The Targum adds, “And because they transgressed the decree of the word of the Lord, and joined affinity with strange people, therefore their days were cut off.”
and the woman: Isa 49:21, Mat 22:25-27, Luk 7:12
Reciprocal: Rth 1:8 – the dead Isa 47:9 – these two
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rth 1:5-6. The woman was left of her two sons and her husband Loss of children and widowhood are both come upon her. By whom shall she be comforted? It is God alone who is able to comfort those who are thus cast down. The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread That is, food: so she stayed no longer than necessity forced her.