Session 12
EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers will suffer loss.
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters.
Why do you want to go with me?
Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters.
Go on, for I am too old to have another husband.
Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,13 would you be willing to wait for them to grow up?
Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying?
No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me.”
14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods.
Follow your sister-in-law.”
briefly discuss Naomi’s questions.
Why would she believe Ruth and Orpah were better off in Moab?
Share this information about levirate marriage and how it could apply to this situation:
Orpah and Ruth could have considered the Israelite custom of levirate marriage.
Levirate marriage involved a close family member, such as a brother-in-law
marrying his brother’s widow to preserve the family through progeny (Deut. 25:5-6).
The oldest brother-in-law had the obligation to marry his brother’s widow,
and as such, he inherited all of his dead brother’s estate.
The importance of levirate marriage was the perpetuation of the deceased’s name in Israel. (PSG, p. 111)
Naomi felt bitter because she thought God had abandoned her.
Highlight the contrast between Ruth and Orpah.
While both women wept loudly at the prospect of being separated,
Orpah kissed her mother-in-law emphasizes that she would not be continuing on the trip.
In contrast to Orpah, Ruth clung to Naomi.
The Hebrew wording suggests holding fast to something or following closely after someone.
It also can refer to two things that are stuck together.
Without criticizing Orpah, the writer placed the spotlight squarely on Ruth.
Orpah went back to Moab and its gods.
But Ruth clung to Naomi;
and, in doing so, she was taking early steps toward a meaningful relationship with the God of Israel.