Bethlehem, the House of Bread

Commentary:

And a man went. The man left Bethlehem with his family in the time of famine, in order, during its continuance, to sojourn in the fertile territories of Moab, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, whither the calamity did not extend. For this the Jewish expositors rightly blame him. He left his neighbors and relatives in distress, in order to live in the land of the enemy; forsook his home, in order to reside as a stranger in Moab. If what he did was right, all Bethlehem should have done the same! The case stood very different, when Abraham for a like reason went to Egypt (Gen. 12:10); for Abraham went with all his house, left no one behind, and was everywhere a stranger. But Isaac is already forbidden from adopting the same method of relief (Gen. 26:2), and Jacob removes to Egypt, not on account of the famine, but because his lost Joseph has been found again. But this man undertakes, by his own strength and in selfish segregation from his fellows, to change the orderings of divine providence. The famine was ordained as a chastening discipline; but instead of repenting, he seeks to evade it by going to a foreign land. Whether this can be done, the ensuing narrative is about to show. - Lange Commentary

The death of the father is the beginning of the sad catastrophe; but notwithstanding its occurrence the sons are unwilling to return. On the contrary, they proceed, in violation of the Mosaic law, to take Moabitish wives (cf. Com. on Judg. 3:6 f.). That such marriages fall within the prohibition of Deut. 7:3 is not to be doubted. - Lange Commentary

Note, It is an evidence of a discontented, distrustful, unstable spirit, to be weary of the place in which God hath set us, and to be for leaving it immediately whenever we meet with any uneasiness or inconvenience in it. It is folly to think of escaping that cross which, being laid in our way, we ought to take up. It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it. - Matthew Henry

But those that bring young people into bad acquaintance, and take them out of the way of public ordinances, though they may think them well-principled and armed against temptation, know not what they do, nor what will be the end thereof. - Matthew Henry

So uncertain and transient are all our enjoyments here. It is therefore our wisdom to make sure of those comforts that will be made sure and of which death cannot rob us. - Matthew Henry

My notes:

Moab was the bastard son of Lot’s daughters. The Moabites were his descendants. They were abominable.

Numbers 22-25. Real bad past w/ Moab and the women of Moab. (also Neh 13:23, 1 Ki 11:1 – Solomon)

Balaam’s ass.

I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near:

a star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;

it shall crush the forehead of Moab

and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Numbers 25; Moabite wives led to idolatry. 24,000 perished until: Phinehas. Midianite woman.

Deut. 23:33-36 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter to the 10th generation.

Judges 3. Eglon was king of Moab

Matthew 6: give us this day our daily bread.

Ruth 1:19–21 (ESV)

Naomi and Ruth Return

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

This is not Naomi being bitter. this is faithfulness on the part of Naomi. She doesn’t deny God’s dealings with her in the death of her husband nad sons. She admits that these were judgments from God – and she has returned to him. To be made full again.