Judges, Ruth: Revised Edition (The NIV Application Commentary)

by K. Lawson Younger

The family of Elimelek teeters on annihilation. Thus, while the threat of starvation plays a large role in the story (1:1, 6, 22; ch. 2; 3:15, 17), it is only secondary to the problem of the family’s survival. In ancient Israel, the loss of a family from existence was a great tragedy. When a family died out physically, it ceased to exist metaphysically. That robbed Israel of one of her most prized possessions, namely, clan and tribal solidarity. Hubbard points out that another crisis is the possibility that Naomi now faces old age without anyone to care for her.32 As a widow, Naomi lacks the provision and protection of a husband in the male-dominated ancient Near East. Moreover, it must be remembered that she lives in a foreign land. Because of her age and poverty, she is effectively cut off from the three options that might normally be open to a widow:33 1. There was the possibility of returning to the house of her father. But her parents are most likely already dead. If the disaster had come earlier in life, she could have returned to her father’s house like an ordinary young widow. This is not the case here. 2. There was the possibility of remarriage, perhaps even a levirate marriage (Deut 25:5–10). This seems to be out of the question since she is beyond child-bearing years. 3. There was the possibility of supporting herself through some kind of craft or trade. This is unlikely since she has none (the vast majority of women in antiquity did not have such an option).34 ...