And she said,.... That is, Naomi to Ruth, after Orpah was gone:behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods; meaning Orpah, who was the wife of her husband's brother, as the word used signifies; she was not only on the road turning back to her own country and people, but to the gods thereof, Baalpeor or Priapus, and Chemosh, Nu 21:29 from whence Aben Ezra concludes, that she had been a proselyte to the true religion, and had renounced the gods of her nation, and retained the same profession while her husband lived, and unto this time, and now apostatized, since she is said to go back to her gods; and in this he is followed by some Christian interpreters , and not without reason:return thou after thy sister in law: this she said, not that in good earnest she desired her to return, at least to her former religion, only relates, though not as approving of, the conduct of her sister, rather as upbraiding it; but to try her sincerity and steadfastness, when such an instance and example was before her.
Bible Commentary
Ruth 1:15
Ruth 1:15
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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Ruth 1 — OverviewRuth 1 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter we have Naomi's afflictions. I. As a distressed
housekeeper, forced by famine to remove into the land of Moab, ver. 1,
2. II. As a mournful widow and mother, bewailing the death of her
husband…Ruth 1 — OverviewRuth 1 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeRuth 1:1, Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there; Ruth 1:4, Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also; Ruth 1:6, Naomi, returning homeward, Ruth 1:8, dissuades her two daughters-in-law from…Ruth 1 — OverviewRuth 1 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis book is called Ruth, not because she was the author of it, but because she is the principal subject of it. In the Syriac and Arabic versions, it is called the Book of Ruth the Moabitess, which describes her by the…Ruth 1:6-18Ruth 1:6-18 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleSee here, I. The good affection Naomi bore to the land of Israel, v. 6.
Though she could not stay in it while the famine lasted, she would not
stay out of it when the famine ceased. Though the country of Moab had…Ruth 1:15Ruth 1:15 · The Pulpit CommentaryAnd she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. The expression that stands in King James's version thus, "and to her gods," is rendered by Dr.…Ruth 1:15-22Ruth 1:15-22 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION