NAOMI, or Noemi, Wife of Elimelech. They were obliged to retire into the Land of the Moabites, upon Occasion of a Famine in Judea; where Elimelech dying, Naomi settled and disposed of her two Sons in marriage, Mahlon to Ruth, and Chilion to Orpah. These two young Men dying also, and leaving no Children, Naomi took a Resolution of returning into Judea. Her two Daughters-in-Law were desirous of returning along with her, but she dissuaded them from it, telling them she should have no Opportunity of settling them in her own Country. Orpah was prevailed with to stay behind, but Ruth would needs go along with Ruth i. 1, 2, 3, &c.her to Bethlehem. When they came thither, the report was soon spread in the Neighbourhood, and the People came to bid her welcome. She told them, that they must no longer call her Naomi, that is Fair, but Mara, which is Bitterness. For the Lord, says she, has heap’d trouble upon me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty and desolate.
One day as Ruth went out to glean in the Fields, she happened to come in the Fields of Boaz, who encouraged her to follow his Reapers, and made her eat among his Harvesters. At her return Home, Naomi informed her, that Boaz was her near Kinsman; and she brought it about at last, that Boaz married Ruth, as mention’d before under the article of Boaz, and will be taken notice of under Ruth. By this Marriage Ruth had a Son call’d Obed; upon which the Women of Bethlehem again congratulated Naomi, saying, Blessed be the Lord, who has not permitted that your Family should remain without a Successor, and who has given you a Person to be the Comfort of your Life, and the Support of your old Age. Ruth iv.The exact Time is not known, in which this History of Ruth and Naomi happen’d; but we know that between the time of the Marriage of Salmon with Rahab of Jericho, and the Birth of David, are three hundred and sixty six Years, which are filled up only with these three Persons, Boaz, Obed and Jesse. So that each of these must have lived very long to fill up this Space.