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NASB | Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ruth 1:1 In the days when the judges governed [Israel], there was a famine in the land [of Canaan]. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live temporarily in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons. |
Subject: Which "land of Moab" in Ruth? |
Bible Note: Hi Steve, Thank you for your response. 1. It would not have been the first time that a son of Israel sinned with the daughters of Moab. When Israel arrived at Shittim in the land of Moab, between the Arnon and Jabbok, they began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. This was before they crossed the Jordan and before the land was given to Gad and Reuben. The Lord was angry against Israel for this and ordered Moses to execute the leaders of this harlotry in broad daylight, so that the Lord’s anger would be turned away. 24,000 died as a result of their sin (Numbers 25:1-9). However, it was not wrong for Elimelech to travel in the land of Moab because that part of Moab had been taken from Moab by the Amorites who were then conquered by Israel. The land of Moab was the land of the tribes of Gad and Reuben. 2. Yes, Rahab was saved by her faith which led her to help Israel by hiding the two spies. Ruth was also a woman of great faith, but where did she get it. If she was indeed a daughter of Moab, then Elimelech and Naomi certainly were not very good role models by disobeying God’s law, for which 24,000 Israelites had paid with their lives. Now Salmon, the father of Boaz, was present at Shittim when all of this happened. You would think that both Elimelech and Naomi would be very aware of that incident. Another reason to doubt that they went to the Nation of Moab, instead of the “land of Moab” which was occupied by fellow Israelites. As for your closing comments, all I can say is “Amen!” God bless, Jim |