Ruth 1:14

And they, the daughters-in-law, lifted up their voice in unison and unity, as if instead of two voices there had been but one. Hence the propriety of the singular number, as in Ruth 1:9 . And wept again. The "again" doubles back on the statement in Ruth 1:9 . With uplifted voice, in shrill Oriental wail, and amid streams of tears, they bemoaned their hapless lot. Then, after the paroxysm of grief had somewhat spent itself, Orpah yielded to her mother-in-law's dissuasives, and at length imprinted on her, reluctantly and passionately, a farewell kiss. Then, not waiting to ascertain the ultimate decision of Ruth, or rather, perhaps, having now a fixed presentiment what it would be, she moved regretfully and tearfully away. She was afraid, perhaps, that if she, as well as Ruth, should insist on accompanying her mother-in-law, the two might be unreasonably burdensome to the aged widow. Perhaps, too, she was not without fear that her own burden in a foreign land, amid strangers, might be too heavy to be borne. There is not, however, the slightest need for supposing that she was, in any respect, deficient in attachment to her mother-in-law. But , it is added, Ruth clave to her mother-in-law , all reasonings, remonstrances, dissuasives on Naomi's part notwithstanding. Ruth would not be parted from her. "Clave." It is the same word that is used in the primitive law of marriage. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh" ( Genesis 2:24 ). It occurs again in Psalms 63:8 : "My soul followeth hard after thee; and in Psalms 119:31 : " I have stuck to thy testimonies." Joshua said, "Cleave unto the Lord thy God" ( Joshua 23:8 ); and many have had sweet, while others have had bitter, experience of the truth that "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" ( Proverbs 18:24 ).

HOMILETICS