Mahlon and Chilion
Mahlon (
Biography
The test of childless Ruth and Orpah
Elimelech and his sons all died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah widowed. Ruth and Orpah did not bear Jewish children, too. The story in the book tells that Naomi plans to return to Israel, and that she tests her daughters-in-law. She gives them the advice to return to their mother's home: which would mean drastically violating Jewish Law and reverting to Moabite culture and idol worship.
Ruth in Israel
While Orpah returns and leaves Judaism, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, thus proving her former conversion to be a real one.
Meaning of the names
Mahlon literally means "sickness" and Chilion "wasting", so the names align closely with the characters' role in the story (as do the other characters' names).[2] This stylisation helps give a consciously fairytale-like quality to the story.[3] It also reflects a culture of naming children based on external events, such as Naomi, changing her name to Mara. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me." Abram changing his name to Abraham, Peleg being named after the division of nations (the name means division). "Sickness" and "Chilion" being born in a time of famine follows this trend.
References
- ^ a b The Talmud discusses this and hints that Ruth and Orpah might have been very young, when they converted, e. g. in a family conversion together with their parents. Since they had been young, their conversion had been imbued in abeyance. The Talmud calls her a convert, though.
- ISBN 978-0-19-997846-5
- ^ Christopher E. Ortega (2015), The Book of Ruth - Fairy Tale or Truth?
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