Commentary for Ruth 3:11
וְעַתָּ֗ה בִּתִּי֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמְרִ֖י אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ כָּל־שַׁ֣עַר עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י אֵ֥שֶׁת חַ֖יִל אָֽתְּ׃
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the men in the gate of my people do know that thou art a virtuous woman.
Nachal Eshkol on Ruth
“For all the elders in the gates know what a fine woman you are.” “The elders in the gates,” is an allusion to the Sanhedrin, who recognized Ruth’s virtues despite the fact that they thought that Moabite women were forbidden in marriage. Now they see that because of you God has opened their eyes and we now know that the Torah applies to Ammonite men and not women as well as Moabite men and not women. They did not change this law more than two days before you came because they recognized the truth. Their eyes were opened and they knew what a fine woman you are and because of your great importance the law was revealed in your honor!
Mahlon and Chilyon were prevented from you because of their sins which have not been revealed even to you. But with their death what was closed was opened; until now Moabite women were forbidden to marry Israelite men, according to the Shach, as stated above. It is also possible according to Mahari on the Haftorah for Parshat Chukkat when he said to her that she was a recipient of luck (good and bad)67Baalat Mazal can be taken either as a lucky person or an unlucky person. She was simply a recipient of luck just like the rest of us.. And the statement that she was, “A fine woman,” see what he wrote there according to his approach.
Regarding the prohibition of marriage to a woman who has lost two husband, due to her being “a murderer.” She simply has no luck in marriage, as is said in the Talmud. The Rosh writes in a responsa that if a man has two wives pass away one should not call him “a murderer” and that he can not marry. So too, with a woman. This is caused by luck, and if she doesn’t marry she will not have food, while a man can always earn a living so he has “Mazal.” Since she said, “Spread your robe over me for you are a redeemer,” I wrote in my poor youth that Ruth was not considered a murderer since it is caused by bad luck and not by Ruth. She is the recipient of luck (good and bad). Mahlon and Chilyon died because of their own sins.
Mahlon and Chilyon were prevented from you because of their sins which have not been revealed even to you. But with their death what was closed was opened; until now Moabite women were forbidden to marry Israelite men, according to the Shach, as stated above. It is also possible according to Mahari on the Haftorah for Parshat Chukkat when he said to her that she was a recipient of luck (good and bad)67Baalat Mazal can be taken either as a lucky person or an unlucky person. She was simply a recipient of luck just like the rest of us.. And the statement that she was, “A fine woman,” see what he wrote there according to his approach.
Regarding the prohibition of marriage to a woman who has lost two husband, due to her being “a murderer.” She simply has no luck in marriage, as is said in the Talmud. The Rosh writes in a responsa that if a man has two wives pass away one should not call him “a murderer” and that he can not marry. So too, with a woman. This is caused by luck, and if she doesn’t marry she will not have food, while a man can always earn a living so he has “Mazal.” Since she said, “Spread your robe over me for you are a redeemer,” I wrote in my poor youth that Ruth was not considered a murderer since it is caused by bad luck and not by Ruth. She is the recipient of luck (good and bad). Mahlon and Chilyon died because of their own sins.
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