## Ruth Rabbah Chapter 1

###### Ruth Rabbah 1:1
[Ruth Rabbah 1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ruth%20Rabbah/r/1:1)

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים (רות א, א), אוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁשָּׁפְטוּ אֶת שׁוֹפְטֵיהֶם, וְאוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁשּׁוֹפְטָיו צְרִיכִין לְהִשָּׁפֵט, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים ב, יז): וְגַם אֶל שֹׁפְטֵיהֶם לֹא שָׁמֵעוּ, וּמִי הָיוּ, רַב אָמַר בָּרָק וּדְבוֹרָה הָיוּ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר, שַׁמְגַּר וְאֵהוּד הָיוּ. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר דְּבוֹרָה וּבָרָק וְיָעֵל הָיוּ, שְׁפֹט חַד, שֹׁפְטִים תְּרֵין, הַשֹּׁפְטִים תְּלָתָא.

**The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022:**
**“It was in the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A man of Bethlehem of Judah went to reside in the fields of Moav; he, his wife, and his two sons” (Ruth 1:1).**
“It was in the days when the judges judged [*shefot hashofetim*].” Woe to the generation that judged their judges, and woe to the generation whose judges require judgment, as it is stated: “They also did not heed their judges” (Judges 2:17). Who were they [those judges]? Rav said: They were Barak and Deborah. Rabbi Yehosha ben Levi said: They were Shamgar and Ehud. Rav Huna said: They were Deborah, Barak, and Yael. *Shefot* – one, *shofetim* – two, *hashofetim* – three.


###### Ruth Rabbah 1:2
[Ruth Rabbah 1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ruth%20Rabbah/r/1:2)

רַבִּי שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי בְּצַלְאֵל, מַהוּ דִכְתִיב (הושע ב, ז): כִּי זָנְתָה אִמָּם, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁשָֹּׂרָה אִמֵּנוּ זוֹנָה הָיְתָה. אָמַר לוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶלָּא אֵימָתַי דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִתְבַּזִּין בִּפְנֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבַּעְלֵיהֶן מְבַזִּין אוֹתָם, אֲתָא רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אַבְדִימֵי וְעָבְדֵיהּ שְׁמוּעָה, אֵימָתַי דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה נַעֲשִׂין כְּזוֹנוֹת בִּפְנֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבַּעְלֵיהֶן מְבַזִּין אוֹתָם. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מַיְיתֵי לָהּ מֵהָכָא (קהלת ט, טז): וְחָכְמַת הַמִּסְכֵּן בְּזוּיָה, וְכִי חָכְמָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שֶׁהָיָה מִסְכֵּן, בְּזוּיָה הָיְתָה, אֶלָּא מַהוּ מִסְכֵּן מִי שֶׁהוּא בָּזוּי בִּדְבָרָיו, כְּגוֹן זָקֵן יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ (דברים טז, יט): לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט, וְהוּא מַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט. לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים, וְהוּא מַכִּיר פָּנִים. לֹא תִקַּח שֹׁחַד, וְהוּא לוֹקֵחַ שֹׁחַד, (שמות כב, כא): כָּל אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם לֹא תְעַנּוּן, וְהוּא מְעַנֶּה אוֹתָם. שִׁמְשׁוֹן הָלַךְ אַחַר עֵינָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים יד, ג): אוֹתָהּ קַח לִי כִּי הִיא יָשְׁרָה בְּעֵינָי. גִּדְעוֹן עָבַד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים ח, כז): וַיַּעַשׂ אוֹתוֹ גִּדְעוֹן לְאֵפוֹד, הֱוֵי שֶׁאֵין לְךָ מִסְכֵּן גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה, אוֹי לַדַּיָּן שֶׁמַּכִּיר פָּנִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט. תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא (ויקרא יט, טו): לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַדַּיָּן שֶׁמְּקַלְקֵל הַדִּין קָרוּי חֲמִשָּׁה שֵׁמוֹת, עָוֶל, שָׂנאוּי, מְשֻׁקָּץ, חֵרֶם, תּוֹעֵבָה. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קוֹרֵא עָלָיו חֲמִשָּׁה, רָע, מְנָאֵץ, מֵפֵר בְּרִית, מַכְעִיס, וּמַמְרֶה. וְגוֹרֵם חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים לָעוֹלָם, מְטַמֵּא אֶת הָאָרֶץ, וּמְחַלֵּל אֶת הַשֵּׁם, וּמְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה, וּמַפִּיל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּחֶרֶב, וּמַגְלָם מֵאַרְצָם. אוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁמְּקֻלְקָל בְּמִדָּה זוֹ. תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא (ויקרא יט, לה): לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט בַּדִּין, אִם לַדִּין כְּבָר אָמוּר בַּדִּין, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, בַּמִּדָּה, אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַמּוֹדֵד נִקְרָא דַּיָּן, וְאִם שִׁקֵּר קָרוּי חֲמִשָּׁה שֵׁמוֹת, וְגוֹרֵם חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים. אוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁמִּדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי בְּנָיָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי הוּנָא, אִם רָאִיתָ דּוֹר שֶׁמִּדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל שְׁקָרִים מַלְכוּת בָּאָה וּמִתְגָּרָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר, מַה טַּעַם (משלי יא, א): מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה תּוֹעֲבַת ה', וּכְתִיב (משלי יא, א): בָּא זָדוֹן וַיָּבֹא קָלוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּא, כְּתִיב (מיכה ו, יא): הַאֶזְכֶּה בְּמֹאזְנֵי רֶשַׁע, אֶפְשָׁר כֵּן שֶׁדּוֹר שֶׁמִּדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר זוֹכֶה, אֶלָּא וּבְכִיס אַבְנֵי מִרְמָה. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אַף משֶׁה רְמָזָהּ לָהֶן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּתּוֹרָה (דברים כה, יג): לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּכִיסְךָ, לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּבֵיתְךָ אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה, וְאִם עָשָׂה כֵן סוֹף שֶׁהַמַּלְכוּת בָּאָה וּמִתְגָּרָה בּוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כה, טז): כִּי תוֹעֲבַת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ כָּל עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה כָּל עֹשֵׂה עָוֶל, וּכְתִיב (דברים כה, יז): זָכוֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם.

**The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022:**
Rabbi asked Rabbi Betzalel: What is that which is written: “For their mother has committed harlotry” (Hosea 2:7)? Is it possible that Sarah our matriarch was a harlot? He said to him: ‘Heaven forbid; rather, when are matters of Torah rendered contemptible before the common people? It is when their owners debase them.’ Rabbi Yaakov bar Avdimi came and rendered it a [midrashic] dictum: When do matters of Torah become like harlots before the common people? When their owners debase them. Rabbi Yoḥanan derives it from here: “The poor man’s [*misken*] wisdom is contemptible” (Ecclesiastes 9:16). Was the wisdom of Rabbi Akiva, who was poor, contemptible? Rather, what is a *misken*? It is one who is contemptible in his words, like an elder who sits and teaches: “You shall not pervert justice” (Deuteronomy 16:19), and he perverts justice; “you shall not show partiality” (Deuteronomy 16:19), and he shows partiality; “you shall not afflict any widow or orphan” (Exodus 22:21) and he afflicts them. Samson followed his eyes, as it is stated: “Take her for me, as she is fitting in my eyes” (Judges 14:3). Gideon worshipped idols, as it is stated: “Gideon made it into an ephod” (Judges 8:27). Woe to a judge who shows partiality in judgment.
Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: “You shall not do injustice in judgment” (Leviticus 19:15) – this teaches that a judge who corrupts judgment is called by five names: unjust, hated, detestable, proscribed, abomination. The Holy One blessed be He calls him five: wicked, blasphemer, violator of the covenant, one who infuriates, and defiant. He causes five results in the world; he defiles the land, desecrates the Name, expels the Divine Presence, causes Israel to fall by the sword, and exiles them from their land. Woe to the generation that is corrupted in this way.
Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: “You shall not do injustice in judgment [in measure, in weight, or in volume]” (Leviticus 19:35) – in a judicial ruling. If it is about judicial rulings, it is already stated about judicial rulings!³⁵ If so, why is it stated, “…in judgment in measure [in weight, or in volume]”? It teaches that one who measures is called a judge, and if he falsifies, he is called five names and he causes five results. Woe is the generation whose measures are false, as Rabbi Benaya said in the name of Rabbi Huna: If you see a generation whose measures are false, a kingdom comes and besets that generation. What is the reason? “Scales of deceit are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 11:1), and it is written: “Pride comes, shame comes” (Proverbs 11:2).
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Abba: It is written: “Will I find merit with scales of wickedness, [or with a pouch of deceitful weights?]” (Micah 6:11). Is it possible that a generation whose measures are false will find merit? Rather, “in a pouch of deceitful weights.”³⁶ Rabbi Levi said: Moses indeed alluded this to Israel in the Torah: “You shall not have in your purse [alternate weights]” (Deuteronomy 25:13); “you shall not have in your house alternate measures” (Deuteronomy 25:13), and if he did so, ultimately, a kingdom will come and beset them, as it is written: “As it is an abomination to the Lord anyone who does [*oseh*] so, anyone who does [*oseh*] injustice” (Deuteronomy 25:16), and it is written: “Remember what Amalek did [*asah*] to you, on the way, as you were leaving Egypt” (Deuteronomy 25:17).

footnotes:
³⁵ In the verse cited above, Leviticus 19:15: “You shall not do injustice in judgment.”
³⁶ They will be left with a purse filled with counterfeit coins. The midrash is reading the second half of the verse, “or with a pouch of deceitful weights” not as the continuation of the rhetorical question, but as the answer to “Will I find merit with scales of wickedness?”


###### Ruth Rabbah 1:3
[Ruth Rabbah 1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ruth%20Rabbah/r/1:3)

אָמַר רַבִּי, בְּרָכוֹת מְבָרְכוֹת לְבַעְלֵיהֶן, וּקְלָלוֹת מְקַלְּלוֹת לְבַעְלֵיהֶן. בְּרָכוֹת מְבָרְכוֹת לְבַעְלֵיהֶן, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כה, טו): אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה, וְאִם עָשִׂיתָ כֵן, יִהְיֶה לָךְ. וּקְלָלוֹת מְקַלְּלוֹת לְבַעְלֵיהֶן, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כה, יג): לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְכִיסְךָ אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן, וְאִם עָשִׂיתָ כֵן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתָּה בִּקַּשְׁתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה, חַיֶּיךָ אֲפִלּוּ קְטַנָה אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע לַעֲשׂוֹת, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כה, יג): לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּכִיסְךָ. וְדִכְוָותָהּ (שמות כ, יט): לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתָּה בִּקַּשְׁתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת לִי אֱלֹהֵי כֶסֶף וְזָהָב, חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁל עֵץ אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע לַעֲשׂוֹת, דִּכְתִיב: לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם.

**The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022:**
Rabbi said: Blessings³⁷ bring blessings upon their purveyors; curses³⁸ bring curses upon their purveyors. Blessings bring blessings upon their purveyors, as it is written: “A whole and just weight shall be [yours]” (Deuteronomy 25:15), and if you do so: “shall be yours” (Deuteronomy 25:15). Curses bring curses upon their purveyors, as it is written: “You shall not have in your purse different weights, large and small” (Deuteronomy 25:13), and if you do so, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘You sought to use large and small? By your life, that wicked one [who uses corrupt weights] will not manage to possess even something small,’ as it is written: “You shall not have in your purse.” Similarly, “you shall not make with Me [gods of silver and gods of gold]” (Exodus 20:20). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘You sought to make for Me “gods of silver and gods of gold” – by your life, that wicked one will not manage to make even one of wood,’ as it is written: “You shall not make for yourselves” (Exodus 20:20).

footnotes:
³⁷ In the sense of good deeds.
³⁸ In the sense of evil deeds.


###### Ruth Rabbah 1:4
[Ruth Rabbah 1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ruth%20Rabbah/r/1:4)

וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ, עֲשָׂרָה רְעָבוֹן בָּאוּ לָעוֹלָם, אֶחָד בִּימֵי אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֶחָד בִּימֵי לֶמֶךְ, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי יִצְחָק, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי יַעֲקֹב, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אֱלִישָׁע, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי דָּוִד, וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, וְאֶחָד שֶׁמִּתְגַּלְגֵּל וּבָא לָעוֹלָם. אֶחָד בִּימֵי אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, יז): אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי לֶמֶךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ה, כט): מִן הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר אֵרַרָה ה'. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יב, י): וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְרַיְמָה. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי יִצְחָק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כו, א): וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מה, ו): כִּי זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָרָעָב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יז, א): אִם יִהְיֶה הַשָּׁנִים הָאֵלֶּה טַל וּמָטָר. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי אֱלִישָׁע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ו, כה): וַיְהִי רָעָב גָּדוֹל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי דָוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב כא, א): וַיְהִי רָעָב בִּימֵי דָוִד שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים. וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ. וְאֶחָד שֶׁמִּתְגַּלְגֵּל וּבָא לָעוֹלָם, דִּכְתִיב (עמוס ח, יא): וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ לֹא רָעָב לַלֶּחֶם וְלֹא צָמָא לַמַּיִם. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל עִקַּר אַוְותֶנְטִיָּיה שֶׁלָּהֶם הָיָה רָאוּי לָבוֹא בִּימֵי שָׁאוּל וְלֹא הָיָה רָאוּי לָבוֹא בִּימֵי דָוִד, וְעַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה שָׁאוּל גְּרוֹפִית שֶׁל שִׁקְמָה וְלֹא יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד בּוֹ, גִּלְגְלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וֶהֱבִיאוֹ אֵצֶל דָּוִד, שֶׁהוּא גְּרוֹפִית שֶׁל זַיִת וְהָיָה יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד בּוֹ, מַתְלָא אָמַר שִׁילָה חֲטָא וְיוֹחָנָא מִשְׁתַּלְּמָא, כָּךְ כֻּלָּם לֹא בָאוּ בִּבְנֵי אָדָם שְׁפוּפִין אֶלָּא בִּבְנֵי אָדָם גִּבּוֹרִים שֶׁהָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמֹד בָּהֶן. רַבִּי חִיָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר, לְזַגָּג שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּיָדוֹ קֻפָּה מְלֵאָה כּוֹסוֹת דְּיוֹטְרִיטוֹן, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לִתְלוֹת קֻפָּתוֹ הָיָה מֵבִיא יָתֵד וְתוֹקְעָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ תּוֹלֶה קֻפָּתוֹ. כָּךְ כֻּלָּם לֹא בָאוּ בִּבְנֵי אָדָם שְׁפוּפִין אֶלָּא בִּבְנֵי אָדָם גִּבּוֹרִים. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הֲוָה קָרֵי עֲלֵיהוֹן (ישעיה מ, כט): נֹתֵן לַיָּעֵף כֹּחַ. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ שְׁנַיִם בָּאוּ בִּימֵי אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אַחָא אֶחָד בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם וְאֶחָד בִּימֵי לֶמֶךְ. רָעָב שֶׁהָיָה בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ שֶׁל בַּצֹרֶת הָיָה, שָׁנָה עָבְדַת שָׁנָה לָא עָבְדַת, אֲבָל רָעָב שֶׁבָּא בִּימֵי אֱלִישָׁע, שֶׁל מְהוּמָה הָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ו, כה): עַד הֱיוֹת רֹאשׁ חֲמוֹר בִּשְׁמֹנִים כֶּסֶף. רָעָב שֶׁבָּא בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי דוֹסָא אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁתַּיִם סְאוֹת הָיוּ וְנַעֲשׂוּ אַרְבָּעִים וְאַחַת, וְהָא תָּנֵי לֹא יֵצֵא אָדָם לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיוּ סָאתַיִם לְקוּחוֹת בְּשֶׁקֶל, אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אֵימָתַי בִּזְּמַן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹצֵא לִקַּח, אֲבָל מוֹצֵא לִקַּח אֲפִלּוּ סְאָה בְּשֶׁקֶל לֹא יֵצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. וְהָא תַנְיָא בִּשְׁעַת הַדֶּבֶר בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה כְּנֹס הָרֶגֶל, וּבִשְׁעַת רְעָבוֹן פַּזֵּר הָרֶגֶל, לָמָּה נֶעֱנַשׁ אֱלִימֶלֶךְ, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִפִּיל לִבָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲלֵיהֶם, לְבוּלְיָטִין שֶׁהָיָה שָׁרוּי בִּמְדִינָה, וְהָיוּ בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה סְבוּרִין עָלָיו וְאוֹמְרִים שֶׁאִם יָבוֹאוּ שְׁנֵי בַּצֹּרֶת הוּא יָכוֹל לְסַפֵּק אֶת הַמְּדִינָה עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים מָזוֹן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאת שְׁנַת בַּצֹּרֶת יָצְתָה לָהּ שִׁפְחָתוֹ מְעַיְּלַת בְּסִידְקִי וְקֻפָּתָהּ בְּיָדָהּ, וְהָיוּ בְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה אוֹמְרִים, זֶהוּ שֶׁהָיִינוּ בְּטוּחִים עָלָיו שֶׁאִם תָּבוֹא בַּצֹּרֶת הוּא יָכוֹל לְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָנוּ עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים, וַהֲרֵי שִׁפְחָתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת בְּסִידְקִי וְקֻפָּתָהּ בְּיָדָהּ. כָּךְ אֱלִימֶלֶךְ הָיָה מִגְּדוֹלֵי הַמְּדִינָה וּמִפַּרְנָסֵי הַדּוֹר, וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ שְׁנֵי רְעָבוֹן אָמַר עַכְשָׁיו כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְסַבְּבִין פִּתְחִי, זֶה בְּקֻפָּתוֹ וְזֶה בְּקֻפָּתוֹ, עָמַד וּבָרַח לוֹ מִפְּנֵיהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה.

**The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022:**
“There was a famine in the land.” Ten famines came to the world. One during the days of Adam; one during the days of Lemekh; one during the days of Abraham; one during the days of Isaac; one during the days of Jacob; one during the days of Elijah; one during the days of Elisha; one during the days of David; one during the days when the judges judged; and one that is yet progressing and coming to the world.
One during the days of Adam, as it is stated: “Accursed is the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17); one during the days of Lemekh, as it is stated: “From the ground that the Lord had cursed” (Genesis 5:29); one during the days of Abraham, as it is stated: “There was famine in the land and Abram descended to Egypt” (Genesis 12:10); one during the days of Isaac: “There was a famine in the land, beside the first famine” (Genesis 26:1); one during the days of Jacob, as it is stated: “For these two years there has been famine in the land” (Genesis 45:6); one during the days of Elijah, as it is stated: “There will not be dew or rain these years, except by my word” (I Kings 17:1); one during the days of Elisha, as it is stated: “There was a great famine in Samaria” (II Kings 6:25); one during the days of David, as it is stated: “There was a famine during the days of David, three years” (II Samuel 21:1); one during the days when the judges judged, as it is stated: “There was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1); and one that is advancing upon the world, as it is written: “I will send famine in the land, not famine for bread, not thirst for water” (Amos 8:11).
Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Shmuel: It would have been appropriate for the main manifestation of them³⁹ to have been during the days of Saul, and it was not appropriate for them to have been during the days of David. [But] because Saul was an offshoot of a sycamore tree,⁴⁰ and would have been unable to withstand it, the Holy One blessed be He transferred it and brought it to David, who is the offshoot of an olive tree⁴¹ and [he] was able to withstand it. A parable says: Shila sinned and Yoḥana⁴² pays for it? So, all of them did not come upon lowly people, but rather upon mighty people who could withstand them. Rabbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar: [It is analogous] to a glazier who had a basket filled with cups of cut glass. When he sought to hang his basket, he would bring a peg, hammer it [into the wall,] and then hang his basket. So, all of them did not come upon lowly people, but rather to mighty people. Rabbi Berekhya would read in reference to them:⁴³ “He gives strength to the weary” (Isaiah 40:29).
Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: Two [famines]⁴⁴ came during the days of Adam.⁴⁵ 25:3 it says ‘Abraham’ instead of ‘Adam.’ Rav Huna in the name of Rav Aḥa: One was during the days of Abraham, and one was during the days of Lemekh. The famine that was during the days of Elijah was due to a drought. One year it produced [a harvest] and the other year it did not produce. But the famine during the days of Elisha was due to [economic] panic, as it is stated: “Until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty of silver” (II Kings 6:25). [Regarding] the famine that came during the days that the judges judged, Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Dosa: They were forty-two *se’a*⁴⁶ and they became forty-one *se’a*.⁴⁷. Some commentators suggest that the text should be read: they were [sold] at a rate of two *se’a* [per *sela*] and became one *se’a* [per *sela*]. See Etz Yosef. But is it not taught: A person may not depart to outside the Land of Israel until two *se’a*⁴⁸ are bought for a shekel?⁴⁹. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: When is that so? It is when one cannot find anything [else] to buy. But if he can find [other food] to buy, even [at] one *se’a* for a shekel, a Jew may not leave the Land of Israel.⁵⁰ But is it not taught: During a time of pestilence, a time of war, gather everyone inside, but during a time of famine, scatter? Why was Elimelekh punished? It is because he sank the hearts of Israel.
[It is analogous] to a prominent person who lived in a province, and the residents of the province would depend upon him, and would say that if drought years would come, he could provide food for the province for ten years. When a drought year came, his maidservant went out, and went into the market with her basket in her hand. The residents of the province said: This is the one who we relied upon, that if there would be a drought he could support us for ten years? His maidservant is standing in the market with her basket in her hand! So, Elimelekh was one of the prominent residents of the province, and one of the leaders of the generation. When the years of famine arrived, he said: ‘Now, all Israel will come around to my door, this one with his basket and that one with his basket.’ He arose and fled from them; that is what is written: “A man of Bethlehem of Judah went.”

footnotes:
³⁹ The years of famine during the days of David.
⁴⁰ The sycamore tree is frail.
⁴¹ The olive tree is sturdy.
⁴² Generic names of that period.
⁴³ David’s generation.
⁴⁴ That of Lemekh occurred while Adam was still alive.
⁴⁵ In the parallel text of this midrash found in Bereishit Rabba
⁴⁶ A measure of dry volume roughly equivalent to 8 liters.
⁴⁷ The reference is to the amount of produce that could be purchased for one sela
⁴⁸ Of wheat.
⁴⁹ The reference is to the biblical shekel, which is the equivalent of the rabbinic sela
⁵⁰ Elimelekh was punished because his decision to leave the Land of Israel was not justified.


###### Ruth Rabbah 1:5
[Ruth Rabbah 1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ruth%20Rabbah/r/1:5)

וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ, גַּרְדּוּם, אֶלָּא בּוֹא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה חִבֵּב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּיאָתָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מִיצִיאָתָהּ, לְהַלָּן כְּתִיב (עזרא ב, סו): סוּסֵיהֶם, פִּרְדֵיהֶם, גְּמַלֵּיהֶם, בְּרַם הָכָא כְּתִיב: וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ, גַּרְדוּם, אֶלָּא לְהַלָּן עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹצְאִין מֵהָאָרֶץ לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, לֹא יִחֵס הַכָּתוּב אֶת מָמוֹנָם. וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ גַּרְדּוּם. לָגוּר בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא שָׂדֶה עִיר, עִיר מְדִינָה, מְדִינָה אִפַּרְכְיָא. שָׂדֶה עִיר (מלכים א ב, כו): עֲנָתֹת לֵךְ עַל שָׂדֶיךָ. עִיר מְדִינָה (יחזקאל ט, ד): עֲבֹר בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. מְדִינָה אִפַּרְכְיָא, שֶׁבַע וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה. הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּשְׁנֵי בָנָיו, הוּא עִקָּר, וְאִשְׁתּוֹ טְפֵלָה לוֹ, וּבָנָיו טְפֵלִין לָהֶם.

**The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022:**
“A man…went” – Like a stump [with nothing]? Rather, come and see how much more the Holy One blessed be He appreciates entering the Land of Israel than leaving it. Below, it is written: “Their horses…their mules…their camels” (Ezra 2: 66–67), but here it is written: “A man…went” – like a stump. As opposed to below [the exiled Judeans returning to the land, as described in Ezra], because they were departing from the Land to outside the Land, the verse did not attribute their property to them. “A man…went” – like a stump.
“To reside in the fields of Moav” – Rabbi Levi said: Every place⁵¹ you find field, it is a city; [where you find] city, it is a province; province, it is a country. Field, it is a city – as it is stated: “Go to Anatot, to your fields” (I Kings 2:26). City – it is a province, as it is stated: “Pass in the midst of the city, in the midst of Jerusalem”⁵² can refer to either a large city or a province. (Ezekiel 9:4). Province – it is a country, as it is stated: “One hundred and twenty-seven provinces” (Esther 1:1).
“He, his wife, and his two sons” – He was primary; his wife, secondary to him; and his sons, secondary to them.

footnotes:
⁵¹ It does not mean every place literally; depending on the context, there are places where field means city, e.g. when the field is mentioned as a place of residence.
⁵² The word medina