Orpah

Orpah
Orphah (right) leaving Ruth and Naomi. Engraving by Hendrik Goltzius, 1576.

Orpah (Hebrew: עָרְפָּה‎) is a woman mentioned in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. She was from Moab and was the daughter-in-law of Naomi and wife of Chilion.[1] After the death of her husband, Orpah and her sister-in-law Ruth wished to go to Judea with Naomi. However, Naomi persuaded Orpah to return to her people and to her gods (Ruth i. 4 et seq.).

In rabbinic literature, Orpah is identified with Harafa, the mother of the four Philistine giants, one of whom being Goliath. These four sons were said to have been given her for the four tears which she shed at parting with her mother-in-law (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 42b). Her other name Harafa is cognate of the word for threshing; that she allowed herself to be 'threshed' by many men as one would thresh wheat (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 42b).

According to a legend in a midrash, Orpah was a sister of Ruth, and both were daughters of the Moabite King Eglon (Ruth R. ii. 9). Her name was changed to "Orpah" because she turned her back (from Hebrew: עורף‎, literally nape) on her mother-in-law (ib.; comp. Talmud Sotah l.c.) The Sanhedrin tractate in the Talmud states that she was killed by King David's general Abishai, the son of Zeruiah.[2]

References

  1. ^ Ruth 1:04
  2. ^ Talmud Sanhedrin 95a

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ORPAH — (Heb. עָרְפָּה), Moabite woman. Elimelech and Naomi, driven by famine from Beth Lehem in Judah, settled in Moab. After Elimelech s death, their two sons, mahlon and chilion , married Orpah and ruth . After her two sons died, Naomi set out for… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Orpah —    Forelock or fawn, a Moabitess, the wife of Chilion (Ruth 1:4; 4:10). On the death of her husband she accompanied Naomi, her mother in law, part of the way to Bethlehem, and then returned to Moab …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • Book of Ruth — This article is about the ancient Hebrew religious text. For the 20th century English language novel, see The Book of Ruth (novel) The Book of Ruth ( he. מגילת רות; Sephardic, Israeli Hebrew: [məgi lat rut] ; Ashkenazi Hebrew: [mə gɪləs rus] ;… …   Wikipedia

  • Goliath — This article is about the biblical warrior. For other uses of “Goliath,” see Goliath (disambiguation). David and Goliath redirects here. For other uses, see David and Goliath (disambiguation). David and Goliath, a colour lithograph by Osmar… …   Wikipedia

  • RUTH, BOOK OF — (Heb. מְגִלַּת רוּת), one of the five scrolls incorporated in the Ketuvim (Hagiographa) section of the traditional Hebrew Bible. In the Septuagint, followed by Christian Bibles, Ruth is found immediately after Judges. Contents In the days of the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Oprah Winfrey — Oprah redirects here. For her talk show, see The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah Winfrey …   Wikipedia

  • Mahlon and Chilion — Mahlon (מחלון) and Chilion (כליון) were two brothers mentioned in the Book of Ruth. They were the sons of Elimelech of the tribe of Judah and his wife Naomi. Together with their parents, they settled in the land of Moab during the period of the… …   Wikipedia

  • GOLIATH — (Heb. גָּלְיָת), Philistine warrior from the city of Gath (I Sam. 17:23) who advanced from the ranks of the Philistines when they faced the Israelites in battle in the Valley of Elah (I Sam. 17). Because of Goliath s great size, he is described… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Naomi (Bible) — Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab, by William Blake Naomi (נָעֳמִי Pleasant; agreeable; my sweet , Standard Hebrew Noʻomi, Tiberian Hebrew nåʿå̆mī) is Ruth s mother in law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Later, she… …   Wikipedia

  • Ruth Rabbah — (Hebrew: רות רבה) is an haggadic and homiletic interpretation of the Book of Ruth, which, like that of the four other scrolls ( megillot ), is included in the Midrash Rabbot. This midrash, divided into eight chapters or sections ( parashiyyot ),… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”