Ruth b'Iyyun Series (i)

(1) In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab. (2) The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the country of Moab and remained there. (3) Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. (4) They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth, and they lived there about ten years. (5) Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.

(5) "The man’s name was Elimelech (Ruth 1:2": Rabbi Meir was interpreting names. Rabbi Joshua son of Karchah was also interpreting names.

"The man’s name was Elimelech": he was saying: "To me (elai) will come the kingship (malkhut)".

"His wife’s name was Naomi" because her deeds were pleasant (na'im) and pleasing (ne'imim).

"and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion": Machlon because they were erased (nimchu) from the world. And Chilion because they were destroyed (kalu) from the world.

"The name of the one was Orpah" because she turned her back (oref) on her mother-in-law. "The name of the other was Ruth" because she looked (ra'atah) to the words of her mother-in-law.

Rabbi Beivai in the name of Rabbi Reuben said: "Ruth and Orpah were the daughters of Eglon, as it is said: "I have a secret message for you.” The king thereupon commanded, “Silence!” (Judges 3:19)". And it is written: "and when Ehud approached him...Ehud said, “I have a message for you from God”; whereupon he rose from his seat. (Judges 3:20)", and he said to him: "The Holy One, blessed be He said: "You stood from your throne for my glory, as you live I will cause to rise from you a son sitting on the throne of Hashem".

(12) The Israelites again did what was offensive to the LORD. And because they did what was offensive to the LORD, the LORD let King Eglon of Moab prevail over Israel. (13) [Eglon] brought the Ammonites and the Amalekites together under his command, and went and defeated Israel and occupied the City of Palms. (14) The Israelites were subject to King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.

(15) Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up a champion for them: the Benjaminite Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man.

It happened that the Israelites sent tribute to King Eglon of Moab through him. (16) So Ehud made for himself a two-edged dagger, a gomed in length, which he girded on his right side under his cloak. (17) He presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab.

Now Eglon was a very stout man. (18) When [Ehud] had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had conveyed the tribute. (19) But he himself returned from Pesilim, near Gilgal, and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” [Eglon] thereupon commanded, “Silence!” So all those in attendance left his presence; (20) and when Ehud approached him, he was sitting alone in his cool upper chamber. Ehud said, “I have a message for you from God”; whereupon he rose from his seat. (21) Reaching with his left hand, Ehud drew the dagger from his right side and drove it into [Eglon’s] belly. (22) The fat closed over the blade and the hilt went in after the blade—for he did not pull the dagger out of his belly—and the filth came out.

(23) Stepping out into the vestibule, Ehud shut the doors of the upper chamber on him and locked them. (24) After he left, the courtiers returned. When they saw that the doors of the upper chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.” (25) They waited a long time; and when he did not open the doors of the chamber, they took the key and opened them—and there their master was lying dead on the floor!

(26) But Ehud had made good his escape while they delayed; he had passed Pesilim and escaped to Seirah. (27) When he got there, he had the ram’s horn sounded through the hill country of Ephraim, and all the Israelites descended with him from the hill country; and he took the lead.

(28) “Follow me closely,” he said, “for YHWH has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands.” They followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites; they let no one cross.

(29) On that occasion they slew about 10,000 Moabites; they were all robust and brave men, yet not one of them escaped. (30) On that day, Moab submitted to Israel; and the land was tranquil for eighty years.

Some authorities maintain that you are not required to stand during Kaddish. But, if you are already standing when Kaddish is to be said for instance, after Halleil, you should remain standing until after: Amein, yehei shemei rabba. Others hold the opinion that you should always stand during Kaddish as well as during other prayers of Kedushah.

This can be derived by means of a kal v'chomer¹⁷Kal vachomer from the case of Eglon, king of Moab, for it is written:¹ "Ehud came to him etc. and Ehud said: 'I have brought you a word of God. ' And he (Eglon) stood up from his throne."¹⁹

If Eglon King of Moab, who was an idol worshipper, rose [to hear] the word of God, how much more so, [should] we, who are His people. Therefore, it is preferable to be stringent.