Ploni Almoni

For many years (the issue evidently had not come up) it was assumed that there was no difference between a male (Moavi, Amoni) or a female (Amonis, Moavis); they were both restricted.

As stated before, that is why Ploni Almoni refused to marry Rus.

Boaz, who was a Shofeit (Judge), ruled that the Torah made a difference regarding these two nations between male and female.

However, Boaz died the very next day.

Nevertheless, the halachah was now accepted like Boaz.

Doeg Ha’adomi

When Shaul saw Dovid going to fight Golias,

Shaul saw in Dovid certain kingly traits which made him nervous. Shaul then asked his aids if Dovid came from Peretz,

which would make him fit for kingship. At that point Doeg Ha’Adomi interceded and told Shaul that Dovid was not even fit to marry someone Jewish because he came from Rus, thereby reintroducing the whole question. Doeg was able to destroy all the arguments allowing Dovid to marry and they were ready to announce that indeed Dovid was not allowed to marry.

The Girding of the Sword

Miyad (immediately),

“Amasa was the son … of Yisro Hayisraeli.”

Yet, elsewhere

he is called “Yeser Hayishmaeli.” This teaches us that he girded his sword like a Yishmaeli and said, “Whoever does not accept this halachah shall be impaled with the sword – so have I received the tradition from the Bais Din (court) of Shmuel that the females of Amon and Moav are permitted.”

End of discussion.

Why Not Like Eisav

“He put on his sword like Yishmael” was evidently to make a point (no pun intended). But then he should have girded himself like Eisav, since Eisav has the brachah of the sword, from Yitzchok. Why like Yishmael? Because with Eisav one can sometimes talk and reason. There is also the concept of minchah sheluchah l’Eisav. However, when Yishmael has set his mind there is no talking or reasoning. There is no listening. I believe I saw also that Yishmael doesn’t take shochad.

This is what Yeser was saying. If I argue the point with you, you will demolish my arguments as you did to the others. But there is nothing to talk about. I received the tradition of this halachah from the Bais Din of Shmuel so that is the halachah. He girded his sword like a Yishmaeli.

¹ Deuteronomy 23:4

² It would seem that perhaps the halachah here is stricter than that regarding a mamzer which is also restricted forever. Yet mamzerim will someday become permitted (see Tur ibid). However, regarding Amon and Moav, the Torah adds the words “ad olam” (forever) which is not there by a mamzer. However, I have not seen this inside.

³ See Rashi, Rus 4:6

⁴ It would seem from the  previous Rashi that Boaz learned it out and not that it was a Halachah l’Moshe m’Sinai because he states that Ploni Almoni was to’eh (he made a mistake) which connotes a learning process.

⁵ Boaz actually was a very old man. Hashem kept him alive that he should merit to have Dovid and Moshiach come from him.

⁶ I Samuel 17:32-50

⁷ Genesis 38:29

⁸ Yevamos 76b-77a

⁹ You find this word “miyad” often in Agadetoh. It must have a connotation.

¹⁰ II Samuel 17:25

¹¹ I Chronicles 2:17

¹² Yevamos 77a