The Bible Book

108

Ruth in Boaz’s Field, 1828, by Julius

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, depicts Ruth’s

first encounter with her redeemer, the

landowner Boaz (left), a descendant of

Abraham via Isaac.

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Ruth 1–4

THEME

God’s care for outsiders

SETTING

1250–1050 bce In the

Kingdoms of Moab and Judah.

KEY FIGURES

Naomi Jewish woman whose

husband and sons have

perished abroad.

Ruth The foreign daughter-in-

law of Naomi who converts

to Judaism.

Boaz Relation of Naomi’s

husband who becomes Ruth’s

second husband.

YOUR PEOPLE SHALL

BE MY PEOPLE AND

YOUR GOD MY GOD

RUTH 1:16, RUTH AND NAOMI

I

n the Old Testament, the story

of Ruth and Naomi appears

between the stories of the

judges—military as well as judicial

leaders—and the establishment of

the monarchy through the prophet

Samuel. Neatly divided into scenes

that build to a climax, the book

resembles a play, suggesting a

single author intent on showing

God’s (and the Israelites’) care for

those on the fringes of society, even

when one is a Moabite, a foreigner.

The first scene is set in Moab,

a country on the east side of the

Dead Sea, to which Naomi, her

husband, and their two sons have

fled to escape a famine in the

kingdom of Judah. The sons marry

Moabite women called Ruth and

Orpah. However, within ten years

of living in Moab, Naomi’s husband

and sons have all died, leaving her

alone with her daughters-in-law.

There are no grandchildren.

Women alone

In the second scene, the famine

in Judah has ended and Naomi

decides to move home. She

encourages her daughters-in-law

to return to their homes and find

new husbands. Naomi cannot offer

her daughters-in-law levirate

marriage, by which a widow

marries the oldest surviving brother

of her husband, as she has no sons.

Naomi cares for Ruth and Orpah,

who have both shown kindness

to her: “May the Lord grant that

each of you will find rest in the

home of another husband,” she

says (Ruth 1:8–9).

Orpah returns home, but Ruth

stays with Naomi. In a celebrated

speech marking her conversion to

Judaism, Ruth says to Naomi, “Your

people shall be my people and your

God my God” (1:16), confirming her

loyalty to her mother-in-law, her

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109

Members of the Samaritan

faith, an ancient offshoot of

Judaism, celebrate Shavuot at their

holy site of Mount Gerizim near the

West Bank town of Nablus.

See also: Joseph the Dreamer 58–61 ■ Queen Esther 132 ■

The Golden Rule 210–11 ■ The Good Samaritan 216–17

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

people, and their God. Naomi and

Ruth proceed to Bethlehem, where

they live as widows.

In the next scene, it is harvest

time and Ruth takes the initiative

to “glean,” a form of charity that

permits the poor to pick up grain

left behind by the harvesters. Ruth

chooses fields belonging to Boaz,

a relative of her late husband, and a

potential go’el, “one with the right

to redeem.” In Hebrew society, a

go’el is a near relative who can

protect a family in the absence of

a head of household. This could

mean buying their land to provide

income (while still keeping it in

Shavuot

Falling anytime between

May 14 and June 15, which is

also harvest time in the Holy

Land, “Shavuot” celebrates

the gift of Torah to the ancient

Israelites. It is associated

with the Book of Ruth, both

because of its connection to

the harvest and because Ruth

receives the gift of Torah upon

her conversion to Judaism.

Shavuot, which translates

as “weeks,” a reference to the

seven-week period between

Passover and Shavuot, is

celebrated with a feast. The

Apostles were observing

Shavuot when the Holy Spirit

descended among them and

gave spiritual gifts (Luke

22:12–13). Customs associated

with the feast include the

reading of a celebratory poem,

the consumption of dairy

products such as cheese

blintzes, cheesecake, and

cheese ravioli, and the

decoration of homes with

greenery. People stay up all

night reading the Torah and

there are synagogue readings

of the Book of Ruth.

the wider family), freeing slaves,

or even avenging murder. Boaz is

impressed with Ruth’s hard work

and loyalty to Naomi. Although his

foreman emphasizes that Ruth is a

Moabite, Boaz encourages her to

stay in his fields, where he can

ensure she is not harassed.

Ruth reports this to Naomi, who

recognizes Boaz’s status as a go’el.

Naomi tells her to approach Boaz

as he falls asleep, after the hard

work of winnowing the grain. Ruth

follows Naomi’s advice, and when

Boaz wakes, asks for the protection

of marriage: “Spread the corner of

your garment over me” (Ruth 3:9).

Boaz agrees; but first, he must

speak to her nearest male relation.

David’s line

In the final scene, tension mounts

before all is resolved. Boaz invites

Ruth’s nearest relative to buy land

belonging to Naomi, on the

condition that he marries Ruth. The

man refuses, clearing the way for

Boaz and Ruth to marry. The Lord

then enables Ruth to conceive a

son (4:13), who will join the line of

King David. The story showed the

Israelites that even Gentiles can

play a part in God’s purpose. ■

Ruth, a widow, who is

also a Gentile, has no one

to care for her.

She converts to Judaism

and marries Boaz, a

“guardian-redeemer.”

God gives Ruth and Boaz

a son, Obed, from whom

King David will descend.

God even provides

for and works

His purpose through

Gentiles, such

as Ruth.

The story of Ruth

Why have I found such

favor in your eyes that you

notice me—a foreigner?

Ruth 2:10

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