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'''Ruth''' is, in secular literary terms, a pastoral romance, where the poor but good widow Ruth, and her equally-poor-and-widowed mother-in-law, [[Naomi]] triumph over all and become part of the lineage of the future [[King David]]. In literary terms, it's the best short story from antiquity. In theological terms, it sings in joy to the salvatory grace of the convert.

'''Ruth''' is the eighth book in the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Bible]].  It is a pastoral romance, telling the story of the poor but good widow Ruth, and her equally-poor-and-widowed mother-in-law, [[Naomi]] and how they triumph over all to become part of the lineage of the future [[King David]].

Naomi and her husband had two sons. The family had emigrated to [[Moab]] (modern [[Jordan]]) where her sons married Moabite women. Naomi's husband, and then her sons died, leaving Naomi with two childless daughters-in-law. Naomi prepared to return to her homeland and say good bye to her daughters-in-law, whom she implored to go back to live with their paternal families and find new husbands, as both women were still young.  

Naomi and her husband had two sons. Although they were [[Israelites]], the family had emigrated to [[Moab]] (modern [[Jordan]]). Naomi's husband died and her sons married Moabite women. Then, within ten years, Naomi's sons had died as well. Naomi was left with two childless daughters-in-law. Naomi prepared to return to her homeland and say goodbye to her daughters-in-law, whom she implored to go back to live in their mothers' homes and find new husbands, as both women were still young.  

Naomi sent [[Orpah]] (the source of the mispelling of Oprah Winfrey's misspelled first name) back to her home with a kiss, but Ruth clung to her and insisted on joining Naomi. At this point, the poetic and theological majesty of the book is made: '''Ruth 1:15-16:'''

Naomi sent [[Orpah]] back to her home with a kiss, but Ruth clung to her and insisted on joining Naomi.

<blockquote>Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

<blockquote>Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.</blockquote>

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.</blockquote> (Ruth 1:15-16)

 

So Ruth traveled by the side of her mother-in-law to [[Bethlehem]] where Naomi was recognized with some cheer, but Naomi told them of her plight and sorrow and that her life had become bitter.

So Ruth traveled by the side of her mother-in-law to [[Bethlehem]] where Naomi was recognized with some cheer, but Naomi told them of her plight and sorrow and that her life had become bitter.

In Chapter 2, we have the barley harvest, where Ruth tells Naomi she wishes to go into the fields and pick up whatever the harvesters had missed, and in that way provide food for herself and Naomi.  She turned up in the field of a man named [[Boaz]] who was a relative of Naomi, and had heard of Ruth's kindness to Naomi.  He looked out for Ruth, telling her to continue to pick the leftovers in his field, as he had instructed that she was not to be bothered.  When Ruth went back to Naomi at the end of the day and Naomi asked her where she had found such favor, she was pleased to learn it was with Boaz, a close relative.  Ruth continued to pick in Boaz's field and provide for her mother-in-law until the harvest was finished, at which time Naomi told Ruth the Jewish custom of how to show interest in being taken as a wife, and who better than with Boaz?  Boaz was flattered, especially since she had chosen him, a man along in years, when she was so young. There was another closer relative who had first right to marry Ruth; the relative, however, refused to confuse the inheritance of his own line and disclaimed the match, clearing the way for Boaz to take Ruth as his wife. The two were married, and first child born was considered to be Naomi's son carrying on the line of her deceased husband, as was the Jewish custom.  And that child was named [[Obed]], he the father of [[Jesse]], and grandfather of [[David]].  

In Chapter 2, we have the barley harvest, where Ruth tells Naomi she wishes to go into the fields and pick up whatever the harvesters had missed, and in that way provide food for herself and Naomi.  She turned up in the field of a man named [[Boaz]] who was a relative of Naomi, and had heard of Ruth's kindness to Naomi.  He looked out for Ruth, telling her to continue to pick the leftovers in his field, as he had instructed that she was not to be bothered.  When Ruth went back to Naomi at the end of the day and Naomi asked her where she had found such favor, she was pleased to learn it was with Boaz, a close relative.  Ruth continued to pick in Boaz's field and provide for her mother-in-law until the harvest was finished, at which time Naomi told Ruth the Jewish custom of how to show interest in being taken as a wife, and who better than with Boaz?  Boaz was flattered, especially since she had chosen him, a man along in years, when she was so young. There was another closer relative who had first right to marry Ruth; the relative, however, refused to confuse the inheritance of his own line and disclaimed the match, clearing the way for Boaz to take Ruth as his wife. The two were married, and first child born was considered to be Naomi's son carrying on the line of her deceased husband, as was the Jewish custom.  And that child was named [[Obed]], he was the father of [[Jesse]], and grandfather of [[David]].  

Ruth was the great-grandmother of [[King David]].  

Ruth was the great-grandmother of [[King David]], the very line of lineage from which [[Jesus]] came.  

[[Category:Biblical books]]

[[Category:Biblical books]]

[[Category:Old Testament]]

[[Category:Old Testament]]