This is made clear at the end, when Ruth, the non-Jew, becomes the ancestress of King David, and thus part of the "Davidic Covenant" (the agreement that God makes with King David in 2 Samuel 7).
Ruth is especially important for Christians, as the ancestress of Jesus ("the son of David" in Matthew 12:23 and Luke 20:41). Matthew shows this in his Gospel genealogy (MATTHEW 1:5).
The idealized Ruth is referred to throughout as "the Moabitess," to emphasize that a non-Jew can be as righteous as a Jew. The Moabites were enemies of the Jews and scorned (in an insulting etiological story) as offspring of incest between Lot and one of his daughters. Ruth's "righteous" behavior toward her mother-in-law, Naomi, is meant to show her behavior as superior to Naomi's, who nearly curses God: "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter" (RUTH 1:20).
Ruth's submission to an alien God is stronger than that of her Jewish mother-in-law, as in Ruth's famous words, "Where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will by my people and your God my God" (RUTH 1:16).
The book continues the Abrahamic promise of many descendents. Naomi's name would have been lost had Ruth not married Boaz, of the tribe of Judah.
All three characters are intended as ideals of the way people behave in a just society: each concerned with the interests of each other (compare with the book of Judges, where everyone does what they want).
Naomi tells her widowed daughters-in-law: "Go back to your mother's home. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the Lord grant you find rest in the home of another husband" (1:8-9).
True, Naomi treats them as aliens; yet she blesses them in the name of her God and seems concerned about their welfare.
Ruth in turn is devoted to her mother-in-law in an alien land, a point made famous in John Keats' Ode to a Nightingale, which speaks of "the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home, she stood in tears amid the alien corn."
Boaz is a model of courtesy to a foreigner, a point made by Ruth (2:10). He tells her, "I have told the men not to touch you" and invites her to eat and drink (2:9). Advising his men not to embarrass or rebuke her (2:15, 16) he follows a law of Leviticus (19:9).
The story shows a just society, where each is concerned for each, in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The theme of the story is that the just (not only the Jews) shall be redeemed. Boaz is only the instrument of God's judgment, his cloak a type fulfilled in the wings of God:
"I've been told what you have done for your mother-in-law. . . . May the Lord repay you. . . . May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge" (2:11-12).
The motif (repeated idea) of redeeming has even greater meaning for Christians, who see Jesus' selfless giving of himself as fulfilling the story of Ruth (why her name is included in Matthew's genealogy).
The fact that the book begins referring to "the judges" is one reason the Christian Bible places this book with the former prophets rather than with the Writings (as in the Hebrew Bible). Besides, it contrasts the evil lives of people in the book of Judges with the charity of people in the story of Ruth.
It's interesting to note that the famous talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, was named after one of the daughters-in-law, Orpah; apparently Oprah's mother misread the name, hence the different spelling.
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died. And she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelled there about ten years.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them. And the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose that she might return from the country of Moab. For she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law,
"Go, return each to her mother's house. The LORD deal kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead and with me."
They lifted up their voice, and wept. And Orpah kissed her mother- in-law. But Ruth clave unto her. And she said,
"Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her
gods: return thou after thy sister in law."
And Ruth said,
"Entreat 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."
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace."
And she said unto her,
"Go, my daughter."
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers,
"The LORD be with you."
And they answered him,
"The LORD bless thee."
Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers,
"Whose damsel is this?"
And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said,
"It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, 'I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house."
Then said Boaz unto Ruth,
"Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them. Have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink of that which the young men have drawn."
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him,
"Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?"
And Boaz answered and said unto her,
"It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother- in-law since the death of thine husband and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother and the land of thy nativity and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."
Then she said,
"Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord. For that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens."
And Boaz said unto her,
"At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar."
And she sat beside the reapers. And he reached her parched corn and she did eat and was sufficed and left. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying,
"Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she
may glean them, and rebuke her not."
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into the city. And her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned and she said unto her,
"Where hast thou gleaned today? And where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee."
And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said,
"The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz."
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law,
"Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead."
And Naomi said unto her,
"The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."
And Ruth the Moabitess said,
"He said unto me also, 'Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.'"
And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law,
"It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field."
So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
"My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor. But make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be when he lieth down that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie and thou shalt go in and uncover his feet and lay thee down and he will tell thee what thou shalt do."
And she said unto her,
"All that thou sayest unto me I will do."
And she went down unto the floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. And she came softly and uncovered his feet and laid her down.
And it came to pass at midnight that the man was afraid and turned himself. And, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said,
"Who art thou?"
And she answered,
"I am Ruth, thine handmaid. Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid. For thou art a near kinsman."
And he said,
"Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter. For thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not. I will do to thee all that thou requirest. For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
"And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman. Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well, let him do the kinsman's part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then I will do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth. Lie down until the morning."
And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said,
"Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor."
Also he said,
"Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said,
"Who art thou, my daughter?"
And she told her all that the man had done to her.
And she said,
"These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, 'Go not
empty unto thy mother-in-law.'"
Then said she,
"Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."
"Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here."
And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said,
"Sit ye down here."
And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman,
"Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to advise thee, saying,
"'Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.'"
And he said,
"I will redeem it."
Then said Boaz,
"What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance."
And the kinsman said,
"I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it."
Now this was the manner in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing and to confirm all things: A man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz,
"Buy it for thee."
So he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people,
"Ye are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my
wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day."
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said,
"We are witnesses."
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife. And when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception and she bare a son. And Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom and became nurse unto it. And the women, her neighbours, gave it a name, saying,
"There is a son born to Naomi."
And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
The Book of Ruth:
Commentary
Though a Hebrew story, the student will see issues related to the Christian story: In a time of famine, God provides, as in the time of Moses (manna) or the time of Jesus (the loaves and fishes).
In answer to death, there is life, and hope: Ruth's child with Boaz is born: he is the ancestor of King David and Jesus.
The story illustrates the Commandment of Leviticus, to love one's neighbor as oneself, which Jesus said summed up the entire Torah, or Law.
The book of Ruth dramatizes the principle of universalism, a main theme of the prophets, which Jesus later will make part of his "Great Commission": to preach to the Gentiles.
For those who wish to hear a song (1959) based on the most famous verse (1:16) from the book of Ruth, click here. The lyrics are below:
Whither thou goest I will go, wherever thou lodgest I will lodge. Thy people will be my people, my love, whither thou goest I will go. For as in that story long ago, the same sweet love story now is told, thy people shall be my people, my love, whither thou goest I will go. For as in that story long ago, the same sweet love story now is told, thy people shall be my people, my love, whither thou goest I will go.
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