Ruth and Naomi

In the days when the judges ruled, a famine came to the land. Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons left Bethlehem and went to Moab. Elimelech died there. The sons married Ruth and Orpah, women of Moab, but later both sons died too.

Naomi heard that the Lord had given food to his people, so she started back to Judah. Orpah returned to her people, but Ruth stayed with Naomi. Ruth chose to go where Naomi went, to make Naomi's people her people, and to make Naomi's God her God. They reached Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth went out to gather grain behind the reapers. She came to a field belonging to Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz had heard how Ruth cared for Naomi. He told Ruth to stay in his fields, made sure she was safe, and told his workers to leave extra grain for her.

Naomi later explained that Boaz was a near kinsman. Following Naomi's instructions, Ruth went to Boaz at the threshing floor and asked him to act as a kinsman. Boaz said there was a nearer kinsman first.

At the city gate, that man gave up his right to redeem. Boaz took the responsibility, married Ruth, and they had a son named Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

The Book of Ruth begins during the days when the judges ruled. A famine struck the land, so Elimelech left Bethlehem with his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and they went to Moab. Elimelech died there. The sons married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. After about ten years, Mahlon and Chilion also died, leaving Naomi without her husband and sons.

Naomi heard that the Lord had visited his people in Judah by giving them bread, so she prepared to return. She urged Ruth and Orpah to go back to their own families. Orpah returned, but Ruth clung to Naomi. Ruth declared that she would go where Naomi went, live where Naomi lived, join Naomi's people, and take Naomi's God as her God. Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth asked to glean behind the reapers and happened to enter a field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech. Boaz learned who Ruth was and heard how she had cared for Naomi. He told Ruth to stay with his workers, ordered the young men not to trouble her, gave her water and food, and instructed the reapers to leave extra grain for her. Naomi recognized Boaz as one of their near kinsmen.

Naomi later told Ruth that she wanted to seek rest for her. She instructed Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley. Ruth followed Naomi's instructions, uncovered Boaz's feet, and lay down. At midnight Boaz awoke. Ruth identified herself and asked him, as a near kinsman, to spread his skirt over her. Boaz praised her kindness and said he would do what she asked, but he also explained that another kinsman was nearer than he was.

The next day Boaz went to the city gate, gathered ten elders, and spoke with the nearer kinsman. That man first agreed to redeem Naomi's land, but when Boaz explained that Ruth was part of the matter, he declined because he feared harming his own inheritance. Following the custom described in the chapter, he removed his shoe to confirm the transfer.

Boaz then publicly took the right and responsibility of the kinsman and married Ruth. The Lord gave Ruth a son named Obed. Naomi cared for the child, and the women of Bethlehem rejoiced with her. The book ends by tracing the family line from Obed to Jesse and then to David.