A grieving widow, who had lost her husband and both sons in a foreign land, set off on a long journey home to a country that no longer had anything for her. She told her two young daughters-in-law to return to their homes and forget about her, but one of them refused and said words that would live on in people's memories for thousands of years: "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
Amidst the biblical tales of battles and kings and miracles, this little story about ordinary people and their lives is an exception, a story of human love and devotion that meets with a happy ending. This story of Ruth and Naomi's journey from sorrow to joy and new beginnings eventually leads to a king.
A Family Destroyed by Misfortune
The book of Ruth begins with a tragedy. A terrible famine happened in the land of Judah, and a man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi, leaving their home in Bethlehem, went to the neighboring country of Moab to settle there. Elimelech died in Moab, and Naomi's two sons grew up there and married Moabite women. But then a second tragedy occurred – the sons also died, leaving Naomi in complete despair. With nothing to return to in Moab, and no sons to care for her, Naomi decided to return to her homeland, leaving her daughters-in-law behind.
Naomi arrived in Moab as a wife and mother and was left there with nothing — husband gone, both sons dead, and two daughters-in-law she urged to go back to their own families.
"Where You Go, I Will Go"
As they were leaving Moab, Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to return to their homeland, promising to pray for their happiness. Orpah, one of the girls, agreed and went home with her mother-in-law, but Ruth insisted on going with Naomi. She said to her: do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. Ruth gave up her own land and people to follow her mother-in-law, a stranger to her, to a land of strangers. Ruth's loyalty and devotion touched Naomi's heart, and the two women arrived in Bethlehem together. Naomi, whose homecoming was now complete, but whose heart was full of sorrow and bitterness, asked the women of Bethlehem to call her not Naomi, but Mara, which means bitter.
Gleaning in a Stranger's Field
The two women arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest. Ruth went to glean in the fields, and by the grace of God, she came upon the field of a rich and influential landowner named Boaz, who was also a relative of Naomi's husband. Boaz saw the young Moabite woman working in his fields and asked about her. When he learned of her devotion to Naomi and heard of her humble, industrious nature, he welcomed her into his service. He told her to work alongside his harvesters and assured her of his protection and care. Ruth worked in the fields of Boaz, gathering the gleanings that the reapers left for her, and in return, the owner provided her with food and drink and even ordered his workers to leave extra stalks of grain for her to pick.
Ruth followed the reapers through the fields of a man she did not know, gathering the grain they left behind. The owner she had landed on by chance was Boaz — a relative of Naomi's late husband.
A Kinsman-Redeemer
When Ruth returned home with a full basket of barley, Naomi realized that Ruth had found a kind and generous master. Boaz was not only rich and influential but also a kinsman-redeemer, which was precisely what they needed. In Israel of old, every family had the right and duty to protect its members from distress by redeeming them from captivity or poverty. This responsibility was given to the closest male relative. Naomi realized that she and Ruth had a redeemer, and she decided to ask him to redeem them and marry Ruth.
The Redeemer's Claim
Naomi gave detailed instructions to Ruth about how to approach Boaz and what to say to him. Ruth followed her mother-in-law's advice and went to the rich farmer at night while he was resting. She asked him to be their redeemer, and Boaz gladly agreed, praising her devotion and loyalty to Naomi. However, he pointed out that there was another relative who was closer to them and had the right to redeem the family property and marry Ruth. This relative had the duty to restore the family from distress, but he refused to do so. Thus, the right to redeem belonged to Boaz, and he publicly announced his decision at the city gate, where all the elders and other residents had gathered.
Boaz settled the matter in the open, in the presence of the town elders at the city gate. The nearer relative declined, and Boaz publicly declared himself the redeemer of Naomi's family and the husband of Ruth.
An Outsider Welcomed In
One thing stands out in this story – the fact that Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabites were not only foreigners but also bitter enemies of the Israelites. Nevertheless, Ruth showed extraordinary loyalty and love for Naomi, her mother-in-law, who had accepted her into her home despite all the hardships. Ruth followed Naomi to Israel and devoted herself to caring for her. In return, she was accepted with open arms and given a place in the Jewish community. This is yet another feature of the book of Ruth – a story of an outsider who is welcomed in by members of a different nation and religion. This message is also reflected in the fact that the book of Ruth is traditionally read in Israel every year on the holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Torah. The themes of charity and helping the poor run through the entire book, as well as the idea that loyalty and devotion can break down social and even religious barriers.
From an Ordinary Widow to a King
The story of Ruth and Boaz ends in a good and happy way – Ruth and Boaz get married and have a son. The women of the town join in the joy of Naomi, who has found new hope and life. She tells them that this child will bring her comfort and joy in her old age and that Ruth is dearer to her than seven sons. But the Bible has one final surprise in store for the reader – this child is the ancestor of King David! The brave and kind Moabite girl, who crossed the border into Israel and devoted herself to caring for her mother-in-law, became the great-grandmother of the greatest king of Israel. No one could have known this when the story began, but the book of Ruth, like all of Scripture, reveals God's wonderful plan to his people.
