Ruth

I faced an uncertain future when Mahlon died. So did Chilion's widow, Orpah, and our mother-in-law Naomi. Ten years before, our husbands had left Bethlehem because of famine. They came to my homeland, the land of Moab, because of the fertility of our plains. Both Orpah and I were happy in our marriages to the sons of Naomi and Elimelech. Naomi seemed content too, that is, until in her old age she lost both her sons as well as her husband. We knew she longed to return to the land of her birth. We helped her prepare to go back to Bethlehem.

The day came for Naomi’s departure. We stood together to say good-by, weeping. She pleaded for us to turn back to our mother's house, and Orpah did. But I made a different choice. It just seemed like the right thing for me to do – to go with my mother-in-law. I said to her, "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" (Ruth 1:16).

Had I stayed in Moab, perhaps I would have married a man of my own country. But as it is, I'm living here in Bethlehem. Upon our arrival, I realized it would be up to me to support myself and my mother-in-law. There were few employment opportunities for women of course, but I was young and strong and willing to take on whatever task might be available to me. I followed the reapers, gathering up the fragments of grain which fell and were left behind for the poor. It was hot work, but at the end of each day, I could return to my home with Naomi with a small harvest of an ephah of barley [about a bushel.]

A day came when I worked in a field belonging to Boaz, a large landowner and a distant kinsman of Naomi's husband. He didn't know who I was at first, but he inquired about me. And then he showed me much kindness and protection. Naomi wanted more than that for me, and she was instrumental in bringing about my marriage to Boaz. I have been blessed, more than I would have ever dreamed. We have a son! Love brought forth this wonderful child. His name is Obed. Naomi is joyful! She's taken over the duties of nurse to her grandchild. Her neighbors told her, "Thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him" (Ruth 4:15). I've been promised that this child's name will be "famous in Israel."

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[Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, King of Israel. The Gentile and Jew marriage of Ruth and Boaz made Ruth an ancestress of Jesus Christ.]

Ruth

List of Bible References

Ruth 1:4, 14, 16, 22. – Ruth 2:2, 8, 21, 22 – Ruth 3:9 –
Ruth 4:5, 10, 13 – Matthew 1:5