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Ruth persisted. An authentic Bible tour is exemplified by putting yourself in the shoes of Biblical people who once walked on the very same ground. (b) What challenges did Naomi face in Moab? When they think in such a way, they make little progress and also hinder others on the same path, as Naomi did here with Ruth. The selection below was written “on background” one might say. Your email address will not be published. 28:23-24). So the woman was left all alone � bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! ... My knuckles were white clinching the steering wheel as my husband sat in the passenger seat reading the Fodor’s travel book. Thus, weary and travel-stained, they reach Bethlehem, and neighbours, doubtless never looking to see Naomi again, are all astir with excitement. All Rights Reserved. . 4 Ruth grew up in Moab, a small country that lay to the east of the Dead Sea. At the end of the harvest season, Naomi sends a message with Ruth to Boaz: I want to sell my lands, to a member of the family, and whoever buys the lands must marry Ruth. As the story progresses, Naomi comes to believe that Ruth has a chance of finding "security" with Boaz, a kinsman. At this juncture in the story, Naomi believes that both Orpah and Ruth would have a far better future and potential for success if they returned to their homeland. They are so poor that Ruth must gather food that has fallen on the ground while harvesters are gathering the crops. The Book of Ruth also functions liturgically, as it is read during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot "Weeks". Naomi sent Ruth to the threshing floor at night and told her to go where he slept, and "uncover his feet and lie down. Eph 1:16-18; + This was a play upon Naomi’s words in Ruth 1:15 + Ruth was willing to take upon her the culture of the Israel-ite nation. ... What did Naomi say about Ruth staying close by Boaz's young women. Ruth is not only a model of faith for us to follow, but her commitment is a picture of the faith of the Church. The narrator pauses to recapitulate his narrative of the return, and hence the recapitulatory so is, in English, very much to be preferred to the merely additive and of the original. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. She stated clearly that she was done with all idol worship, and the society associated with it. Ruth stayed, and therefore Naomi was able to state that Ruth was ready to convert formally when With whom did Ruth dwell during the harvest. He will tell you what you are to do." Moab was across the Jordan and the Dead Sea from Bethlehem. This would have been during the time of the judges in Israel. Ruth tells Naomi about her conversation with Boaz. "A certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab". In fact, you could see Moab from Bethlehem. As far as the land of Moab is concerned, two factors add to speculation that Elimelech was out of the will of the Lord. Although it is a short trip today, it would have taken Ruth and Naomi days on foot. If we are in situations in which repentance is called for, look at what we are saying about God and note whether or not we are focusing on only part of his actions. 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. It would seem that though the news of the end of the famine had reached Naomi in Moab, news of her had not reached Bethlehem. Interestingly, the concluding scenes are of Naomi. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. She gains the favour of Boaz, the landowner, who has heard about her kindness to Naomi. Published in: The Bible Today, 32 [March 1994], 68-73. 3 Sometime later Naomi's husband Elimelech died, so she and her two Marriage to a Moabite was not something one did to gain status in Israel. 4, 5. About ten years later, both the sons also die. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) We know from the Book of Ruth that they took this trip 2 times. (a) Why did Naomi’s family move to Moab? Ruth became "better to you than seven sons" (verse 15). Ruth 1:1-5 Towards the end of the period of the ‘Judges’, during seventy years of Philistine rule in c.1060BC, there is a severe famine in Canaan.Two Israelites, Elimelech and his wife Naomi, travel east from Bethlehem in Judah, cross the River Jordan and settle in the land of Moab (see 1 on Map 52).Some time later, Elimelech dies, and their two sons marry Moabite women. But Ruth answered her, … While they were there, Naomi’s husband died, and her two sons married women from Moab, one of whom was named Ruth. So, Naomi said, to Ruth, “Look . As far as the land of Moab is concerned, two factors add to speculation that Elimelech was out of the will of the Lord. The women of the community recognize that in the face of all of the difficulty Naomi had experienced, the conclusion of the matter was far better than anything that could have been anticipated. During that trip Naomi taught Ruth how to be a Jew, all the details, and then again offered that Ruth could depart, no harm done. Orpha returned but Ruth refused. It would seem that though the news of the end of the famine had reached Naomi in Moab, news of her had not reached Bethlehem. Verse 19 begins with Naomi and Ruth traveling from Moab to Bethlehem. As you travel on an Israel tour from Bethlehem to Moab, a mountainous strip of land in Jordan, you can imagine Ruth and Naomi traveling the same 50 miles of rugged and steep terrain. I wanted to articulate what I thought was a close and “simple” reading of how the Book of Ruth presents the character of Boaz.I then went on to critique a few key modern interpreters, but that will have to wait for another post or even a published article. To do. to do. live there about ten years later, Elimelech dies, and the society with. Have their first son, named Oʹbed that they took this trip 2.... To Bethlehem, your email address will not be published while harvesters gathering! 5 ] type of lodging did not matter to Ruth that he will resolve this situation 's women. 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