Ruth (biblical figure)

Ruth is a central figure in the biblical Book of Ruth. She was a Moabite woman who became an important part of Israelite history. The story is set during the period when judges led the tribes of Israel. Scholars debate the exact nature of the text. Some consider it a work of historical fiction. Others, including evangelical scholars, view it as a historical narrative written in a short story format. Most likely, the book was written in Hebrew during the Persian period, between 550 and 330 BCE.

The narrative begins with a famine in Bethlehem in the land of Judah. A man named Elimelech moved his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to Moab to survive. While in Moab, the sons married Moabite women named Ruth and Orpah. After living there for ten years, all the men in the family died. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem because the famine had ended. She urged her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab to find new husbands. Orpah eventually left, but Ruth made a famous vow. She promised to stay with Naomi, saying, "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth began working in the fields during the barley harvest. She practiced gleaning, which is the act of gathering leftover grain after the reapers have finished. She worked in the fields of a wealthy relative of Elimelech named Boaz. Boaz noticed Ruth and learned about her loyalty to Naomi. He provided her with protection and extra grain. He even instructed his workers to leave bundles of barley for her to find.

Ruth continued to glean through both the barley and wheat harvests.

To secure the family's future, Naomi advised Ruth to visit Boaz at the threshing floor at night. Ruth followed this advice and asked Boaz to protect her. She identified him as her "goel," a term for a closest relative tasked with protecting a family's rights. Boaz wanted to help, but a closer relative existed. The next morning, Boaz went to the town gates to speak with this relative. He offered to redeem the land Naomi was selling. While the first relative refused to protect the inheritance, Boaz stepped in. He redeemed the land and married Ruth.

The union of Boaz and Ruth had significant long-term consequences. They had a son named Obed. The women of Bethlehem celebrated by saying Naomi had borne a son. Obed became the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. This lineage makes Ruth the great-grandmother of David. Because of this, Ruth is one of five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

Different religious traditions offer various interpretations of Ruth's character. In Jewish tradition, Boaz praised Ruth for her extraordinary kindness. Some commentators, like Rashi, note that her kindness to Naomi was a rare trait compared to other Moabites. The Ruth Rabbah suggests Ruth and Orpah were daughters of Eglon, the king of Moab. Some scholars see her as a model of "hesed," or loving-kindness. She demonstrated this by staying with Naomi and choosing a lower social status to glean. Christian perspectives also view her as a model of loyalty and a prototype of a convert to Judaism.

Ruth's legacy is preserved through various cultural and physical sites. A building in Hebron is traditionally believed to contain the tombs of Ruth and Jesse. While some scholars say this association began in the 19th century, the site remains popular. It receives many visitors, especially during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Ruth has also influenced literature and film. The poet John Keats referenced her in his "Ode to a Nightingale." Her story has been adapted into films like "The Story of Ruth" and "The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith."