The Book of Ruth (Bible)
Before there was a king in Israel the land was ruled by judges. During that time there was a famine in the land. A man named Ellimelech, his wife Naomi and their sons Mahlon and Kilion left Israel and moved to Moab. While they were living in Moab Elimelech died. Mahlon and Kilion grew up and married Moabite wives. One was named Orpah and the other was named Ruth. While they were married ten years neither woman had any children. Both Mahlon and Kilion also died. While they were still grieving Naomi heard Israel’s famine was over. She decided to return home to her family’s hometown of Bethlehem.
Ruth’s Story: (The following is a speculation on what I think Ruth’s life was like. It is fictional)
When I first met Naomi and her two sons, I could tell they were different. They did not worship our gods because they worshiped an unseen God. How can an unseen God be a god? The more I heard about their God the more I wanted to know. I started to like Mahlon the first day I saw him even though I knew he was a Hebrew. When I found out he liked me back I was elated. Would my Dad allow me to marry this Hebrew? I am happy to say he did.
We were married ten years before Mahlon got sick. I kept wondering why I was not getting pregnant. Orpah, my friend, married Kilion and they did not have any children either. Both became sick. Soon Kilion died and then Mahlon three weeks later. We were devastated. What would we do now? I had not only fell in love with Mahlon, but I loved Naomi as well. I also started to love the Hebrew God and realized my family’s gods were not real and had no power.
After a time of grieving Naomi decided to return home to Bethlehem. She never really felt at home in Moab. Orpah and I decided to go with Naomi. However, when we got a day’s journey from our city Naomi told us to turn back. Orpah said goodbye to Naomi and went back to her people. I could not leave. Instead I said
16 “Don’t 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. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
So, we walked all the way back to Bethlehem. It was a long and tiring journey and neither of us knew what to expect when we returned. On the way Naomi told me stories of Israel’s history. I was amazed at their God. Naomi also told me about many of their customs. I was so happy I decided to go with Naomi. When we arrived settled in Naomi’s old home, but we had no means to support ourselves. One of the Hebrews’ customs was called gleaning. It is a way the very poor could provide for themselves. They go out into the fields behind the harvesters and glean anything that is missed. I told Naomi I would go out and glean in the fields so at least we would have bread to eat.
The next day I happened to come to a field being harvested who belonged to a man named Boaz. I asked what looked like the man in charge if I could glean the field behind his harvesters and to my surprise he said yes. I was not sure I would be accepted because I wasn’t a Hebrew. I went to work right away following behind and hoping no one would pay attention to me. I was wrong, Boaz noticed me even before I noticed him. Then I noticed Boaz talking to the overseer and I was afraid Boaz would ask me to leave. Instead, Boaz said to me:
“My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”
Wow, what a nice man, and good looking too. He is a little older and probably does not think much about me being a foreigner. I worked there the entire day and returned home to Naomi with plenty of barley to make bread and lots left over. I would go back the next day and keep going because we will need grain for the winter.
Naomi told me Boaz was a cousin of Ellimelech. She then told me Boaz could be a kinsman-redeemer to me. Naomi explained a kinsman-redeemer was a relative who could marry a childless widow to give the widow’s dead husband a son to carry on the dead husband’s name. They could also buy any property of the widow’s husband to keep it in the family’s name. Naomi explained Elimelech had mortgaged his property before they went to Moab. A kinsman-redeemer could buy it back for my son, if I marry the kinsman-redeemer and have a son. It is wonderful how God provides for the poor and widows.
For several days I went to glean. I noticed the workers would leave extra for me and I wondered if they did it on purpose. Each day I would notice Boaz coming to the fields and talking to the overseer. Occasionally I would notice him looking my way, but I would look away if he caught my eye. I do not want people gossiping about me. Finally, the wheat harvest was coming to an end.
1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
I was so scared to do this, but I knew Naomi knew what was best for us. I did as she told me and went up to the threshing floor and hid while the men were eating and drinking. Later they all laid down around the huge barn and I saw Boaz laying down by a pile of barley. Soon it was quiet, so I crept up and carefully pulled Boaz’s mantel as I laid down at his feet. I laid there quietly for a long time and I think I fell asleep. Suddenly, I felt a foot touch my arm. Boaz sat up and realized I was at his feet.
9“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
10“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
(The NIV uses the term guardian-redeemer. I use kinsman-redeemer. The book a Linage of Grace (below) uses relative-redeemer.)
He also said I should leave before anyone awoke so no one would know I was there. He was protecting me from gossip. When dawn was just started to break Boaz woke me up and said hand me your cloak. He filled it some barley and told me to take it to Naomi. He also said he would speak with the one who was a closer relative today.
I have been told Boaz asked the closer relative if he wanted to buy Naomi’s property. At first the relative said yes but when Boaz said he would also have to marry me he said no. I am relieved! I don’t know who the relative is, but I know Boaz is a kind man. I like him enough to marry him. With time I am sure to love him. I wonder how soon we will get married.
Boaz came to our house later that day with the answer. He said we are to be married right away that day. He told me he would send clothes for the wedding along with things to adorn my hair. He went home to prepare a feast in honor of our wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and feast. It turns out Boaz is a lot of fun and it was easy for me to relax with him.
A year later I learned to love Boaz even more than my first husband. He treats me like a queen. I have borne a son. We named him Obed.
Lessons Learned from Ruth
I have read Ruth’s story in several versions of the Bible and in “a Lineage of Grace” by Francine Rivers. A long time ago I heard an intern pastor preach on the book of Ruth and he turned it into a love story. But what struck me the most about this love story from the intern pastor’s perspective was it was a type of Christ redeeming us from our poverty of this sin-filled world. Yes, Christ came to give us new life. Yes, we will have hardships, but we can have joy in those hardships because God is right there with us helping us learn from the hardships.
When I think of Ruth I immediately think of loyalty. She was loyal to her first husband even though he died and did not give her any children. And, she was loyal to Naomi all the way to the end. I always want to be loyal even at times of hardship.
Want to learn more stop by the W.I.L.D. website for a complete study.
Here is a link to purchase the above book from Christianbook
| A Lineage of Grace By Francine Rivers / Tyndale House In this compilation of the five books of the best-selling Lineage of Grace series by Francine Rivers, we meet the five women whom God chose–Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary–even scandalous–challenges. Each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling. Each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. |
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Very interesting!
You are a great storyteller.
Story telling like this is something new I am trying. After years of researching and writing for college and grad school it’s refreshing to write like this and so much more rewarding.
Nice post. This seems like something my dad would enjoy reading. I’ll have to share it with him.
Please do.
super interesting story. i think stories like this are well worth the time to read and think on
Some of these verses were used at our wedding, decades ago! Good reminder.
I liked how you added your own speculation and narrative. Very interesting to read this!
I love the story of Ruth! Thank you for bringing it to life through your storytelling.
A future picture of the gentiles being grafted in. I love the book of Ruth! Thank you!
Great story!! I love your intent and layers that you bring that keep the reader wanting more!!
I love this story and I agree she was very loyal indeed!
great story, thanks for sharing!
Very interesting command of writing, you’re talented with verse and verbiage. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I don’t remember Ruth. Thanks for sharing her story.
You have a way with words – lovely bible interpretation.
Ruth is one of my favorite stories. Not just because of her and Boaz, but her relationship with Naomi. You told the story very well!
Very interesting and well written story. I had never heard the story of Ruth before.
I’ve always loved the story of Ruth and Naomi. They showed us the real meaning of extended family.
An interesting story derived from the original writings.
Interesting!
Cool storytelling! The story of Ruth always reminds me of how it was used in Fried Green Tomatoes. I agree with your ideas on loyalty, and I think the movie is a beautiful story of love and friendship, too.
Great read. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve never heard this story, but this makes me want to dig deeper.
Interesting. Thank you for sharing!
The book of Ruth is pretty powerful!
I grew up with this love story being one I adored and admired ~ whether the takeaway be Ruth and Naomi’s connection or the story of how she and Boaz met. There are some very quotable verses in there.