Ruth (biblical figure): Difference between revisions
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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: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17, [[Authorized King James Version|KJV]]) |
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: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17, [[Authorized King James Version|KJV]]) |
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Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met [[Boaz]], |
Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met [[Boaz]]. She came to him later, at night, and asked him to marry her. After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a prior claim, Boaz eventually does so. The have a son, named [[Obed (Biblical figure)|Obed]]. The genealogy in the final chapter of the book explains how Ruth became the great-grandmother of [[David]]. She is also thus the ancestor of [[Jesus]], and is one of the four women mentioned in the [[Genealogy of Jesus|genealogy]] of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 1. |
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Katherine D. Sakenfeld argues that Ruth is a model of loving-kindness (''[[hesed]]''): she acts in ways that promote the well-being of others.<ref>Katherine D. Sakenfeld, ''Ruth'' (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1999), 11-12.</ref> In Ruth 1:8-18, she demonstrated hesed by not going back to Moab but accompanying her mother-in-law to a foreign land. She chose to glean, despite the danger she faced in the field (Ruth 2:15) and the lower social status of the job. Finally, Ruth agrees with Naomi’s plan to marry Boaz, even though she was free of family obligations, once again demonstrating her loyalty and obedience (Ruth 3:10). |
Katherine D. Sakenfeld argues that Ruth is a model of loving-kindness (''[[hesed]]''): she acts in ways that promote the well-being of others.<ref>Katherine D. Sakenfeld, ''Ruth'' (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1999), 11-12.</ref> In Ruth 1:8-18, she demonstrated hesed by not going back to Moab but accompanying her mother-in-law to a foreign land. She chose to glean, despite the danger she faced in the field (Ruth 2:15) and the lower social status of the job. Finally, Ruth agrees with Naomi’s plan to marry Boaz, even though she was free of family obligations, once again demonstrating her loyalty and obedience (Ruth 3:10). |
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Revision as of 09:26, 23 October 2010
Ruth is the main character[1] in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. She was a Moabitess, who married Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi, but Elimelech and his two sons died. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth went with her, and although Orpah, Naomi's other daughter-in-law went back home, Ruth said
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: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17, KJV)
Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met Boaz. She came to him later, at night, and asked him to marry her. After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a prior claim, Boaz eventually does so. The have a son, named Obed. The genealogy in the final chapter of the book explains how Ruth became the great-grandmother of David. She is also thus the ancestor of Jesus, and is one of the four women mentioned in the genealogy of Matthew 1.
Katherine D. Sakenfeld argues that Ruth is a model of loving-kindness (hesed): she acts in ways that promote the well-being of others.[2] In Ruth 1:8-18, she demonstrated hesed by not going back to Moab but accompanying her mother-in-law to a foreign land. She chose to glean, despite the danger she faced in the field (Ruth 2:15) and the lower social status of the job. Finally, Ruth agrees with Naomi’s plan to marry Boaz, even though she was free of family obligations, once again demonstrating her loyalty and obedience (Ruth 3:10).
Ruth is commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on July 16. Ruth is also one of the Five Heroines of the Order of the Eastern Star.