Ruth (biblical figure)
Ruth (Hebrew: רוּת, Modern: Rut, Tiberian: Rūθ), is the main character[1] in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible.
Biblical narrative
Ruth 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, 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. At the instigation of Naomi she seduces Boaz by night; Boaz indicates his desire to marry her, and calls Ruth a "woman of noble character". After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a prior claim, Boaz married Ruth, and they 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 Joseph (husband of Mary and would-be father of Jesus), and is one of the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Matthew 1 (The others are Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheeba, and Mary).
Character
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).
Barry Webb argues that in the book, Ruth plays a key role in Naomi's rehabilitation.[3] Yitzhak Berger suggests that Naomi's plan was that Ruth seduce Boaz, just as Tamar and the daughters of Lot all seduced "an older family member in order to become the mother of his offspring." At the crucial moment, however, "Ruth abandons the attempt at seduction and instead requests a permanent, legal union with Boaz."[4]
Jewish perspective
The figure of Ruth is celebrated as a convert to Judaism who understood Jewish principles and took them to heart. Ruth is also held in esteem by converts to Judaism. Ruth is also considered the foremother of the Jewish Messiah and the great grandmother of David.
Christian perspective
The connection between Ruth and David is very important because Jesus was born of Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the lineage of David. Thus in Christian lineage, Ruth is a foremother of Jesus.
Ruth is commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on July 16.
In popular culture
Ruth is portrayed by Jewish actress Elana Eden in 20th Century Fox's The Story of Ruth (1960).
Other perspectives
Ruth is one of the Five Heroines of the Order of the Eastern Star.
References
- ^ Gregory Goswell, "What's in a Name? Book Titles in the Latter Prophets and Writings," Pacifica 21 (2008), 8.
- ^ Katherine D. Sakenfeld, Ruth (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1999), 11-12.
- ^ Barry G. Webb, Five Festal Garments (Leicester: Apollos, 2000), 43.
- ^ Berger, Yitzhak (2009). "Ruth and Inner-Biblical Allusion: The Case of 1 Samuel 25". JBL. 128 (2): 268. Emphasis original.