Ruth and Boaz, by Lithuanian-born Polish romantic artist Kazimierz Alchimowicz (1840–1916). As the widow of an Israelite man, Ruth knew that her closest unmarried relative was obliged to marry her, and she set her sights on Boaz as a man of substance. It was a risky ploy, as she knew much less about him than he (as it turned out) knew about her.
Part 1 of 3
IN the days before Israel’s kings, when the land was ruled by the Judges, there was a great famine; and Elimelech, a man of Bethlehem, migrated to Moab (a heathen land with strange gods) together with his wife Naomi and their two sons. There Elimelech died, but Naomi’s sons grew up and married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.
Naomi’s two sons also died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law all widows. Hearing that food was now plentiful again in Israel, Naomi returned to Bethlehem. ‘Is this Naomi?’ cried the ladies of Bethlehem, who remembered her fondly; but she replied, ‘Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.’ Yet she was not without comfort. Orpah she had persuaded with difficulty to remain in Moab with her own people, but Ruth absolutely refused to stay behind. “Whither thou goest, I will go” Ruth declared stubbornly; “and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
Précis
The Book of Ruth begins with Naomi and her husband Elimelech fleeing famine in Israel and moving to Moab. There Elimelech died; and when their sons died shortly afterwards, Naomi was left with two widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi returned home to Israel, leaving Orpah behind; but Ruth refused to remain in Moab, and settled with Naomi in Bethlehem. (60 / 60 words)
Part Two
Ruth and Boaz, painted by George Frederic Watts (1817–1904) in about 1835-37. Boaz made sure that Ruth stayed in the field where he was supervising, and joined his team of reapers and maidservants. He seems to have been all but waiting for her: as soon as she introduced herself to him, Boaz took steps to ensure that she did not go after the many fit and handsome young men working the neighbouring fields. He knew, of course, that he was not who she imagined him to be; but for the moment he let her go on in her mistake.
NOW it was the spring barley harvest in Bethlehem, and Ruth went into a field belonging to Boaz, one of Elimelech’s wealthy relatives, to glean leftover grain as the law of Moses allowed. As she had hoped, for he was a bachelor, Boaz noticed her, and came over. Boaz told her to keep to his field, follow his reapers around and make herself completely at home. He knew, he said, all her history, how she had stood by Naomi and put her trust in Israel’s God, and he would reward her. And when she had gone out to glean again, he whispered to his reapers to be careless, and let grain fall wherever Ruth passed by. And Naomi was very glad to see the bulging sack of grain Ruth brought home that evening.
As night came on, Naomi urged Ruth to go out again and, once Boaz was asleep, lie down at his feet and wait. The custom was that when any man died, his nearest unmarried relative should marry the widow, and Ruth assumed Boaz was her nearest cousin. Ruth did as she was bidden; and at midnight Boaz awoke suddenly, and found her there at his feet.
* Ruth brought home an ephah of barley, according to the Biblical author, a dry measure equivalent to about a bushel or eight dry gallons, or some 35 litres. A bushel of barley weighs about 48lb.
Précis
Knowing that her nearest unmarried relative was obliged to care for her, Ruth sought out wealthy cousin Boaz in his fields. Boaz took to Ruth at once, and so warm was his welcome, and so fond his attentions, that Naomi bade Ruth go that night and lie at his feet as he slept in the hope of wining his love. (60 / 60 words)
Part Three
Harvesters resting, with Ruth and Boaz, painted by Jean-François Millet (1814–1875) in about 1851-53. The Law of Moses allowed poor people to pick up fallen grain at harvest time, and forbade farmers from collecting it themselves. Boaz went further, and had his reapers drop grain deliberately near the spot where Ruth was busy gleaning. He also made sure that she took her rest breaks among his maidservants, and did not wander off towards alternative male company.
BOAZ guessed Ruth’s mind, but to her dismay he did not clasp her to his bosom and call her wife. Modestly, he bade her slip away unseen. She had made an embarrassing mistake: for another man was closer in affinity than Boaz.
Next morning, however, Boaz contrived to meet this man in town, and told him that Naomi had a parcel of her late husband’s land to sell. They were about to close the deal when Boaz added casually that the widow Ruth’s rights must also be considered. This was not in the cousin’s plans: his family expectations left no room for marrying penniless widows, and he begged Boaz to take on this burden himself. In full view of the townsfolk Boaz drew off his shoe in lawful token of their bargain, and claimed Ruth as his wife.
Ruth and Boaz married, and the women of Bethlehem told Naomi (as if she needed reminding) that Ruth was of more worth than seven sons. Soon Ruth had a little boy, whom they named Obed, and Naomi nursed him. And Obed grew up, and had a son named Jesse; and Jesse was the father of David, who was king over Israel.
Précis
Naomi’s matchmaking plans went awry, however, because she had been mistaken in thinking that Boaz was Ruth’s nearest single relative. Boaz, however, tracked down this more eligible cousin out and finessed him into repudiating any rights over Ruth. Boaz then made Ruth his wife, and their great-grandson was none other than King David himself. (54 / 60 words)
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