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.
Introduction
In all world literature, there can be few love stories to rival the story of Ruth and Boaz, set in about 1100 BC as a very early episode in the back-story of King David. Their tale has all the best ingredients: a determined heroine, a manly yet sensitive hero, a leap of faith, disappointments, misunderstandings and sexual tensions — and of course, a happy ending.
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)
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.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, may, must, or, otherwise, ought, who.
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