Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. significance of ruth being a moabite. Ruth is not a clich of "the other", she is the ultimate other, who teaches us all what real grace is. God is at work to redeem Ruth and His people to Himself with the help from a man named Boaz. For me this circumstance reinforces the message of Christ that what is in an individuals heart is what countswhat had always counted, but the Law and its observance had been intended to maintain a close relationship between God and his Chosen People until the coming of Jesus and the new, simpler, covenant. What's the significance of Perez to Ruth and Boaz? This is why the firstborns in Egypt (and their gods) were destroyed (as Hashem went forth in the midst of Egypt). (English translation: Danna Paz Prins) The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The fact that Ruth and other widows are mentioned in the Bible indicates that God is close to those who have experienced loss. Following the death of her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Naomi decided to leave Moab, where her family had fled to escape famine. Meanwhile, in seeking to find a husband for Ruth, Naomi advises her to go to the threshing floor on the night Boaz winnows barley, to wash and prepare herself, and to uncover Boazs feet and lie next to them while he sleeps. The Rest is History, The Morning After: The Jewish Connection of the Birth Control Pill Invention, Koret Foundation Grants $10 Million to Establish the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization at Tel Aviv University in Partnership with ANU Museum of the Jewish People. How does this relate to the theology of the book of Ruth? Mahlon had to die because there was no other way Ruth could come to know Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer. This Sinaitic ordinance explained that only a male Moabite or Ammonite cannot join the Congregation of Hashem but females are permitted to join. They are young and beautiful, and fertile. What are the traditional methods of rainwater harvesting class 10? Back in Ruth 1:2, her name was defined as meaning "sweet" or "pleasant." She told the women of Bethlehem not to call her that, but rather, they were to call her Mara, meaning "bitter." . With each step, leadership lessons become clear to me from Ruths life: What are the qualities of Ruth in the Bible? Many people don't know that many of the books that were burned were from the Jew Magnus Hirshfeld's, Reinhardt, you've posted this same nonsense before, and people showed where it is wrong, so we won't allow you to. All that she gleaned she could have. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. The grain would be hers. The incarnate Son of God is like him. David represents both the United Monarchy at its height and the promise of its eternal existence. He is profoundly concerned for her, together with the stranger and the fatherless. Many people turn back, their professions of faith unsupported by the evidence of their lives (Matthew 13:3-23). The death of Ruth's husband was part of His plan. This explications of Ruths origin provides and important insight into her qualities and character. Your email address will not be published. He was found slaughtered, drowning in his own blood: 77 Years After the Tripoli Pogroms, A Bad Jewish Girl of America: Roseanne Barr is 70, Superman and Other Guests: The Jewish Artists Who Used Comics to Paint the Modern-Day Ushpizin in Bright Colors, How the Inquisition Contributed to Documenting the Yom Kippur Rituals of Jewish Conversos, Moscow 1948, Rosh Hashanah Eve, the Great Synagogue. The book of Ruth demonstrates Gods grace toward people. Faith that there was still a purpose for her ahead. What is significant about this is that women werent ordinarily included in genealogies. Great insight in the sacred scripture. She could have turned on Naomi and exclaimed, "If this is an example of what your God of love does, don't ever speak to me about Him again." Moab was one of two sons born to Lot's daughters after they helped him to become drunk and then had children through him, seeing him as their only option to bear children. More to the point, none of them seems to be able to restore the family by producing an heir. Do not despise the Egyptian, since you were an immigrant in his land. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. There are several indication from the Tanach itself that this Sinaitic Law operated from the earliest times. And there are other parallels which can be pointed out. Moabites were pagans and worshiped the god Chemosh. In those days the children of Israel were in lack of leadership and orientation, suffering from oppressing occupation. Boazs redemption of Ruth in Ruth 4:7-10 points us to Jesus. Chemosh's lap was so constructed that little children placed on its red-hot surface would roll down an inclined plane into his fiery belly. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israels great king, David. Leah, during a hiatus in her childbearing, does the same by giving her maidservant Zilpah to Jacob as a concubine. However Ruth insists on staying with old Naomi. Chazal said: Pray for the welfare of the government, For were it not for the fear of it, One person would eat the other alive. It is not surprising, for example, that in the times of the judges the affair of The Battle of Gibeah one of the most brutal rape and massacre affairs in the bible, took place. But let us look at Ruth. And faith to believe that God would provide for her and Naomi. Therefore, Ruth, as a Moabite, is an unlikely hero in Jewish story. What is the significance of Ruth being a Moabite? (Netsiv, Commentary to Exodus 11, 3). have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring too can be counted. However, from a Christian perspective, the story can also be seen as a type whose anti-type is the story of redemption of humanity through the Messiah. There was a direct linkage between the work of God and the work of the earth and nature. We see her choose a portion of the field that belongs to Boaz. She was going home to the fellowship of God's people. There were three funerals, one after the other. There are 11 widows mentioned in the Bible and in both the New Testament and Hebrew Bible. Obed became the father of Jesse. See Jennifer Knust Unprotected Texts, p.36. Ruth had never before met anyone quite like Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons. In the language of Aristotelian philosophy, the man gives forth the form and the woman provides the matter. She pledged her loyalty to Naomi and they set out on the long journey, arriving in time for the barley harvest. Naomi stands on the road to Judah as her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, beg to accompany her to her native land in this watercolor by Salvador Dali. Adapted from Reading Ruth, edited by Judith Kates and Gail Reimer (1994), Ballantine Books, a division of Random House. If Ruth was living among us today, she probably would not be considered Jewish enough to be converted by the chief rabbinate, nor Israeli enough to represent Israel in the Eurovision song contest. The article appears to overlook the redemptive indicators in the book of Ruth, and as for not recognizing the well established interlocking connection to Hebrew Bible as if the author suddenly doscovered this is a glaring announcement of inadequate scholarship. Those powers and forces that oppose the Redemption will not benefit by it but shall be utterly routed and destroyed. Ruth, who created for herself a life of dignity, inspires us to assess our own surroundings and to transcend their less desirable aspects. Even Ruth, a foreigner from the despised Moabites, could move Gods plan toward fulfillment. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The gentile women in Jesus ancestry are explicitly brought out by the Gospel writers and demonstrate how foreigners are grafted in to the native family tree of Israel. I propose a much more fundamental and far-reaching link between Ruth and the Torahindeed, with the entire Biblea link that goes to the very heart of the overarching theme of the Bible. What is significant about this is that women werent ordinarily included in genealogies. This is due to a famine in Judah. 4 What can you learn from the Book of Ruth? Your people shall be my people, and your God my God is a radical thought because it signals that Ruth is changing her identity in a world where that was almost inconceivable. If any book in the Bible demonstrates God's matchless grace and illustrates the divine plan of redemption, it is the book of Ruth. An infiltrator? She also lost her husband without a child, some believing she may have been barren. Your email address will not be published. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, as . Ruth discovered a world of truth of which she had never dreamed. It is the women, often despite their husbands, who ensure the birth of the next generation and who direct the proper line of inheritance. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing, View answer & additonal benefits from the subscription, Explore recently answered questions from the same subject, Explore documents and answered questions from similar courses. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This was a people unacceptable in the Gods congregation even to the tenth generation, indeed, forever (Deut 23:3)with no over-riding provision for proselytes or by gender; yet our Lord Jesus was born of a descendent of Ruth (Isa 11:1; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:26-35). As a Christian we see in Ruth the coming of the church, the gentiles as part of the people of God. Holy MatrimonyMarriage 1Marriage 2The Tenaim TranslatedThe Kesubah TranslatedMarriage and the Royal FamilyMarital Partners Compatibility of MissionsEverlasting Happiness10 Mistakes Couples Make, AbarbanelShem MeShmuelShabbos: Taam ChaimMikraHaarosGrowing with the ParshaGal Einai Jerusalem ViewsSfas EmesWeekly HalachaOsher HaChaim. In Christian Bibles it is slipped in between Judges and Samuel, among the historical books. What deeper factor makes this law an exception? Discover life events, stories and photos about Ruth Ann Parketon (1825-1899) of Haverstraw, Rockland, New York, United States. Read more about women in the Bible, including Lilith, Jezebel, Judith, and Lydia and Tabitha. In all, Leah and Rachel provide Jacob with 12 sons (and one daughter), who will in turn father the 12 tribesthe people of Israel. What the Oral Law does is explain that in this one case the stated reason for the Law can determine its application, a matter otherwise of Tannaitic dispute (Bava Metsia 115a). While many widows can relate to Ruths story, its a story so many can connect with. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". old cass tech high school photos idb staff salary structure Faster Options: During checkout, you will be shown several expedited shipping options, along with the cost and transit time for each. Her many publications include Zephaniah (Doubleday, 1991), Biblical Poetry Through Medieval Jewish Eyes (Indiana Univ. The theme that unites the books from Genesis through Kings and informs much of the Prophets and the Writings is the land and the people. We usually follow the view that the stated purpose of a law does not determine its details of application but in this one case the Oral Law teaches us otherwise. As time passed, Ruth became well acquainted with this family and even married Mahlon, one of the sons. The priests of Moab were powerful and cruel, and they served an assortment of gods. The story comes full circle: The family that left its land and had no descendants returns to its homeland and acquires an heir and a patrimony. After Lot and his daughters escaped from Sodom, they lived in a cave in the hills near Zoar. She was born and raised in paganism. This principle lies behind many of the Bibles laws and narrativesfrom the division of property between Lot and Abraham, when Lot chooses the plain of the Jordan River and Abraham remains in the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:912); to the claims of the daughters of Tzelofchad, who gained the right to inherit the land when their father died without sons (Numbers 27); to the laws of the jubilee years when the land returns to its original owner (Leviticus 25); and to the judgment that falls on King Ahab and Queen Jezebel for having Nabot killed so they could get his vineyard (1 Kings 21). The Bible's account of Ruth and Boaz contains a reference to the number 69. 2 Ruth la Moabite dit Naomi: La Female 10 February 1825-9 March 1899 L437-TP3. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. When they return they find the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob welcomes them both with open arms. If Ruth was living among us today, how would we categorize her? Ruth preferred the warmth of devotion over the chill of alienation. The priests of Moab were powerful and cruel, and they served an assortment of gods. This is the woman around whom the story in the book of Ruth revolves. It does not store any personal data. Ruth was poor and a foreigner, but she listened to the advice of an older, wiser woman. This is because they did not greet you with bread and water when you were on the way out of Egypt, and also because they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. In Scripture, widows are repeatedly the subject of miracles. Not only that it also opens up the reality that Jesus not only came to redeem the chosen ones but also the gentiles who like Ruth left her old gods and identity for a new identity in Christ, the executed messiah!! All rights reserved. The Book of Ruth is the bridge between the era of Israel as family or tribe and Israel as nation. Land was not to be alienated from its original owner or from his descendants. Judah was seduced into having twin sons by Tamar, his daughter-in-law, after her husband died and his brother refused his duties as Levirate husband. Why is Esther and Ruth important in the Bible? Ruths life seemed to be a series of timely coincidences, but her story is really about the providence of God. Whats more, at the end of the story Ruth and Boaz give birth to a son named Obed. The book of Ruth opens with a description of Naomi and Elimelech living in the nation of Moab. Today I am acquiring from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and to Chilion and Mahlon [his sons]. Ruth was a Moabitess, a member of an accursed race. Therefore, Ruth, as a Moabite, is an unlikely hero in Jewish story. The fact that Ruth and other widows are mentioned in the Bible indicates that God is close to those who have experienced loss. While many widows can relate to Ruths story, its a story so many can connect with. Did you know that there are only two books of the Bible named after women? Press, 1991) and The JPS Commentary: Esther (Jewish Publication Society, 2001). You must go to him. The matter is soon settled. Cha c phn loi 15-06-2022 15-06-2022 While in Moab, their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, marry Moabite . Thanks, Sparrow! The Moabites were idolatrous people. Boaz, impressed that Ruth has chosen him, an older man, out of family loyalty, agrees with enthusiasm to have her, so long as the one man in Bethlehem who is a closer redeeming kinsman does not want Ruth for himself. King David is a descendant of their offspring. Boaz reunites the family with its land by redeeming Elimelechs land and by marrying Ruth, the widow of Elimelechs son, Mahlon. Answer Moab, a small kingdom in the central Transjordan, was a familiar setting in the Bible. significance of ruth being a moabite. He cared for His widowed mother. From them she heard many talks about the things of God, for though Elimelech was a backslider, he was still a believer. However, the story clearly presents Ruth as a hero, for she exhibits several important qualities, valued in the ancient world and in the Bible overall. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. [Therefore,] children born to [members of these nations] in the third generation [after becoming proselytes] may enter Gods marriage group. Theres no grave containing his body. Rachel, initially barren, is jealous of Leahs ability to bear children and so supplies her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob for this purpose (as Sarah had done for Abraham). Many have regarded the book of Ruth as an inspiring piece of sacred literature with an important message. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:25-30). There had been a revival, and Naomi had made up her mind that there was going to be no more backsliding in Moab for her. RuthBig Theme, Little Book by Adele Berlin originally appeared in Bible Review, August 1996. The two widows arrived in Bethlehem and in their poverty took up their abode somewhere in town. The qualities she displayed showed human labor productivity as the extension of God's work in the world. Paul in the book of Gslatians calling the reconciliation of the two ( the Jews and the gentiles) to become one. Access to over 100 million course-specific study resources, 24/7 help from Expert Tutors on 140+ subjects, Full access to over 1 million Textbook Solutions. Ruth is one of the few women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus referenced in the book of Matthew. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But she did not fall into that trap of the devil. It is like that with our redemption too. There are many important figures in the Bible who are recognized for their strength and character. Ruths story is one that both Christians and Jews alike can celebrate. It does not seem to fit neatly into the sequence of biblical books. But like all other pagan nations, the Moabites were polytheistic ( Judges 10:6 ), and through much of their . Who do the Moabites represent? Ruth is loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Perhaps that is the reason she is the great grandmother of King David. Standard Shipping in the USA: Orders with Standard Shipping will be shipped through the USPS orFedEx and are usually delivered3-6 business days after shipping (weekends and holidays do not count as business days). Genesis 19:30-38 accounts for the origins of the nation of Moab. songs from captain kangaroo show; describe the character of angel in stand and deliver; paste table into slack; family youth and community sciences salary In different Bibles, the Book of Ruth is put in different places. She is one of the few women to serve as the President of the Society of Biblical Literature. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Naomis refined nature does not allow her to urge the two young women to come back with her. Undoubtedly, the land/family motif helps to explain why the author emphasizes certain details and ties the story to the Torah and rest of the Old Testament. When Boaz visits the field and hears of Ruths loyalty to his kin Naomi, he instructs his workers to allow her to glean unmolested and even to leave additional grain in her path. Ruth depicts the struggles of Naomi and Ruth for survival in a patriarchal environment. He is righteous and protects them for He is a father of the fatherless, a defender of widowsin His holy habitation (Psalm 68:5). So we watch Ruth wend her way through the village in the dawn's early light. There is the case of Rehoboam, whom Naamah, the Amonitess, bore to Solomon and who ruled over the kingdom of Judea after him. It is therefore entirely appropriate that Orpah accedes to Naomis suggestion that she remain in Moab with her parental family. 2023, Anu - Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv | Telephone: Persons with disabilities, college/university students, olim, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv Entrance from gate #2 (Matatia gate), Maximum Factor: The Jewish Makeup Artist Who Fled From the Tsar Straight to the Greatest Stars of Hollywood, You Cant Be Beautiful and Hate: The First Jewish Miss America and Her Battle Against Antisemitism, If I slept for one hour, 30 people would die: The Jewish Forger Who Saved Tens of Thousands of Lives, The Madness of Killer Stalin: 70 Years After the Doctors Plot and 75 Years After Mikhoels Murder, From Tom Jones to Rembrandt: The First Femme Fatale in the Bible, Top General: The Jewish Woman Who Reached the Highest Rank in the Red Army, Kurts Cinema Show: When Sophia Loren Came to Israel to Be Judith, Jewish Kolkhozes: The Jewish Settlement in Southern Ukraine That Ended in Tragedy, Ezra forgot his Tefillin and Tallit. http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180828-the-last-of-the-good-samaritans, https://christiansfortruth.com/will-all-israel-be-saved-or-just-a-remnant/, https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0061, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/28276/03chapter3.pdf%3Fsequence%3D4%26isAllowed%3Dy&ved=2ahUKEwjG3urHzcnvAhXixjgGHcchCsYQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw2oVjaba1nBPrNWwz_0PXyd, How Jewish Banking Heir Robi Mendelssohn Became British Spy After Germanys Largest Bank Was Aryanized, Gay Jewish Psychologist Who Helped Declassify Sodomy As Mental Disorder Now Confronts The Abyss, Israelite Migrations From Tarshish Spain To Britain And Ireland, The Origin Of Gas Chamber Myth 1916 Allied Propaganda Accusing Germany Of Gassing 700,000 Serbs, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt Admits Holocaust Could Be A Hoax, U.S. Army Psychiatrist Finds Nazi Defendants At Nuremberg Sane Even Particularly Well-Adjusted, Leaked Memo Reveals Jews Prompted FBI To Target Catholics Who Hold Antisemitic Views, Larry David Grooms Child To Become Gay While Teaching Him How To Make Cool Swastikas, Jews In Poland Cheer After Priest Convicted Of Antisemitic Hate Speech And Demand More Arrests, Lesbian Rabbi Projects Her Mixed Race Identity Onto Israelite Prophet Zephaniah, 1937: Third Reich Bars Jews From Performing Beethoven Or Mozart Encourages Them To Develop Their Own Genius Instead, Ukrainian SS Soldier Recalls Jewish Mob Looking For Christians To Murder During Red Terror, Jews Disturbed To Discover That Europeans Have Deep, Visceral Connection To Their Land And History, Evidence Of Israelitish Origins In Early European Pagan Myths And Religions. Cholim Prayers for Those in Need, Make a Donation Ruth Ann Parketon. In fact, the meaning of the name Ruth is grace. In the story, Ruth received blessings from God that she did not merit. There are also several verses from Ezrah that when read carefully suggest that the returnees from the Babylonian exile also understood this prohibition in this way (Matteh Dan of R. David Nieto 1:24- 28, this work will soon be published with my translation and commentary in English by the Yashar Press). Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. It does not store any personal data. Submit your piece for review, and if approved we will publish it on our site as Community Contributions., Change Your Subscription Naomi hatches a "plan" to join Ruth and Boaz for "good" ( Ruth 2:22 ). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Donec aliquet. We have already noted that Ruth plays an exceedingly passive role in this book. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor ne, , ultrices ac magna. The Syriac spelling supports the latter view. Depending on whether youre using a Jewish or Christian version, the Book of Ruth is placed between Judges and Samuel or between the Song of Songs and Lamentations. Seen against this background, the references to land in the Book of Ruth not only provide the setting for a pastoral romance, they also link the story to the covenant theme of landwhether private or national. Maybe this is why so many are drawn to her story and find it so compelling. The Bible tells us, Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. Follow us or sign up for monthly emails to receive special offers. Naomi may have then asked. That the Book of Ruth is read in the synagogue on the festival of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), alerts us to the books possible connections with the Torah. It looks as though both Ruth and Orpah became converts. I thought according to the Hebrew the phase uncovered his feet meant something more salacious. The Book of Ruth encourages us to view our day-to-day lives as part of God's bigger plan for our lives and world. In this coming together of family and peoplehood, we are again reminded of the stories of the patriarchs, in which the family represents the people. Chemosh had his terrible place on a platform of movable stones under which great fires could be kindled. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Faith to believe that God was who He said He was. This story of Ruth can be repeated in the life of any lost child of Adam's ruined race who will come, in repentance and faith, to the Redeemer. When the men of the clan die and are survived only by Naomi and her two Moabite daughters in law, Naomi determines to return to the land of Israel, a broken women and only enough faith to make the trip.. C'tait un homme puissant et riche du clan d'Elimlec qui s'appelait Boaz. The Maharal in Netsach Isroel, Ch. 1. Why is Ruth mentioned in the Bible as a widows story? Unlike Orpah, who returns to her Moabite family in obedience to Naomis wishes, Ruth insists on traveling to Bethlehem with Naomi. We can learn many lessons from Ruths story, including these four. Orpah accepts her mother in laws request, kissed her farewell, and returns to her fathers clan in Moab. It should be known that that just as powers of holiness are sustained through the Light of Kings Countenance so do the powers of impurity derive their vitality form the same source. In this article, Adele Berlin argues that Ruth illuminates the main theme of the Hebrew Bible: the continuity of Gods people in their land.Ed. Leah and Rachels eagerness to bear children for Jacob is again emphasized when they argue over who shall use the aphrodisiac mandrakes found by Leahs son (Genesis 30:1416). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. When the effusion of spirituality overtakes them and they are not suitable for it, they are harmed. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. Boaz is presented as a "man of character" ( Ruth 2:1 ). She would most probably be looked upon as the other not the nice photogenic foreigner from tolerance campaigns, but the ultimate foreigner. Many have regarded the book of Ruth as an inspiring piece of sacred literature with an important message. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In Old Testament accounts (e.g., Genesis 19:30-38), the Moabites belonged to the same ethnic stock as the Israelites. Like Abraham, and like the family of Jacob (see the story of Joseph), the family of Elimelech was forced by famine to leave its home in the land of Israel and to preserve itself in a foreign land. They desecrate all of God's Creation. When Boaz and the eligible kinsman meet at the city gate, the other man says to Boaz, You take over my right of redemption, for I am unable to exercise it (Ruth 4:6). The theme of family continuity becomes the theme of national continuity. Moabites were pagans and worshiped the god Chemosh. Ruth the Moabite is loyal to Yahweh and Naomi. The Book of Ruth is one of two in the Hebrew Bible that bears a woman's name (the other is Esther ). A further interesting point to the story it that Ruth, as a Moabitess, belonged the people founded by Moab: the son of Lots eldest daughter by her father (Gen 19:37). Jesus traces his ancestry directly to David, thus making Ruth and Boaz a part of the lineage of Jesus himself! Photo: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munchen. The story of Ruth provides for David the same pattern that produced the patriarchal line and the line of Judahnamely, the perpetuation of the family through the deeds of womenand it thereby joins the covenant with David to the covenant with Abraham. By doing so, we free ourselves to make decisions about who we are, based on what we inherently know about ourselves, rather than what we are told we should be. Ruth could have become bitter, as many people do when death invades a home. On top of that, she had lost her husband and was living with her widowed mother-in-law named Naomi. When the story opens, Naomis sons have just died. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Standard Shipping in the USA is FREE for orders of $35 (or just $5 for any smaller order). In previous blog posts ( here, here, here ), I have drawn attention to several other foreshadows and prototypes of Christ.