Ruth
Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem, moved to Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons due to a famine in Judah, but after his death and the death of his sons, Naomi and her daughters-in-law were left as widows. Naomi returned to Judah with her daughter-in-law Ruth, who met Boaz, a wealthy relative of her late husband's family, while gleaning in his field. Boaz showed Ruth kindness and protection, and after Naomi's instructions, Ruth asked Boaz to marry her, but he noted a closer relative had the right of first refusal. The closer relative declined, allowing Boaz to purchase the land and marry Ruth, and they had a son, Obed, who would become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David.
Chapter 1
Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem, moved to Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons due to a famine in Judah. After Elimelech's death, his sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but they also died, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law as widows. Naomi decided to return to Judah and told her daughters-in-law to return to their families, but Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, pledging her loyalty and devotion to her and her God. The two women returned to Bethlehem, where they were met with surprise and curiosity, and Naomi expressed her bitterness and sense of loss, asking to be called Mara instead of Naomi.
Chapter 2
Ruth, a Moabitess, goes to the fields to glean after the reapers, and by chance, she comes to the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of her late husband's family. Boaz notices her and shows her kindness, offering her food and protection, and instructing his young men to let her glean and even leave some grain for her to collect. Ruth returns to her mother-in-law, Naomi, with a large amount of barley, and Naomi praises Boaz for his kindness, revealing that he is a close relative who has the right to redeem their family's property.
Chapter 3
Naomi instructs Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz is working, to prepare herself, and to lie down at his feet after he has eaten and drunk, without revealing herself until he notices her. Ruth follows Naomi's instructions, and when Boaz discovers her, she asks him to spread his skirt over her as a near kinsman, indicating her desire for him to marry her. Boaz agrees to consider her request but notes that there is a closer relative who must be given the opportunity to fulfill the kinsman's role first. Boaz sends Ruth back to her mother-in-law with six measures of barley, and Naomi advises Ruth to wait and see how the situation unfolds.
Chapter 4
Boaz went to the city gate and met with a kinsman of Naomi's late husband, offering him the opportunity to redeem Elimelech's land, but the kinsman declined due to concerns about his own inheritance. Boaz then purchased the land and also acquired Ruth as his wife to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance. The transaction was confirmed by the elders and the people, and Boaz and Ruth had a son, Obed, who would become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David.
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