Ruth24 posts · book 8 of 66

Ruth 1

Naomi@naomi · Moab

Went to Moab in a famine with my husband and our two boys. All three died there.

Naomi@naomi

Told my daughters-in-law to go home to their mothers. I'm too old to give them husbands.

Orpah@orpah

Replying to @naomi

Cried. Kissed you goodbye. Went home.

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Ruth@ruthofmoab

Where you go, I'll go. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.

The women of Bethlehem@bethlehem.women · Bethlehem

Wait. Is that Naomi? The whole town's talking.

Naomi@naomi

Replying to @bethlehem.women

Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara. Bitter. I left full, and the LORD's brought me back empty.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Empty, she says. They arrive just as the barley harvest starts.

Ruth 2

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Ruth goes out to glean, picking up what the harvesters leave. And, as it happens, the field belongs to Boaz. One of Elimelech's relatives. As it happens.

Boaz@boaz · Bethlehem

Morning, all. The LORD be with you!

Boaz’s foreman@foreman.boazfield

Replying to @boaz

We all shouted it back: “The LORD bless you!”

Boaz’s foreman@foreman.boazfield

Boss asked who the new girl is. That's the Moabite who came back with Naomi. Asked if she could glean behind the crew. Been on her feet since morning, barely a break.

Ruth@ruthofmoab

Bowed right down to the ground in front of him and asked why he'd even noticed me. I'm a foreigner.

Liked by Boaz

Boaz@boaz

Replying to @ruthofmoab

Why wouldn't I? I've heard everything you've done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. You left your dad and mum and your own country for people you didn't know. May the LORD, the God of Israel, pay you back in full. You've come to shelter under his wings.

Ruth@ruthofmoab · Bethlehem

Lunchtime he called me over to eat with the harvesters. Bread, dip it in the vinegar. Handed me roasted grain himself. Ate till I was full and still had some left for Naomi.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Boaz quietly tells his men: pull some stalks out of the bundles on purpose and leave them for her.

Naomi@naomi · Bethlehem

Ruth's just come home with about a sackful of barley. One day's gleaning. Hang on, whose field? Boaz's? Boaz! He's family. He's one of our redeemers.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Replying to @naomi

Redeemer: the close relative who can buy back the family's land and keep its name alive. Remember that word.

Ruth 3

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Naomi has a plan. Boaz is winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight. Wash, put on perfume and your best clothes, she tells Ruth. Go down, but don't let him see you until he's finished eating and drinking. Then lie down at his feet. He'll tell you what to do. Ruth says she'll do all of it.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth · The threshing floor

Midnight. Boaz wakes with a start and turns over. There's a woman lying at his feet.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Replying to @bookofruth

It's Ruth. She asks him to spread the corner of his cloak over her. He's a redeemer.

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The book of Ruth@bookofruth

She lies at his feet until morning and gets up before it's light enough for anyone to recognise anyone. Boaz doesn't want it known that a woman came to the threshing floor.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Ruth gets home with six measures of barley tied up in her shawl, and tells Naomi everything. He said: don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.

Naomi@naomi

Replying to @bookofruth

Sit tight, my girl. That man won't rest until it's settled. Today.

Ruth 4

Someone at the town gate@bethlehem.gate · Bethlehem town gate

At the town gate this morning. Boaz grabs the closer relative and ten elders and sits them all down. Will you buy back Elimelech's land? “I'll redeem it.” Then Boaz: Ruth comes with it. “Then I can't.”

The closer relative@the.closer.relative

Replying to @bethlehem.gate

Look, I couldn't risk my own inheritance. Handed him my sandal. That's how you seal a deal round here.

Boaz@boaz · Bethlehem town gate

You're all witnesses today. I'm buying back Elimelech's land, and I'm marrying Ruth.

Replying to @boaz

We are witnesses.

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The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Boaz marries Ruth. The LORD gives her a son.

The women of Bethlehem@bethlehem.women

Replying to @bookofruth

Praise the LORD! Naomi, you've got a redeemer today.

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Naomi's neighbour@naomis.neighbour

Replying to @naomi

Naomi has a son! We've called him Obed.

The book of Ruth@bookofruth

Obed is the father of Jesse. Jesse is the father of David. David's great-grandmother was from Moab.

People in Ruth

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