This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the contrary, she encourages them to go back to their homeland: Turn back, my daughters; why will ye go with me? Ruths story captivates and significantly challenges many. And, being a Moabite woman, she received Gods blessings despite her status as a gentile woman. A not so scholarly article.. LOL. Therefore, Ruth, as a Moabite, is an unlikely hero in Jewish story. A pagan nation descended from the incestuous relationship of Lot and his oldest daughter, they worshipped the deity Chemosh and practiced child sacrifice. Orpah pictures for us all those whose souls have been roused, but who have never really been saved at all. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. King David is a descendant of their offspring. In fact, the meaning of the name Ruth is grace. In the story, Ruth received blessings from God that she did not merit. The section known in Jewish tradition as the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) details the vicissitudes of the people in the promised land, until, at the end of Kings, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquers the territory of Judah and sends its people into exile. So Orpah remained lost in dark, pagan Moab while Ruth married a prince of the house of Judah, became a joint-heir with her redeemer, and dwelled with him in bliss. I need to get a job.". The Moabites were long-time enemies and oppressors of Israel and cursed by God. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Abrahams family is first called a people in Exodus: A new king arose over Egypt, and he said: Look, the Israelite people (am bnei yisrael) are much too numerous for us (Exodus 1:8, 9). A groundbreaking literary critic, her 1994 book Poetics and Interpretation in Biblical Narrative is a seminal text. 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). Orpah agrees, but Ruth refuses with the resounding words: Together they journey to Naomis former home in Bethlehem. Ruth, who created for herself a life of dignity, inspires us to assess our own surroundings and to transcend their less desirable aspects. A tragedy happened; death visited that home. Ruths response is extraordinary, for she is under no obligation to care for Naomi, just as Naomi, with her own extraordinary response, is under no obligation to provide for Ruth. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. When Ruth entered the land of Judah, more evidence points to God's sovereignty than does the significance of Ruth, the daughter-in-law, being a Moabite. Idolatry was one of the innate characteristics of all the nations surrounding Israel, and Chemosh was the national god of the Moabites ( Numbers 21:29 ). Then Ruth met Boaz. It does not store any personal data. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israels great king, David. There are several indication from the Tanach itself that this Sinaitic Law operated from the earliest times. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Ruth, being one of Jesus Gentile ancestors, showed that Christ came to save all people. ADD ANYTHING HERE OR JUST REMOVE IT pros and cons of saturday school Facebook david coulthard daughter Twitter dwayne washington 40 time Pinterest busch stadium 2021 rules linkedin how much did anthony joshua get paid Telegram 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. C'tait un homme puissant et riche du clan d'Elimlec qui s'appelait Boaz. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. died, and she was left with her two sons. Law restrains the wild side of man. 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). 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. This explications of Ruths origin provides and important insight into her qualities and character. 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. When they return they find the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob welcomes them both with open arms. 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. It is the women, often despite their husbands, who ensure the birth of the next generation and who direct the proper line of inheritance. The book of Ruth demonstrates Gods grace toward people. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?. At first glance, the book of Ruth appears to disregard the Torah law that does not allow Moabites to enter into the Jewish people. She learned about a true and living God, a kind God, a pure and holy God, a God wholly unlike the dreadful, lustful, and savage gods of her people. What is significant about this is that women werent ordinarily included in genealogies. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Donec aliquet. Those powers and forces that oppose the Redemption will not benefit by it but shall be utterly routed and destroyed. 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 heroine Ruth sticks with her mother-in-law Naomi and looks after her. But let us look at Ruth. In this story, we see a simple Moabite widow becoming an essential character in the powerful story of salvation woven in the Bible. (Ruth 4:3). She pledged her loyalty to Naomi and they set out on the long journey, arriving in time for the barley harvest. Orpah accepts her mother in laws request, kissed her farewell, and returns to her fathers clan in Moab. 4 What can you learn from the Book of Ruth? In this lesson we will focus on this prohibition and its relevance to our book. 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. Ruth teaches us that human beings naturally find love and family connections wherever they are, irrespective of the ethnicity and faith of the people they fall in love with. He died after devoting his entire life to the Children of Israel. Remember to Be Humble and Keep Working as God Blesses You. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. significance of ruth being a moabite significance of ruth being a moabite . Ruth must have received this news with considerable dismay because the only light she had was going out. What can you learn from the Book of Ruth? The Biblical Meaning Of Angel Number 69. FREE ebook: Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus. Who is the father of King David in the story of Ruth? write me on Facebook wanting to talk about Passover being on the 13th instead of the 14th. 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. "What is his name?" Ruth is loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi. We know that Joshua took control of the plains of Moab and the local residents were removed. Fact or Legend Did the Nazis Plan to Open a Museum of an Extinct [Jewish] Race? 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. 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 qualities she displayed showed human labor productivity as the extension of God's work in the world. They desecrate all of God's Creation. And yet Ruth, who had every good reason to hate us fiercely, chose the exact opposite. It also indicates that those who experience loss still have God walking with them. Condensed from Introducing People of the Bible, Volume 1 by John Phillips. In Bethlehem, the story begins with the barley harvest (Passover) and concludes at the wheat harvest (Pentecost/Shavuos). Following Your Heart with Integrity Can Increase Your Influence with Others. The Talmud in Kesuvos 7a tells us that Boaz gathered the ten elders in order to publicize an ancient law that has fallen into disuse. The significance of Ruth being Moabite relates to Ruth's theological book since her story creates the foundation for events in the book of Ruth. The Moabites were a pagan nation, which means they did not worship or serve YHWH. His brother Chilion, the husband of Orpahanother Moabite girldied. Since its time for the barley harvest, Ruth decides to glean from a field. Put yourself at his feet. The references in the Book of Ruth to Rachel, Leah and Tamar serve not only to welcome Ruth into the Judahite community by linking her with the mothers of that community, they especially lead us to view Ruth in the mold of the heroic women who ensured the preservation of the people of Israel. The Book of Ruth is one of two in the Hebrew Bible that bears a woman's name (the other is Esther ). Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Gods covenant with Abraham lies at its heart. Ruth was a Moabitess, a member of an accursed race. 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). Thrice-bereaved of any provider, Naomi decides to return to Judah, having heard that the Lord had given food to her people in Bethlehem. Now this story reveals the bankruptcy of the Church and its need to give up and follow Israels lead, not some would be Messiah. They may never enter Gods marriage group, even after the tenth generation. Ruth was a Moabite who married into the Judah tribe of the . Faith that there was still a purpose for her ahead. How does this relate to the theology of the book of Ruth? Ruth could have become bitter, as many people do when death invades a home. We can picture the scene after that first day of gleaning when Ruth arrived home with the great pile of grain Boaz had given her. But alas, both the usual explanation (that Shavuot celebrates the spring grain harvest, which forms the setting for the book) and various lesser-known explanations (that David, a great-grandson of Ruth, died on Shavuot or that Ruths loyalty to Naomi symbolizes Israels loyalty to the Torah) touch only upon superficial connections or are clearly midrashic1 efforts to forge a connection. Boaz is presented as a "man of character" ( Ruth 2:1 ). I . He spoke to her kindly, welcomed her into his field, provided for her thirst, and gave to her of his bounty. Ruth Ann Parketon. In Christian Bibles it is slipped in between Judges and Samuel, among the historical books. Create a Memorial Chemosh had his terrible place on a platform of movable stones under which great fires could be kindled. 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). She was not of the Moabite lineage. She knows she has no rights, no estate, no land, and no clan to rely upon. 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. 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.. David, as Israels greatest king, founded the Davidic dynasty, the one to which God promised an eternal kingdom. God is too loving to be unkind, too wise to make any mistakes, and too powerful to be thwarted in His plans. The child born to Ruth and Boaz is a sonborn to Naomi who will renew her life. For Naomi, Ruth is better than seven sons (Ruth 4:15), for she produces what Naomis sons failed to, an heir. Ruth is one of the few women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus referenced in the book of Matthew. significance of ruth being a moabite. 2 Naomi avait un parent de son mari. 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. Photo: Austrian National Library, Vienna. By the end of Genesis the extensive family is settled in Egypt. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Ruth, as a Moabite, is an unlikely hero in Jewish story. On top of that, she had lost her husband and was living with her widowed mother-in-law named Naomi. They are confident in who they are and what they believe, and in their example of fearlessness, they encourage others to be courageous and make a difference. 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. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, as . 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. On its face, the Book of Ruth is a short self-contained story, unconnected to the narrative sequence from Genesis through Kings. Adele Berlin was the Robert H. Smith Professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of Maryland before retiring. What deeper factor makes this law an exception? As time passed, Ruth became well acquainted with this family and even married Mahlon, one of the sons. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. But she did not fall into that trap of the devil. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We can imagine one day that Ruth said to Naomi, "Mother, we are very poor. Moabites were pagans and worshiped the god Chemosh. Ruth made no excuses and did just that. 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." . Copyright Torah.org Project Genesis. Genesis 19:30-38 accounts for the origins of the nation of Moab. iceland norway police cooperation. The fact that Ruth and other widows are mentioned in the Bible indicates that God is close to those who have experienced loss. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the stories of Jacobs wives, Leah and Rachel, the issue is no longer which son will be the heir, for they are all the children of Israel. Rather, the emphasis is on the accumulation of progeny. In this story, we see a simple Moabite widow becoming an essential character in the powerful story of salvation woven in the Bible. Solomon married a Moabite princess (1 Kings 11:1-8) Also, Balak was the king of Moab in Numbers 22. Your email address will not be published. God says to Abraham: The early chapters of Genesis are a prologue to this covenant, describing the creation of all the land in the world and of all of its peoples, until the narrative focuses on one particular family: Abrahams. 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). from Egypt to the land they have been promised, having Nabot killed so they could get his vineyard. Submit your piece for review, and if approved we will publish it on our site as Community Contributions., Change Your Subscription Answer Moab, a small kingdom in the central Transjordan, was a familiar setting in the Bible. Courage and ingenuity triumph over misfortune. 7 Outstanding Characteristics of Ruth that Got Her Noticed and Secured Her Success. Did the Ancient Israelites Think Children Were People. Ruth (/ r u /; Hebrew: , Modern: Rt, Tiberian: R) is the person after whom the Book of Ruth is named. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. The overpowering revelation of Divinity at the core of Redemption will overwhelm all of creation and only those who are ready to open themselves and to receive it can survive; the rest will be shattered. 4. This is why the women were excepted for they did not possess that determinative Moabite quality. Naomi hatches a "plan" to join Ruth and Boaz for "good" ( Ruth 2:22 ). Donec aliquet. It does not store any personal data. 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. This Sinaitic ordinance explained that only a male Moabite or Ammonite cannot join the Congregation of Hashem but females are permitted to join. After losing her entire family, Naomi wishes to leave her long self-exile in Moab, back home to Judea. . The Bible tells us, Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. Ruth, though a Moabite herself, decided to go with her. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. What is the main message of Ruth in the Bible? Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Yet, shes brave and her faith doesnt waver. Ruth and Naomi are two of them. Most in-stock ordersleave our warehousein 1 business day. Long before Ruth knew anything about Him, God set in motion a series of events designed to bring her face to face with Boaz, the man who became her kinsman-redeemer. In the language of Aristotelian philosophy, the man gives forth the form and the woman provides the matter. Standard Shipping outside the USA: Orders mailed outside of the USA using Standard Shipping will be shipped through the USPS and require 6-15 business days for transit. But the most feared god of all was Chemosh, or Moloch. Its a beautiful story of redemption and grace. "He is a near kinsman," she told Ruth. What's the significance of Perez to Ruth and Boaz? Ruth said to Naomi, "I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God. At the beginning of the book, Ruth is living in her home in Moab; a place and people that the Israelites frowned upon. The Torah prohibits marriage to Moabites but Ruth is not only welcomed but is an ancestor of King David, and through him the Messiah. In fact, we might say that it is precisely this that allowed Judahs seed to stamp its own quality upon the Moabite feminine substrate, taking from it only what it itself lacked, only the positive and nothing of the negative. This was not the case, however, at the emergence of Ammon and Moab. Many have regarded the book of Ruth as an inspiring piece of sacred literature with an important message. The plot of the Book of Ruth takes place in the times of the judges, as we learn from the opening verse: And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged. If this suggests that the Book of Ruth is an anomaly, I propose to show that, on the contrary, its thematic connections with the rest of the Bible are much stronger than we generally perceive. Yevamos 77b suggests that the verses themselves modify the prohibition. However, the family and people part of the covenant theme is more prominent than the land part in the Book of Ruth. And indeed, Ruth is referred to throughout the story as "the Moabitess." But from Ruth's point of view, she is becoming an Israelite. He is righteous and protects them for He is a father of the fatherless, a defender of widowsin His holy habitation (Psalm 68:5). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Like the Church, Ruth went with her mother in law, representing Israel, when she had nothing left to lose no husband, no kids. Follow us or sign up for monthly emails to receive special offers. In those days the children of Israel were in lack of leadership and orientation, suffering from oppressing occupation. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. There is the case of Rehoboam, whom Naamah, the Amonitess, bore to Solomon and who ruled over the kingdom of Judea after him. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me (Ruth 1,16). There was a direct linkage between the work of God and the work of the earth and nature. This would be uplifting even on the level of an individual family; but like the patriarchal stories, the Book of Ruth speaks to the national level as well. Just as Ruths adoption of both Naomis people and God raises their return to Bethlehem from the personal to the national level, so the genealogies at the end of the book lift the story to the national level. Though the story takes its name from the younger woman, the older is the dominant character. Posted on May 29, 2006 By Rabbi Dr. Meir Levin |, Bar Mitzvah Keeping the Right Perspective, Bar and Bas Mitzvah A Special Celebration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah: A Re-enactment of Kabolas Hatorah, Shavuos and Bar Mitzvah: Causes For Celebration, Marital Partners Compatibility of Missions, No One Runs for the Office of Gadol HaDor, Dressing Up: The Prohibition Of Lo Yilbash, Brotherly Love at Its Best: Moshe and Aharon. But once there they have to provide for themselves. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Isaacs wife Rebekah also guides the line of descent away from Esau and toward Jacob, as God had wanted. 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. The book of Ruth opens with a description of Naomi and Elimelech living in the nation of Moab. It looks as though both Ruth and Orpah became converts. Chemosh had his terrible place on a platform of movable stones under which great fires could be kindled. The story of Ruth includes all the right ingredients: feminine power, solidarity, grace and acceptance of the foreigner. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Bible's account of Ruth and Boaz contains a reference to the number 69. If Ruth was living among us today, how would we categorize her? When Boaz awakes, startled to find Ruth at his feet, she asks him to spread his robe over hera symbolic act of espousalbecause Boaz is a redeeming kinsman, that is, one who has a right to redeem Elimelechs property and at the same time to marry his sons widow so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate (Ruth 4:5). Brief Life History of Ruth Ann . What is the significance of Moab in the Bible? Ruths story is one that both Christians and Jews alike can celebrate. There is a direct connection between the absence of law and leadership, and phenomena such as violence and brutal conduct. One day a family moved into Ruth's life, a family of believers. concept of redemption primarily to speak of the saving significance of the death of Christ."[1] The English word redemption means "repurchase" or "buy back", and in the Old . Naomi may have then asked. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Marooned in Moab, the older woman Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem. First, Ruth establishes a physical connection with her newly adopted land as she gleans in Boazs field. The Syriac spelling supports the latter view. The Moabites were idolatrous people. The account tells how Ruth came to know the living God of Israel and how she entered the family of God through the redemptive act of a kinsman-redeemer. Cha c phn loi 15-06-2022 15-06-2022 The message? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. There are many important figures in the Bible who are recognized for their strength and character. She wasnt born and raised here, and, even worse, she belonged to the people of Moab, a hostile nation, and according to Chazal, Ruth was granddaughter of Eglon King of Moab, victim of the renowned biblical assassination, by Ehud. As a Christian we see in Ruth the coming of the church, the gentiles as part of the people of God. God keeps a careful eye on the widow. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ruth must have been an Israelite, they claim, because Moabites were not a pure Adamic people and Jesus Christ, who is supposed to be a direct blood descendant of King David, would therefore be "mixed race" which would be a violation of biblical law. 1. 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. 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. When Lot became drunk, his daughters seduced him. The story opens with Naomis clan having left the land of promise, and their faith, for a new life in the land of Moab, apart from God. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Thanks, Sparrow! At first it would seem that the ties that bind Naomi, Ruth and Orpah after the deaths of their husbands do not make them a family in any customary sense. 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. The overriding purpose of the genealogical list in Ruth 4 is to establish Ruth, Boaz and their child within the lineage of the coming Messiah. Youre right in observing that he was executed, but you left off the rest of the story. See Jennifer Knust Unprotected Texts, p.36. Yet, God moves so mightily in her story and uses it to encourage millions. Do not despise the Egyptian, since you were an immigrant in his land. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She may not come from a famous family. Rencontre de Ruth et Boaz. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Some may make a profession of faith and take initial steps toward the promised land, but all we have in such instances are roused souls, intellectual responses to the Gospel, or emotional responses to appeals. Elimelech died. But the most feared god of all was Chemosh, or Moloch. Not the kind of place you want to raise your family. Ruths poetic words, Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, are rightly famous, both for their beauty of expression and for their sentiment. 2 What is the significance of Ruth being a Moabite? Both her husband and her father-in-law die, and she helps her mother-in-law, Naomi, and find protection. Boaz reunites the family with its land by redeeming Elimelechs land and by marrying Ruth, the widow of Elimelechs son, Mahlon.