Study Desk

Later, Naomi's sons married Moabite women. One was named Orpah and the other Ruth. About ten years later,

They cried again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth held on to her.

Naomi then said to Ruth, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don't you go with her?"

Ruth answered, "Please don't tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.

When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back.

The barley harvest was just beginning when Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, arrived in Bethlehem.

One day, Ruth said to Naomi, "Let me see if I can find someone who will let me pick up the grain left in the fields by the harvest workers." Naomi answered, "Go ahead, my daughter." So right away, Ruth went out to pick up grain in a field owned by Boaz. He was a relative of Naomi's husband Elimelech, as well as a rich and important man.

Boaz went over to Ruth and said, "I think it would be best for you not to pick up grain in anyone else's field. Stay here with the women

Ruth bowed down to the ground and said, "You know I come from another country. Why are you so good to me?"

Ruth replied, "Sir, it's good of you to speak kindly to me and make me feel so welcome. I'm not even one of your servants."

At mealtime Boaz said to Ruth, "Come, eat with us. Have some bread and dip it in the sauce." Right away she sat down with the workers, and Boaz handed her some roasted grain. Ruth ate all she wanted and had some left over.

When Ruth got up to start picking up grain, Boaz told his men, "Don't stop her, even if she picks up grain from where it is stacked.

Ruth worked in the field until evening. Then after she had pounded the grain off the stalks, she had a large basket full of grain.

She took the grain to town and showed Naomi how much she had picked up. Ruth also gave her the food left over from her lunch.

Naomi said, "Where did you work today? Whose field was it? God bless the man who treated you so well!" Then Ruth told her that she had worked in the field of a man named Boaz.

Ruth told her, "Boaz even said I could stay in the field with his workers until they had finished gathering all his grain."

And so, Ruth stayed close to the women, while picking up grain in his field. Ruth worked in the fields until the barley and wheat were harvested. And all this time she lived with Naomi.

One day, Naomi said to Ruth: It's time I found you a husband, who will give you a home and take care of you.

Ruth answered, "I'll do whatever you say."

After Boaz finished eating and drinking and was feeling happy, he went over and fell asleep near the pile of grain. Ruth slipped over quietly. She lifted the cover and lay down near his feet.