Ruth 1
Where Did All the Young Men Go? ... Long Time Passing
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. 2 The name
of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the
names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites
from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and
remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and
she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the
name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When
they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion
also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and
her husband. 6 Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law
from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of
Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food.
7 So she set out from the place where she had been living, she
and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go
back to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
"Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the LORD
deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with
me. 9 The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in
the house of your husband." Then she kissed them, and they
wept aloud. 10 They said to her, "No, we will return with
you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Turn back,
my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in
my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters,
go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought
there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight
and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would
you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been
far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD
has turned against me." 14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 So she said,
"See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and
to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth
said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from
following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will
lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17
Where you die, I will die-- there will I be buried. May the LORD
do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me
from you!" 18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go
with her, she said no more to her. 19 So the two of them went
on until they came to Bethlehem.
Through Thick and Thin

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Musings
In the New Testament there is a parable call the "Prodigal
Son" (Luke 15:11-32) which is really about the loving Father.
In a similar sense the Book of Ruth is really the story of the
redemption of Naomi. It has been suggested that this story also
serves as a parable of how Naomi (aka how Israel acts - self-righteous
and bitter) is redeemed through Ruth, the outsider (aka how Israel
should act - loyal and loving). In this part of the story we see
why Naomi is bitter, but Ruth is loyal and unrelenting. They are
in this together.
Note: Notice the cartoon marginal character Adam has nothing
to add to this story. Eve has exclusive coverage of the events.
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