THE STORY OF RUTH

          Naomi arose with her daughters-in-law, to return from the field of Moab, to Judah, because she had heard that the LORD had remembered His people in giving them bread. Naomi left Moab with her two daughters-in-law, and they started off to return to Judah.

          But then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to your mother's house, and may the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that you may find peace, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices, and cried.

          And they said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people. Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way; because I’m too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, and if I even have an husband tonight, and also bear sons, would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from marrying for them and have no husbands? No, my daughters; it makes me sad for your sakes, because the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.

          And they lifted up their voices, and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Naomi said to Ruth, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god, go and follow her. And Ruth said, Don’t ask me to leave you, and to turn away from following you, because wherever you go, I will go, and where you live, I will live, your people shall be my people and your God my God, where you die, I will die, and I will be buried there, the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.

THE STORY OF RUTH SUMMARY INFORMATION WITH THE STORY OF RUTH SUMMARY MEANING AND THE STORY OF RUTH SUMMARY DISCUSSION

          These are quite strong words from Ruth. What she was saying was, if I ever leave you for any reason but death, may the Lord take my husband and children from me, and more. Do you think there is such loyalty and compassion left in our world today?

          When Naomi saw that Ruth had her mind set to go with her, she stopped telling her to go back, So the two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they arrived in Bethlehem, that all the city was surprised to see them, and the women of Bethlehem said, Is this Naomi?

          Naomi replied to them, Don’t call me Naomi (which means pleasant), call me Marah (which means bitter); for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me back home empty, so why call me Naomi, seeing that the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

          So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the field of Moab--and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.