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Ruth....
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Story of Ruth In Bethlehem
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Ruth ("Compassion", Standard
Hebrew Rut, is a
Moabite woman whose father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elimelech and Naomi
had settled in the land of Moab. Elimelech died there, and his two sons
married, Mahlon taking Ruth as his wife, and Chilion taking Orpah, both
women of Moab; both sons likewise died.
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Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had passed, and
determined to return. Ruth accompanied her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, at
the beginning of barley harvest, in a state of poverty.
Elimelech had had an
inheritance of land among his brethren, but, unless a Go'el, a redeemer,
could be found, Naomi would be compelled to sell it.
Elimelech had a
prosperous relative in Bethlehem whose name was Boaz, and who was engaged in
the harvest. Ruth went to glean in his fields, and, after he had spoken
kindly to her and shown her some favors, she, acting on the advice of her
mother-in-law, approached Boaz. |
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Boaz was attracted to her, but informed her that there
was a kinsman nearer than he who had the first right to redeem the estate of
Elimelech, and that it would be necessary for that kinsman to renounce his
right before he (Boaz) could proceed in the matter. Accordingly Boaz called
this kinsman, and told him of the situation, and of the kinsman's right to
redeem the estate and to marry Ruth. |
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The kinsman declared that he did not desire to do so,
and drew off his shoe, the ritual way of showing that he had renounced his
rights in favor of Boaz. Boaz thereupon bought the estate from Naomi,
married Ruth, and became by her the father of Obed, who in due time became
the father of Jesse, the father of King David. |
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