NOTE.--This charming story may be found complete in the book of
_Ruth_ in the Old Testament by those who wish the literal Bible
narrative as it is there given.
Little is known as to the date of the writing of the book of
_Ruth_. Some authorities believe that it was written earlier than
500 B.C., while others contend that it was not written until much
later. As to the purpose, also, there are differences of opinion;
is the book merely a religious romance, told to point a moral, or
is it an historical narrative meant to give information as to the
ancestry of David? Whichever is true, the story is a delightful
one, and we enjoy reading it just as we do any other story, apart
from its Biblical interest.
I
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled in Judah that
there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah
went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife and his two
sons. Together they came into the land and continued there; but the man
died, and the wife was left, and her two sons.
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was
Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth; and they dwelled there about
ten years. Then the two sons died also both of them; and the woman,
Naomi, their mother, alone was left of the family that came into Moab.
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the
country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the
Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two
daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the
land of Judah.
But Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her
mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the
dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest again, each
in the house of her husband."
Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices and wept, and said
unto her, "Surely we will return with thee unto thy people."
Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I
yet any more sons that may be your husbands? Nay, it grieveth me much
for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. Turn
again my daughters; go your way."
Again they lifted up their voice and wept, and Orpah kissed her
mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.
Naomi said, "Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and
unto her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law."
And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou
lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my
God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord
do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
When Naomi saw that Ruth was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she
left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.
[Illustration: "WHITHER THOU GOEST, I WILL GO"]
There it came to pass that all the city was moved about them, and the
people said, "Is this Naomi?"
"Call me not Naomi," she said unto them. "Call me Mara: for the Almighty
hath dealt very bitterly with me.[146-1] I went out full and the Lord
hath brought me home again empty: why then call me Naomi, seeing the
Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with
her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to
Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.