The Story of Ruth

Ruth

     Long before Jesus was born, a man named Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons lived in Bethlehem. There was a famine, and the family went to the land of Moab. There Elimelech died, and the two sons married two Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth.

     Then the sons also died. Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem. She kissed Orpah and Ruth and said, "Please go back to your own families and find other husbands. May God bless you!"

     Orpah and Ruth wept. Orpah returned to her family, but Ruth pleaded, "Do not make me leave you. Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live. Your family will be my family, and your God will be my God."

     So the two women went to Bethlehem. They arrived at the start of the barley harvest.

     One day Ruth asked Naomi for permission to follow the harvesters and collect leftover grain in the fields. This is called gleaning. "I am sure someone will let me follow him," she said. Naomi agreed.

     Ruth happened to go into the fields of Naomi's rich cousin Boaz. Boaz had heard how faithful Ruth was to Naomi. Now he saw how beautiful she was and how hard and humbly she worked. He welcomed her.

     Soon Boaz arranged to marry Ruth. Ruth and Naomi were very happy. Boaz and Ruth had a son they named Obed. Obed's son was named Jesse, and when Jesse grew up, he had eight sons. One of them became King David.