Ruth and Her World

What a Biblical story can tell us about women in the ancient world

Ruth in Boaz’s Field by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld/ National Gallery

The Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, contains the foundational stories for the Jewish and Christian faiths. There are the tales of creation, genealogies, the chronicles of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and books of prophecy, to name a few. There are also stories of great women who help to shape the fate of the Hebrew people.

One great book is the Book of Ruth. Although many scholars regard it as historical fiction, it is a significant work within many Jewish and Christian traditions.

This book tells the tale of a Moabite woman named Ruth. She marries a Hebrew man, Mahlon, and Naomi and her family move to Moab during a famine. When Mahlon dies, Ruth joins Naomi on her journey back to Judea, proclaiming her loyalty to her mother-in-law, her people, and her God.

Eventaully, Ruth meets Boaz, who is a relative of her late husband. Showing great humility as well as a strong will, Ruth wins Boaz's heart and the pair marry. Through their bloodline, King David would rise, and for Christians, she was an ancestor of Jesus. Ruth becomes a pivotal figure in the story of Jesus and the fulfilments of prophecy.

The Book of Ruth also serves another purpose. The story of Ruth and Boaz reveals much about women in the ancient Near East and how Ruth, in many ways, defied expectations.

Ruth as an Immigrant Story

As noted, Ruth is a Moabite woman who resides in Judea following her first and second marriages. Ruth often struggles to adjust to her new culture and defers to Naomi and, later, to Boaz in her actions.

When Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem, Naomi does not acknowledge Ruth as her daughter-in-law to the local women. Instead, she is referred to as a "Moabite" woman or "s the daughter-in-law".

There is also a deeper issue regarding Ruth's ancestry. Culturally, the Moabites were the "arch" enemies of Israel, born of an incestuous origin story in Genesis (they are descendants of Lot and one of his daughters). Israelites were generally forbidden from marrying them, making Ruth's union in the community a radical subversion of social norms.

For Ruth, coming to Judea was a risk. In a time when your identity to your group was vital, Ruth disavowed her culture, her family, and her religion for the love of her new family. Ruth stands alone in a world without her people or her god/gods to support her.

In all of the Bible, only one other figure, Abraham, took such a radical view. After having an encounter with God, Abraham abandoned the polytheism of his ancestors and moved from the city of Uruk in Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan. This portrays both figures as people of great faith and determination, willing to abandon everything for what they believed in.

Ruth as a Feminist Story

Ruth's story can also be seen as a proto-feminist narrative. In a world that men controlled, Ruth stands out. After the death of Mahlon, she does not immediately attach herself to another man, but to Naomi. She devotes herself to the well-being of another woman instead of deferring to a man.

In the Israelite world, society was dominated by men. The patriarchal system determined many aspects of life, from who a person can marry all the way to gender roles.

Naomi and Ruth are unique in this story, as they stand together in solidarity and support. It is a rare story of this time: a woman taking control of her destiny, though her fate remains in the hands of a man, Boaz. It is Naomi who instructs her on what to do to gain Boaz's attention, and Ruth can gain Boaz's attention and eventually marry him.

Ruth also challenges some societal norms regarding women. At one point, Naomi sends Ruth to the fields where the men are working in to gather grain. In this time, it was not uncommon for women to be taken advantage of or assaulted by men. However, Boaz sees her and puts her under his protection, shielding her from the real possibility of sexual assault.

Later in the story, Ruth goes to the place where Boaz is sleeping and lies down with him. He is startled by her presence, and then she pleads her case for him to help her. He agrees to let her spend the night with him; they sleep. Boaz does this to protect her honor, as if someone saw her leaving in the night, she might have been mistaken for a prostitute.

Ruth'Ruth'sng actions pay off in the end. In a time where women were often seen as sexual objects, Ruth maintains her autonomy and her daring pushes Boaz not only to protect her honor but to take action in redeeming both her and Naomi.

Some interpretations regard the story as a biblical "Cind" rella" tal". With the help of Boaz, Ruth is redeemed and elevated from the low station she finds herself in to that of a member of a respected family in the Israelite community.

Ruth as a Redemption Story

An important theme of the story of Ruth is that of a redeemer. In Israelite society, a redeemer was someone who could redeem another person. This was a way of settling one's own debts after one's own death to keep land and property in the family.

In the story, once Boaz has decided to marry Ruth, he must first attend to a bit of family business. He meets with another community member (his name is not given), who initially agrees to assume ownership of the land of Namoi and Ruth's dead husbands. However, by stating that he would also need to take the women into his household, Boaz allows him to assume the role. After the business is settled, Boaz assumes control of the property and marries Ruth, with Naomi also being welcomed into the household.

However, the redemption story does not stop there. Ruth and Boaz eventaully have a son, Obed. From this family line, the future King David of Israel was born, thus bridging the period of the Judges to the Kingdom of Israel in the Jewish tradition. According to the Christian tradition, it is this same family line in which Jesus would eventaully be born.

Conclusion

In a world where women were subservient to men, the story of Ruth shows a different perspective on this expectation. Ruth is a woman with agency, and although she is perceived as an outsider, she is determined to ensure the survival of Naomi and herself. It is through this strong woman that two of the most important figures in the Bible, David and Jesus, are born.

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