Naomi

1Long ago, judges ruled Israel. In those days the food ran out in the land. A man from Bethlehem, a town in Judah, went to live in Moab for a while. He took his wife and his two sons with him.

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

NoteMoab was a country next to Israel. To get there you walked around the Dead Sea. The people of Moab spoke a bit like Israel but worshiped other gods. Judah was the part of Israel where Bethlehem was. When the rain did not come, no crops grew and people had no bread. That is why the family moved away. Judges were leaders who settled fights and led the people in war.

2The man was named Elimelech. His wife was named Naomi. His two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They belonged to the Ephrathite families of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to Moab and made their home there.

And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

NoteEphrathite was the name of a family group from around Bethlehem. It means this family had lived there a long time. Bethlehem was once called Ephrath.

3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died. Naomi was left with her two sons.

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4The two sons married women from Moab. One was named Orpah. The other was named Ruth. The family lived in Moab about ten years.

And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

NoteIn those days people from Israel usually married someone from their own people. Marrying women from Moab was unusual. The two peoples prayed to different gods.

5Then Mahlon and Chilion died too. Naomi was left with no sons and no husband.

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

NoteBack then a woman with no husband and no sons was in real trouble. There were no jobs for her and no money coming in. Her family kept her fed and safe, and now Naomi had no one.

6While she was in Moab, Naomi heard good news. The LORD had cared for his people and given them food again. So she got ready to leave Moab and go home. Her two sons' wives got ready to go with her.

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.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name. The people of Israel used that name for the God they worshiped.

7She left the place where she had been living. Her two sons' wives walked with her. They set out on the road back to Judah.

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.

8Then Naomi said to the two young women, "Go back. Each of you go to your mother's house. May the LORD be as kind to you as you were to me. You were kind to my sons too, before they died."

And 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.

NoteA young woman whose husband had died could go back to her mother's home. There her family would care for her. She might marry again later.

9"May the LORD give each of you a new husband and a settled home." Then she kissed them both. The two young women cried out loud.

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Note"Rest" here does not mean sleep. It means a safe home where you are cared for. Naomi is wishing them a husband and a home of their own.

10They said to her, "No. We will go with you to your people."

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11But Naomi said, "Go back home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? I have no more sons who could become your husbands."

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

NoteThere was a custom then. If a man died, his brother married the widow. That way she was cared for and the family carried on. Naomi means she has no more sons to do that.

12"Go back home, my daughters. Go on. I am too old to have a husband. Suppose I still had hope. Suppose I married tonight and had sons."

Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13"Would you wait until those boys grew up? Would you stay without husbands that long? No, my daughters. I am very sad for your sake. The LORD's hand has turned against me."

Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

Note"The LORD's hand has turned against me" was a way of saying it. Naomi felt God had sent her all this sadness.

14They cried out loud again. Then Orpah kissed her husband's mother goodbye. But Ruth held on to her and would not let go.

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

NoteA kiss was the ordinary way to say hello or goodbye. It was like a hug is for us.

15Naomi said, "Look. Your sister-in-law has gone back to her own people and her own gods. Go back with her."

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

NoteThe people of Moab prayed to gods with different names. Going back to her people meant going back to those gods too.

16But Ruth said, "Do not beg me to leave you. Do not ask me to turn back. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God."

And Ruth said, Intreat 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:

NoteLeaving your people was a huge thing to do. Ruth was giving up her home, her family and her country. She was choosing to belong to Naomi's people instead.

17"Where you die, I will die. That is where I will be buried. May the LORD punish me if I break this promise. Only death will part you and me."

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.

Note"May the LORD punish me" sounds scary, but it was a way of promising. It meant: I really mean this, and I will not change my mind.

18Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind. So she stopped asking her to go back.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19The two of them walked on until they reached Bethlehem. When they arrived, the whole town was stirred up. People said, "Can this really be Naomi?"

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

NoteBethlehem was a small town. Everyone knew everyone. So when Naomi walked back in, the whole town noticed at once.

20She told them, "Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara. The Almighty has made my life very bitter."

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

NoteHer name Naomi means "sweet" or "pleasant." The name Mara means "bitter." Bitter is the taste of something sour that you do not like. She is saying her life does not match her happy name anymore. "The Almighty" is a name for God. It means the strongest one of all.

21"I went away full, but the LORD brought me back empty. So why call me Naomi? The LORD has spoken against me. The Almighty has brought me trouble."

I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

NoteShe left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons. She came back with neither. That is what "full" and "empty" mean here.

22So Naomi came back from the land of Moab. Ruth, the young woman from Moab, came with her. They reached Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was starting.

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.

NoteBarley is a grain, a bit like wheat. People ground it up to make bread. Harvest is when the grain is cut down and gathered in. Barley harvest came in the spring, so there was food around.

1Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family. He was rich and well respected. He came from the same family as Elimelech, Naomi's husband. His name was Boaz.

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

NoteA relative is someone in your family, like a cousin or uncle. Back then relatives were supposed to help each other. Elimelech was Naomi's husband, and he had died.

2Ruth came from the land of Moab. She said to Naomi, "Let me go out to the fields. I will pick up the grain the workers drop and leave behind. Maybe someone will be kind and let me do it." Naomi said, "Go ahead, my daughter."

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

NoteMoab was a country near Israel. Ruth grew up there, so people in Bethlehem saw her as a stranger. God had given Israel a rule to help hungry people. Farmers had to leave some grain in the field on purpose. Poor people could walk behind the workers and pick it up. That is called gleaning. The old Bible calls the grain "corn," but it does not mean corn on the cob. It means barley or wheat, the seeds bread is made from.

3So Ruth went out and picked up grain behind the workers. It happened that she came to a field that belonged to Boaz. Boaz was part of Elimelech's family.

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

NoteThe workers cut the tall grain with a curved knife called a sickle. Whatever they dropped stayed on the ground.

4Just then Boaz came out from Bethlehem. He said to the workers, "May the LORD be with you." They answered, "May the LORD bless you."

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it is God's own special name. "The LORD be with you" was a friendly hello, like "God bless you."

5Boaz asked the man in charge of the workers, "Who is that young woman?"

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

6The man in charge said, "She is the young woman from Moab. She came back with Naomi from the land of Moab."

And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

7"She asked if she could pick up grain among the bundles, behind the workers. She has been working from morning until now. She only rested a short time in the house."

And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

NoteThe bundles are sheaves, cut grain tied up in bunches.

17So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she beat the grain loose from the stalks. She had about an ephah of barley.

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

NoteGrain seeds hold tight to the dry stalks. You hit the stalks with a stick to shake the seeds loose. An ephah was a measure, about as much grain as a big bucket holds. It weighed around thirty pounds. That was much more than one day of gleaning usually gave.

18She carried the grain into the town. Her husband's mother saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also gave her the food she had saved from her meal.

And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

19Naomi asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May God bless the man who noticed you." So Ruth told her where she had worked. She said, "The man I worked with today is named Boaz."

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

20Naomi said to Ruth, "May the LORD bless him! He has kept on being kind to us. He is kind to the living and to those who have died." Then Naomi said, "That man is a close relative. He is one of the men who can help and protect our family."

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

NoteIn Israel a close relative had a special job. He could buy back family land that was lost. He could marry a widow so the family would not die out. Naomi means Boaz is one of those helpers. Being kind "to the dead" means caring for the family of people who had died.

21Ruth, the woman from Moab, said, "He told me something else too. He said, 'Stay close to my young men until they finish all my harvest.'"

And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22Naomi said to Ruth, "That is good, my daughter. Go out with his servant girls. Then no one will hurt you in some other field."

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

NoteA woman gleaning alone in a strange field could be hurt or chased away. In Boaz's field the workers had orders to leave Ruth alone.

23So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz. She gathered grain until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were over. And she lived with Naomi, her husband's mother.

So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

NoteBarley was cut first, then wheat a few weeks later. Together the two harvests lasted about two or three months.

1Naomi was the mother of Ruth's husband. She said, "My daughter, let me find you a safe home. Then life will be good for you."

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

NoteIn those days a woman with no husband had a hard life. She had no way to earn food. The old word "rest" means a safe home of her own. Ruth's husband was Naomi's son. He had died earlier in this book.

2"Boaz is part of our family. You worked with the young women who work for him. Tonight he is at the threshing floor. He is tossing barley in the air so the wind blows the husks away."

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

NoteA threshing floor was a flat, hard patch of ground outside. Farmers beat the grain there to knock the seeds loose. Barley is a grain that people ground up to make bread. Boaz slept beside his grain at night to keep it safe.

3"So wash yourself. Put on sweet-smelling oil. Put on your clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor. Do not let Boaz know you are there. Wait until he has finished eating and drinking."

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

NotePeople rubbed sweet-smelling oil on their skin. It was like perfume today.

4"Watch where he lies down to sleep. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do next."

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

NoteLying down at a man's feet was a quiet way to ask him for help. Ruth is asking Boaz to marry her and care for her family.

5Ruth said to her, "I will do everything you say."

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

6So she went down to the threshing floor. She did just what Naomi had told her.

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

14She lay at his feet until morning. She got up while it was still too dark to tell one person from another. Boaz said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor."

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing. Hold it open." She held it open. He poured six measures of barley into it and lifted it onto her. Then she went into the town.

Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

NoteThe old word "vail" here means a shawl. It was a big cloth worn over the head and shoulders. It could also be held open like a bag. We do not know exactly how much six measures was. It was heavy, enough grain to feed Ruth and Naomi for many days.

16Ruth came back to Naomi. Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Ruth told her everything Boaz had done for her.

And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

NoteThe old words say "Who art thou?" Naomi knows who Ruth is. It was her way of asking, "How did it go?"

17She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley. He said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law with empty hands.'"

And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

NoteSending Ruth home with grain was a sign. It showed Boaz meant to keep his promise.

18Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how this turns out. That man will not rest. He will settle it today."

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Note"Sit still" means wait. Naomi is not telling Ruth to sit down.

1Boaz went to the town gate and sat down there. The close relative he had talked about came by. Boaz said, "Come over here, friend. Sit down." So the man came and sat down.

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

NoteThe town gate was like a town hall. People met there to buy, sell, and settle arguments. In Israel a close relative had a special job. He was supposed to help family members who were poor or in trouble.

2Boaz called ten of the town's leaders. He said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

NoteThe town leaders were older men people trusted. Having ten of them watch made the deal official.

3Boaz said to the relative, "Naomi has come back from the land of Moab. She is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

NoteMoab was a country next to Israel, across the Dead Sea. The people there were not Israelites. A family's land was supposed to stay in that family. If they had to sell it, a relative bought it back.

4I thought I should tell you. You can buy it back here, in front of these people and leaders. If you want to buy it, buy it. If you do not, tell me so I know. You are first in line to buy it, and I come next." The man said, "I will buy it."

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

Note"Buy it back" means paying money so the land returns to the family. That way the family does not lose it forever.

5Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also take Ruth. Ruth came from Moab, and her husband died. Her first son will carry the dead man's name and keep his land."

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

NoteThis was an old rule in Israel. If a man died with no children, a relative married his widow. Their first son was counted as the dead man's son. That son grew up and kept the dead man's land.

6The relative said, "Then I cannot buy it. It would hurt my own family land. You take my turn and buy it. I cannot."

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

NoteFathers passed their land down to their sons. This man was afraid he would have less land left for his own children. Family land was land handed down in a family, from parents to children.

7Long ago in Israel, people did something to make a deal certain. A man pulled off his sandal and handed it to the other man. That showed everyone the deal was final.

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

NoteThere were no papers to sign back then. Handing over your sandal in front of people meant "this deal is done." It worked like writing your name today.

8So the relative said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he pulled off his sandal.

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You all saw this today. I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

Note"You all saw this" means the people were witnesses. Their eyes and memories were the proof the deal really happened.

10I have also taken Ruth to be my wife. She came from Moab, and her husband Mahlon died. Her son will carry Mahlon's name and keep his land. So Mahlon's name will not be forgotten in his town. You all saw this today."

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

NotePeople wanted their family name to keep going after they died. A son carried that name on. Boaz promised that Mahlon's name would keep going.

11All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We saw it. May the LORD make this woman like Rachel and Leah. Those two mothers built up the families of Israel. May you do well in Ephratah and be known in Bethlehem.

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

NoteThe word LORD in capital letters is God's own name in this book. Rachel and Leah were two sisters long before this. Their children grew into the families of Israel. Ephratah was another name for the area around Bethlehem.

12Long ago Tamar had a son named Pharez, and Judah was his father. May your family grow strong like that family. May the LORD give you children by this young woman."

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

NoteJudah was one of the sons of Israel long ago. Tamar was in his family, and their son was named Pharez. Pharez's family grew very large and strong.