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Ruth 1

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Tanakh · chapter reading guide

Ruth Chapter 1

Ruth Chapter 1 presents 22 verses in a searchable Hebrew text unit. This original reading guide identifies observable themes and a practical path through the chapter without adding an unverified interpretation.

Rashi's commentary

Verse 1
and a man went — He was a very wealthy man and was the sustainer of the generation. And he left from the Land of Israel to outside of the Land because of stinginess, as he was stingy with poor people that would pressure him [to support them]. Therefore was he punished.
Verse 16
since everywhere that you will walk, I will walk — From here, our rabbis, may their memory be blessed said, "We inform a convert that comes to convert some of the punishments, that if he wants to go back, he should go back. As from the words of Rut, you learn that Naomi told her, "It is forbidden for us to go out of the domain on Shabbat." She said to her, "in where you will walk, I will walk." "It is forbidden for us that a woman should isolate herself with a man that is not her husband" - she said to her, "in where you will lay, I will lay." "Our people is separated from the other nations by six hundred and thirteen commandments" - "your people is my people." "Idolatry is forbidden to us" - "your God is my God." "Four death penalties are given over to the court" - "in where you will die, I will die." "Two graveyards are given over to the court - one for those stoned and burned and one for those killed (beheaded) and strangled" - she said to her, "and there will I be buried."
Verse 18
She ceased to argue with her — From here we learn that we do not overburden [the prospective convert] nor are we overly meticulous with him.
Verse 19
1 And the two of them walked on — Said Rabbi Abbahu: Come and see how beloved converts are before the Holy Blessing One: Since she decided to convert, the Tanakh equates Ruth with Naomi [who is considered righteous].

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Malbim's commentary

Verse 1
Questions — 1. Why does the verse tell us it was "In the days of "Shofet Hashoftim", it should've made known to us the identity of the Judge (Shofet)? [2.] Why is "And a man went from "Bais Lechem Yehuda", "Ephradites from Bais Lechem Yehuda" repeated [3.] Why does the verse add "And they reached the fields of Moab, and they were there"? [4.] Why does it say "the husband of No'omi"? [5] and what is the novelty that she (No'omi) and her sons were left ''over'' there?
Verse 6
Questions — 6. Why is "And she returned", "And she left from the place", and "And they set out on the road" repeated?
Verse 9
May He grant — And beyond that which He shall do kindness to you that you have coming, He should grant you a gift (even if it is not payment from the angle of a previous deed), "that you find security in the house of a husband." This is parallel to that which she said (in the previous verse), "return each of you to her mother’s house." As widows that do not want to remarry will make their own homes, like a woman who is the master of her own domain. But a widow who wants to marry will return to her father's house. However with idolaters who do not have pedigree from the father, she returns to her mother's house until she goes and marries a man. About this, she blessed them that they should find security, each woman in the house of her husband; that they should know no more bereavement and widowhood. Rather they should dwell with peaceful security; and that would be a gift from God. And she kissed them: A kiss of parting.

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Original text

Verse 1

וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃

In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab.

Verse 2

וְשֵׁ֣ם הָאִ֣ישׁ אֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְ וְשֵׁם֩ אִשְׁתּ֨וֹ נׇעֳמִ֜י וְשֵׁ֥ם שְׁנֵֽי־בָנָ֣יו׀ מַחְל֤וֹן וְכִלְיוֹן֙ אֶפְרָתִ֔ים מִבֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ שְׂדֵֽי־מוֹאָ֖ב וַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָֽׁם׃

The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the country of Moab and remained there.

Verse 3

וַיָּ֥מׇת אֱלִימֶ֖לֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ נׇעֳמִ֑י וַתִּשָּׁאֵ֥ר הִ֖יא וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיהָ׃

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

Verse 4

וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם נָשִׁים֙ מֹֽאֲבִיּ֔וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הָאַחַת֙ עׇרְפָּ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית ר֑וּת וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָׁ֖ם כְּעֶ֥שֶׂר שָׁנִֽים׃

They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth, and they lived there about ten years.

Verse 5

וַיָּמֻ֥תוּ גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם מַחְל֣וֹן וְכִלְי֑וֹן וַתִּשָּׁאֵר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה מִשְּׁנֵ֥י יְלָדֶ֖יהָ וּמֵאִישָֽׁהּ׃

Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.

Verse 6

וַתָּ֤קׇם הִיא֙ וְכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָ וַתָּ֖שׇׁב מִשְּׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֑ב כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְעָה֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב כִּֽי־פָקַ֤ד יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃

She started out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab; for in the country of Moab she had heard that G OD had taken note of the people [of Israel] and given them food.

Verse 7

וַתֵּצֵ֗א מִן־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽיְתָה־שָּׁ֔מָּה וּשְׁתֵּ֥י כַלּוֹתֶ֖יהָ עִמָּ֑הּ וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living; and they set out on the road back to the land of Judah.

Verse 8

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר נׇעֳמִי֙ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י כַלֹּתֶ֔יהָ לֵ֣כְנָה שֹּׁ֔בְנָה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ (יעשה) [יַ֣עַשׂ] יְהֹוָ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ חֶ֔סֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם עִם־הַמֵּתִ֖ים וְעִמָּדִֽי׃

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Turn back, each of you to her mother’s house. May G OD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me!

Verse 9

יִתֵּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ לָכֶ֔ם וּמְצֶ֣אןָ מְנוּחָ֔ה אִשָּׁ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּשַּׁ֣ק לָהֶ֔ן וַתִּשֶּׂ֥אנָה קוֹלָ֖ן וַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃

May G OD grant that each of you find security in the house of a husband!” And she kissed them farewell. They broke into weeping

Verse 10

וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה־לָּ֑הּ כִּֽי־אִתָּ֥ךְ נָשׁ֖וּב לְעַמֵּֽךְ׃

and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

Verse 11

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר נׇעֳמִי֙ שֹׁ֣בְנָה בְנֹתַ֔י לָ֥מָּה תֵלַ֖כְנָה עִמִּ֑י הַעֽוֹד־לִ֤י בָנִים֙ בְּֽמֵעַ֔י וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם לַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃

But Naomi replied, “Turn back, my daughters! Why should you go with me? Have I any more sons in my body who might be husbands for you?

Verse 12

שֹׁ֤בְנָה בְנֹתַי֙ לֵ֔כְןָ כִּ֥י זָקַ֖נְתִּי מִהְי֣וֹת לְאִ֑ישׁ כִּ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ יֶשׁ־לִ֣י תִקְוָ֔ה גַּ֣ם הָיִ֤יתִי הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וְגַ֖ם יָלַ֥דְתִּי בָנִֽים׃

Turn back, my daughters, for I am too old to be married. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I were married tonight and I also bore sons,

Verse 13

הֲלָהֵ֣ן׀ תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִגְדָּ֔לוּ הֲלָהֵן֙ תֵּעָגֵ֔נָה לְבִלְתִּ֖י הֱי֣וֹת לְאִ֑ישׁ אַ֣ל בְּנֹתַ֗י כִּֽי־מַר־לִ֤י מְאֹד֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־יָצְאָ֥ה בִ֖י יַד־יְהֹוָֽה׃

should you wait for them to grow up? Should you on their account debar yourselves from marriage? Oh no, my daughters! My lot is far more bitter than yours, for G OD ’s hand has struck out against me.”

Verse 14

וַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָה קוֹלָ֔ן וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָה ע֑וֹד וַתִּשַּׁ֤ק עׇרְפָּה֙ לַחֲמוֹתָ֔הּ וְר֖וּת דָּ֥בְקָה בָּֽהּ׃

They broke into weeping again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law farewell. But Ruth clung to her.

Verse 15

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ שָׁ֣בָה יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ אֶל־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֑יהָ שׁ֖וּבִי אַחֲרֵ֥י יְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃

So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and her gods. Go follow your sister-in-law.”

Verse 16

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃

But Ruth replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Verse 17

בַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּמ֙וּתִי֙ אָמ֔וּת וְשָׁ֖ם אֶקָּבֵ֑ר כֹּה֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י הַמָּ֔וֶת יַפְרִ֖יד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃

Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may G OD do to me if anything but death parts me from you.”

Verse 18

וַתֵּ֕רֶא כִּֽי־מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת הִ֖יא לָלֶ֣כֶת אִתָּ֑הּ וַתֶּחְדַּ֖ל לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

When [Naomi] saw how determined she was to go with her, she ceased to argue with her;

Verse 19

וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶ֔ם עַד־בּוֹאָ֖נָה בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיְהִ֗י כְּבוֹאָ֙נָה֙ בֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם וַתֵּהֹ֤ם כׇּל־הָעִיר֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה הֲזֹ֥את נׇעֳמִֽי׃

and the two went on until they reached Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city buzzed with excitement over them. The women said, “Can this be Naomi?”

Verse 20

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ן אַל־תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה לִ֖י נׇעֳמִ֑י קְרֶ֤אןָ לִי֙ מָרָ֔א כִּֽי־הֵמַ֥ר שַׁדַּ֛י לִ֖י מְאֹֽד׃

“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, for Shaddai has made my lot very bitter.

Verse 21

אֲנִי֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וְרֵיקָ֖ם הֱשִׁיבַ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֑ה לָ֣מָּה תִקְרֶ֤אנָה לִי֙ נׇעֳמִ֔י וַֽיהֹוָה֙ עָ֣נָה בִ֔י וְשַׁדַּ֖י הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽי׃

I went away full, and G OD has brought me back empty. How can you call me Naomi, when G OD has dealt harshly with me, when Shaddai has brought misfortune upon me!”

Verse 22

וַתָּ֣שׇׁב נׇעֳמִ֗י וְר֨וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤ה כַלָּתָהּ֙ עִמָּ֔הּ הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֑ב וְהֵ֗מָּה בָּ֚אוּ בֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת קְצִ֥יר שְׂעֹרִֽים׃

Thus Naomi returned from the country of Moab; she returned with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabite. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition · CC-BY-NC

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