Study Desk

Then the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for those that remain, seeing the women were destroyed out of Benjamin?

And they said, There must be an inheritance for the escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe shall not be blotted out from Israel.

Nevertheless we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the sons of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that gives a wife to Benjamin.

And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man [of them] his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, or else you would now be guilty.

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 Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.

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

would you therefore tarry until they were grown? would you therefore stay from having husbands? no, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh has gone forth against me.

And Ruth said, Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;

And she said to them, Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and has remained standing from morning until now; her sitting now in the house [has only been] for a moment.

Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and you have spoken kindly to your female slave, though I am not as one of your female slaves.

And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don't rebuke her.

And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your slave: spread therefore your skirt over your slave; for you are a near kinsman.

And now, my daughter, don't be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.

And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Don't let it be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.

And she said, These six [measures] of barley he gave me; for he said, Don't go empty to your mother-in-law.

Then she said, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day.

And I thought to disclose it to you, saying, Buy it before those that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it: but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides you; and I am after you. And he said, I will redeem it.

And the near kinsman said, I can't redeem it for myself, or else I will mar my own inheritance: you take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can't redeem it.