00:00The story of Ruth Elimelech and his wife Naomi had two sons,
00:11Malon and Kilion, and lived in the town of Bethlehem in Judah.
00:16When the area was hit with famine they decided to leave to find food.
00:20They traveled to the nearby land of Moab and settled there to live.
00:25The Moabite people did not worship God but their own idols.
00:29Some time later Elimelech died.
00:32The two sons grew up and married local Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah.
00:37Sadly tragedy struck again.
00:40Ten years after the two sons had settled in Moab Malon and Kilion both died.
00:46It left three widows, Naomi and her two young Moabite daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah.
00:52When Naomi heard that the Lord had provided food for the people back in Bethlehem she
00:57decided to return.
00:59The three widows packed up their belongings.
01:03Naomi then told her two daughter-in-laws, go back to your own mother's homes.
01:08May the Lord show you the same kindness you have show to your dead husbands and to me.
01:13May God help you find new husbands.
01:16Naomi kissed them both goodbye and they wept aloud.
01:20We will go back with you to your people, they replied.
01:24No you must return home, Naomi insisted.
01:27You can marry again.
01:30Naomi felt embittered and that God was against her.
01:33Orpah and Ruth wept again.
01:36Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye and returned home to her mother's house.
01:40Ruth however clung hold of Naomi and would not let go.
01:45Orpah has returned to her people and their gods, said Naomi.
01:49Go back with her.
01:51Don't urge me to leave you, Ruth replied.
01:54Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay.
01:58Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.
02:02Where you die I will die.
02:04When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to stay with her they both set off on the
02:08road to Bethlehem.
02:11They arrived back in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning.
02:15Their arrival caused quite a stir.
02:19Naomi's grief and suffering had changed her appearance so much that many did not recognize
02:23her.
02:25Can this be Naomi, people asked.
02:28Don't call me Naomi, she insisted.
02:31Call me Mara because God has made my life bitter.
02:35I went away full but the Lord has brought me back empty.
02:39The Lord has brought misfortune on me.
02:42After Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem they needed food.
02:46Let me go into the barley fields to pick up the leftover grain.
02:50The poor were allowed to pick up grain that the harvesters had left on the ground.
02:55Go ahead, my daughter, Naomi replied.
02:59Ruth went into the fields belonging to Boaz.
03:02Boaz was a relative of Naomi's dead husband Elimelech.
03:07Later Boaz arrived and greeted the harvesters.
03:10The Lord be with you.
03:12The harvesters replied, The Lord bless you.
03:16Boaz noticed Ruth collecting grain with the poor.
03:20Who is that woman, he asked the man in charge of the harvesting.
03:24She is the Moabite who returned with Naomi, he answered.
03:28She asked permission to pick up grain and has been working hard.
03:33Boaz went across to Ruth.
03:35Stay in these fields with the women who work for me, he said.
03:39I told the men not to lay a hand on you.
03:43When you get thirsty help yourself to the water jars the men have filled.
03:47Ruth bowed down before Boaz.
03:50Why are you treating a foreigner so kindly, she asked.
03:54I have been told how you have cared for Naomi, Boaz answered.
03:59May God, under whose wings you have taken refuge, richly reward you.
04:04Even though I am lower than one of your servants you have spoken kindly to me and put me at
04:08my ease, Ruth responded.
04:11At mealtime Boaz invited her to eat with the other harvesters.
04:16Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar, he said.
04:19He offered her roasted grain.
04:22Ruth ate all she wanted.
04:25When Ruth got up to continue working Boaz gave secret orders to his men.
04:30Let her gather among the sheaves without telling her off.
04:34Even pull out some stalks from the bundles and drop them for her to gather.
04:38Ruth busily gathered grain until the evening.
04:42Ruth threshed the barley she had gathered and took it home to Naomi.
04:46It was a large amount, about thirty pounds.
04:50She also brought Naomi the food leftover from the meal she had with Boaz and the harvesters.
04:56Where did you gather grain today?
04:59Naomi asked.
05:00Who is the man who has been kind to you?
05:03Boaz, Ruth replied.
05:06The Lord bless him, said Naomi.
05:09He is a close relative we know as a guardian redeemer.
05:13He has an obligation to look after a relative who is in need.
05:17From that point on Ruth continued gathering grain in the fields belonging to Boaz.
05:23She stayed close to the other women gathering grain knowing she would be safe.
05:28She worked hard in the barley harvest and then in the wheat harvest that followed making
05:32sure that Naomi had enough food to eat.
05:35One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, My daughter you must have a future where
05:40you will be provided for.
05:42Tonight Boaz will be winnowing barley.
05:45Wash, put on perfume and dress in your best clothes.
05:49Then she told Ruth what to do next.
05:52Ruth made her way down to the threshing floor where Boaz was working making sure she was
05:57not seen.
05:59When Boaz had finished eating and drinking he lay down at the far end of a grain pile.
06:04Ruth crept up to him, uncovered his feet and lay down.
06:08During the night Boaz woke up to find a woman asleep at his feet.
06:13Who are you? he asked.
06:15I am your servant Ruth, she replied.
06:18Spread the corner of your garment over me as you are a guardian redeemer of my family.
06:24A guardian redeemer was someone obliged to look after a relative in need.
06:29Boaz was related to Naomi's dead husband Elimelech.
06:33The Lord bless you replied Boaz.
06:36You have not run after younger men and people know you are a woman of good character.
06:41I am your guardian redeemer but there is another person more closely related than I am.
06:47If he is not willing to redeem you then I will.
06:50Ruth lay at his feet until morning.
06:53Boaz filled the shawl she was wearing with grain to take back to Naomi.
06:58Boaz went to the town gate where business deals were done.
07:02When he saw the guardian redeemer who was more closely related to Naomi's former husband,
07:07he asked him to sit down with ten elders gathered as witnesses.
07:11Naomi is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech, Boaz explained.
07:17You have the first right to buy it but if you do not want to then I will.
07:22I cannot buy the land without causing problems with my own estate, came the reply.
07:27You buy it as I cannot.
07:30It was the custom to seal a deal on buying property by one party taking off a sandal
07:34and giving it to the other.
07:37The guardian redeemer who had first choice on the land took off his sandal and gave it
07:41to Boaz.
07:43Boaz made an announcement to the elders and those gathered.
07:46Today I have bought from Naomi the property of Elimelech and his sons Malon and Kilion.
07:53I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite as my wife.
07:57You are my witnesses.
07:59So Boaz married Ruth and the Lord blessed them with a son.
08:03Women told Naomi, Praise the Lord.
08:07He has looked after you in your old age.
08:10Ruth loves you and is better to you than seven sons.
08:14Ruth and Boaz's son was called Obed.
08:17Obed was the father of Jesse whose youngest son David became king of Israel.
08:22A descendant of David was Mary the mother of Jesus.
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