A kind, old woman named Naomi lived in a
place called Moab, far from her home in Bethlehem. Her
husband and sons died, so the only family she had left were
her two widowed daughters-in-law. One day, Naomi told them,
"I need to return to my home. I will miss you a lot, but I
am too old and I am not helping you by staying here."
When it came time to say
good-bye, one of her two daughters-in-law named Ruth could
not leave Naomi. She said, "Let me go where you go. Your
people will be my people. And your God will be my God."
Naomi was deeply touched by Ruth's love and loyalty, and so
she agreed to let Ruth return with her to Bethlehem.
They arrived in Bethlehem after a long
journey, just in time for the barley harvest.
Ruth had a great idea. "If I gather leftover grain, we
can make bread to eat." So Ruth got permission to pick up
grain missed by the harvesters.
A man named Boaz owned the field and
wondered who she was. "She came back with old Naomi," said
one of his farm supervisors. "She has worked hard."
Boaz called Ruth to him and said, "Gather
as much grain as you need, and I will make sure my workers
protect you."
"You are very kind to a stranger," she
said.
"Naomi is part of my family, and you are
taking good care of her," said Boaz. "May God bless you for your kindness."
God did bless Ruth. She and Boaz
became friends and he was a great help to Naomi and Ruth.
After they got to know each other very well, Boaz married
Ruth. Ruth cared for Naomi until she died.
Ruth
and Boaz became the great-grandparents of the great
King David.
