When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband."
- Ruth 1:6-9a
As with any time you’re reading the Bible, it’s important to understand the context of this passage. In the 5 verses before this section, there has been a famine in Bethlehem, Naomi and Elimelech moved their family to the foreign land of Moab, Elimelech died, their two sons married foreign women, and then those sons died. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were left with no one to care for them economically.
This passage introduces us to the deep relationships between Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. It also raises questions about cultural norms, family loyalty, and the pressures facing women in the ancient Near East. While it appears that Naomi first starts out bringing Ruth and Orpah on the journey back to Bethlehem (verse 7), she then changes her mind and instructs them to go back to their families of origin (verse 8). Why should Ruth and Orpah have stayed in Moab with their families, as Naomi suggested?
The story takes place during a patriarchal era when a woman’s identity, security, and social standing were intricately tied to her family and husband. In Moab, as in much of the ancient Near East, women typically relied on male relatives for protection and provision. Ruth and Orpah, as widows, faced significant challenges: loss of financial support, diminished societal status, and uncertainty about remarriage. Without husbands to provide for them, widows’ survival often depended on the charity of relatives or the community. Returning to their families in Moab would have allowed Ruth and Orpah to access the support of their kinship networks. These networks were essential for widows, providing food, shelter, and the possibility of remarriage within the family or clan.
Naomi’s appeal to Ruth and Orpah to return to their "mother’s home" highlights this cultural expectation. While men were usually the heads of households, widowed daughters often found refuge with their mothers. This phrase might also suggest the possibility of remarriage, as mothers played a crucial role in arranging marriages for their daughters.
Naomi’s plan to return to Bethlehem introduced another layer of complexity. Ruth and Orpah were Moabites, a group often viewed with suspicion and hostility by the Israelites. According to Deuteronomy 23:3, Moabites were excluded from "the assembly of the Lord" because of their ancestors' actions against Israel during the Exodus. This cultural and religious divide would have made it challenging for Ruth and Orpah to integrate into Israelite society, where they risked being marginalized as outsiders.
Remaining in Moab, where they shared language, customs, and religion, would have been a safer and more logical choice. Naomi’s suggestion for them to stay underscores her awareness of the difficulties they would face in Judah. She did not want to impose further hardship on her daughters-in-law, whose loyalty and kindness she deeply appreciated.
Naomi, too, was a widow who would have had difficulty providing for herself. Her decision to return to Bethlehem was driven by the news that "the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them" (verse 6). She hoped to find sustenance and perhaps kinship support in her homeland. However, Ruth and Orpah’s situation was different. As Moabites, they could not expect the same welcome or resources in Judah.
While Naomi’s advice to Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab was practical, it also reflected her understanding of God’s hesed – a Hebrew word that we don’t have a good English translation for. It’s often translated as mercy, love, or lovingkindness; see this post for more on that concept. She invoked God’s blessing on them, saying, "May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me" (verse 8). Naomi’s prayer acknowledged their past loyalty and expressed hope for their future well-being, even if they chose to part ways.
This passage challenges us to consider the tension between practicality and faith. Naomi’s advice to Ruth and Orpah reflects the wisdom of her time, prioritizing their immediate security and prospects. Yet Ruth’s eventual decision to accompany Naomi (spoiler alert!) demonstrates a willingness to step into the unknown, trusting in God’s provision.
Even though today’s culture and society are very different from the ancient Near East, we should recognize that following God’s calling on our lives still requires sacrifices and risks. At the same time, it’s important to respect diverse paths and choices, as Orpah’s return to Moab was not condemned but understood within the context of her circumstances.
While Naomi’s advice for Ruth and Orpah to remain in Moab was practical and compassionate, Ruth’s choice to journey to Judah demonstrates extraordinary faith and commitment. The historical context enriches our understanding of these women’s choices and invites us to reflect on the ways God’s hesed can guide and sustain us in life’s uncertainties.
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