The Women in Jesus'
Royal Line

In the days of the occasional Judges in Israel, who rescued them when they repented and cried out to God, Elimelech, a man in the Bethlehem area, decided during a famine, to better the lot of his family by moving with his wife Naomi and two sons to Moab, which was on the other side of the Jordan river.

The boys, Mahlon and Kilion, grew up and married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.

I suspect Elimelech was most concerned about making money and getting ahead. God judged him by having him die. His sons may have learned that attitude from their father, and God caused them to die too.

This left Naomi (meaning sweet) to look after two daughters-in-law, and no way to feed all three of them. She despaired, grew bitter and decided to go home to Bethlehem. At least she had relatives there.

At first, as you will find in the lovely story in the book of Ruth, the daughters-in-law went along with Naomi. I think they had learned to love her. But a way down the road, Naomi said good bye to them, sending them back to their idol-worshipping parents. Orpah agreed to go, but Ruth did not. She clung to Naomi and vowed to make Naomi's people and God her own.

This was seen as a noble decision on Ruth's part by God, and also the people of Bethlehem. Furthermore, to help support Naomi and herself, she went out at harvest time to glean what was dropped by the reapers, just as God had spelled out in the law given to Moses, as a means of helping the poor. Boaz was impressed with Ruth's thoughtfulness and had his reapers drop extra handsful to help her out.

Naomi recognized another law that could come to their advantage; Boaz could buy Elimelech's land, which would mean he would gain Ruth as his wife as part of the deal. Boaz was willing enough, when Ruth brought this to his attention, but he knew another relative had the first right to this proposal. He presented it to the man, who declined when he realized Ruth would become his wife as part of the land purchase. So Boaz redeemed the land and gladly took Ruth as his wife.

The happy marriage of Boaz and Ruth produced a son, Obed, which made Naomi feel very happy and blessed again. So much so that all the neighbours of Bethlehem congratulated her.

Obed's son was Jesse, who had a lineup of handsome sons. When God sent Samuel to annoint the next king from that family, God choose David, the youngest, who was a shepherd boy at that time.

My mother said I was named after the Ruth in the Bible. One of the these three noble women in Jesus' royal line. No wonder then, that I feel drawn to these stories.