Archdiocese Of St. Louis

The Book of Ruth is named for the Moabite woman who commits herself to the Israelite people by an oath to her mother-in-law Naomi and becomes the great-grandmother of David. Thus she is an ancestor of both King David and Jesus. The beauty of the story’s construction, its use of dialogue, and the sheer drama of its content mark it as one of the classic short stories of world literature. Based on the recollection of an historical figure, the story is developed, gripping its audience with profound insight into divine and human relationships. The book portrays the love and loyalty of human beings in working their way through tragic circumstances to participation in the community of the faithful people of God. The key to the story of Ruth is that of responsible and loving decision-making: Ruth’s loyalty, her generosity and her willingness to take risks for the sake of righteousness set in motion a chain of beneficial events, which God blesses each step of the way. Ruth is so frequently designated “the Moabite”