Page 18 - HaMizrachi #10 Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot 5779
P. 18
Dr. Yael Ziegler
RUTH AND BOAZ:
MIRROR CHARACTERS
Ruth’s generosity reverses are generous without any thought is designed to create a dynastic line
the downward spiral of the of personal benefit that can accrue of kingship from which will emerge
narrative and launches its from their generosity. This type of a leader, who, like his illustrious
arduous movement toward resolution. kindness, which is often associated ancestors, will be willing to put the
However, Ruth, a marginalized with acts of kindness done for the needs of the other before his own.
Moabite, cannot act independently. deceased, is termed chesed shel emet.
Everything that she offers Naomi (food, There is, of course, no expectation of A similar point emerges from
children) is given to her by the well- recompense when one buries a dead the textual description of Ruth’s
established Judean, Boaz, who is also person or treats a corpse with respect. hardworking behavior. Ruth’s
portrayed as a paragon of generosity. It is striking, therefore, that both industriousness, indicated by her
If the first critical shift in the book Ruth and Boaz are explicitly praised willingness to work in the fields from
is initiated by Ruth, its final pivot is for the kindness that they perform morning (2:7) until evening (2:17),
completed by Boaz. It may be most for the deceased. Naomi blesses Ruth corresponds to Boaz’s industrious
accurate to conclude that the success (and Orpah) that she will receive due nature. Despite being a wealthy
of the narrative rests upon the coming recompense for her behavior: “G-d landowner, Boaz personally visits his
together of this couple. Ruth and Boaz’s shall do kindness with you as you did fields during the harvest (2:4), winnows
marriage represents the conjoining with the dead ones and with me” (1:8). his own barley (3:2), and sleeps in
of two similar personalities, whose Naomi later blesses Boaz in a similar his fields to guard his crops. Their
traits are ideal for producing both the fashion: “Blessed is he to G-d, for he common drive to work hard is critical
personal solution for Naomi and the has not withheld his kindness from for producing an unselfish king. A
national solution for the self-centered, the living or the dead” (2:20). leader who is willing to serve his people
miserly, and slothful society of the can be a benevolent and charitable
period of the Judges. In keeping with this trait, both of these king. It is no wonder then, that the
characters are portrayed not just as Davidic dynasty begins with a woman
To convey the similarity between acting on someone else’s behalf, but as and a man who labor in the fields.
Boaz and Ruth and simultaneously doing so in a manner that undermines The marriage of these industrious
highlight the important traits they their own interests. Ruth’s original individuals produces a child whose
share, the Book of Ruth presents decision to remain with Naomi rather name is Oved, “the worker,” born to
several linguistic parallels between than return to a fulfilling future in serve the people (4:17).
these characters. Moab attests to her selflessness. Boaz’s
willingness to buy Elimelech’s land The mirroring of Ruth and Boaz thus
The most significant similarity and marry Ruth in order to establish depicts the harmonious alliance of two
between them is their common trait the name of the deceased requires a similar personalities, who are kind,
of kindness. The verb natan, to give, fair measure of selflessness, as may be generous, selfless and hardworking.
is employed in the book to depict seen from the redeemer’s panic. Both The parallels between these
Ruth giving food to Naomi (2:18) Ruth and Boaz are willing to sacrifice personalities hint at the successful
and to portray Boaz giving food to their personal dignity to help another: fruit of their union, the Davidic
Ruth (3:17). Each of these exemplary Ruth when she offers to go to the fields dynasty, which is founded upon their
characters supplies food to someone to glean food (2:2) and Boaz when he common traits.
needy, thereby solving the essential himself serves Ruth food in the field
problem of the book. And yet, the (2:14). The self-sacrificing quality they (This article is excerpted with permission
book does not portray commonplace share and their willingness to suspend from ‘Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy,’
kindness; rather, it focuses on a their own personal interests in favor of
particularly selfless type of kindness. the needs of the other are critical to the Maggid, 2015.)
Specifically, both of these characters success of their union. Their marriage
Dr Yael Ziegler teaches Tanach at leading
institutions in Israel
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