of ten years, the mother and her daughters-in-law were alike widowed. Naomi then determines to return to her own country; both her daughters-in-law set out with her. Orpah and Ruth had alike been faithful to the Jewish family: “The Lord deal kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me,” says Naomi, as she urges them to leave her and go back to their own friends. Both the young women wept, and both answered, “Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.” Naomi again urges their leaving her: “Turn again, my daughters, why will ye go with me?” “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.” This is the first sentence that betrays the difference between the young women; both had been kind and dutiful to their husbands and mother-in-law, but now we see one turning back, and the other cleaving to the poor, and aged, and solitary widow. No positive blame is attached to Orpah, but from that instant we love Ruth. Read over her passionate remonstrance with her mother-in-law: “Thy people shall be my people; thy God my God. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried.” We follow the two women to Bethlehem, the native town of the family: “And all the city was moved about them, and they said. Is this Naomi?” “And she said, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me: I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty.” It was at the beginning of the barley harvest when they came to Bethlehem, and now we find Ruth preparing to glean. Probably gleaning was at this time a custom among the neighboring nations also, for the proposal comes from Ruth herself, and not from her Jewish mother-in-law, who merely signifies her assent: “Go, my daughter.” The young widow went, and
