The book of Ruth is not merely about the individual characters, but about Israel, moving from the barrenness of the period of the judges toward the new birth of the monarchy. Naomi is the barren, bereft Israelite widow, who ends the book with a child her knees and with plenty of food ?Eredeemed. And the chief means for that movement is the incorporation of the Gentile Ruth into her house. Kindness is extended to the Gentiles, and through the incorporation of Gentiles, all Israel is saved.
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