Providing a contrast to the intermarriage resistance in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Ruth’s story tells a beautiful, however, a different story of a marriage. Customary to this time period, the levirate marriage custom stated if there were no other heirs, a man was required to marry his brother’s widow (Tullock & McEntire, 2012).
As a result of the death of Naomi’s husband and her two sons, that were married to Moabite women, Ruth and Orphah, the women were left with no way to preserve their family line (Tullock & McEntire, 2012). In accordance with the persuasion of Naomi, Orphah returned to her home country, however, Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi (Tullock & McEntire, 2012).
As the two women returned to Naomi’s homeland in Israel, Ruth was sent to gather remaining grain in the fields of Boaz to provide sustenance for both women. By attracting the attention of Boaz, Ruth was shown extra favoritism due in part to the kindness that she was bestowing on her mother-in-law, Naomi (Tullock & McEntire, 2012).
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Although Boaz was a distant relative of Naomi’s former husband, Elimelech, there was still one relative that was closer in the family line that had to be confronted regarding the property that had been left (Tullock & McEntire, 2012). From this time in history, women were viewed as part of the property that would be inherited, thus, whoever accepted the property also gained the responsibility of the two women (Tullock & McEntire, 2012). Likewise, the closer relative declined the inheritance because he would be required to marry Ruth, therefore, Boaz was next of kin (Tullock & McEntire,