of them”. Naomi and Ruth caused “all the city” to hum with talk of their arrival. Their arrival was big news in town. Again, the plural pronoun “them” is used, but the conversation that follows is only with Naomi—about Naomi. “And the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ ” Notably, “the women said” (literally, “they [feminine plural] said”,) “Is this [singular] Naomi?” There is no mention of Ruth or dialogue about Ruth. Naomi’s words that follow do not mention Ruth either. There is an uncomfortable silence