The parallel between the opening (1:1–2) and the closing of the book, neither of which reflects the gynocentric perspective of the narrative between them, is valid so far as it goes, but “mocking” is not true to the tone of Ruth. Nor is the genealogy in fact how one would expect an Israelite tale to end: there are no comparable examples. The striking feature of the genealogy, as observed already, is its relative lack of connection with the story the book tells. Only by starting with Perez and thereby