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The JPS Bible Commentary: Ruth is unavailable, but you can change that!

The moving story of Ruth, with its themes of loyalty, lovingkindness (hesed), and redemption, is one of the great narratives of the Bible. Socially, the Israelites were aware of their responsibility to protect the weak and unprotected among them. Redemption secures the life of the people as a community, not just as individuals. In this story, Boaz fills the familial obligation to marry the widow...

The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself … (Lev. 19:34) You too must befriend [ve’ahavtem, “love”] the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt … (Deut. 10:19) For love is fierce as death … (Songs 8:6) No story in the Bible demonstrates more fully than the Book of Ruth the extraordinary power of love, channeled as ḥesed—kindness or generosity—that goes beyond the expected obligation. No book better models what
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