distinguish between the lesser and greater matters of the Law, magnifying the former and neglecting the latter (Matthew 23:23). The result was a harsh legalism that failed to express the divine concern for justice and compassion that was the real heart of the Law and lay behind all the commandments. The truth is that the ban on Moabites was given to prevent Israel from ever again being harmed by Moab, or seduced into worshiping its gods. It was never intended to exclude someone like Ruth who had