fulfillment of their respected friend Naomi. This high respect and acceptance that is shown to Ruth were clearly merited. The commitment and love that she had shown to Naomi had impressed the women of Bethlehem, and they declared that Ruth was worth more than seven sons—high praise indeed in a patriarchal society. This emphasis on the value of a woman is also significant because of Naomi’s earlier attitude toward life. When she was leaving Moab she made clear that she valued men above women. The