Ruth 1:19

1:19 So the two of them ¹  journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. ² 

Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem

When they entered ³  Bethlehem, ⁴  the whole village was excited about their arrival. ⁵  The women of the village said, ⁶  “Can this be Naomi?” ⁷ 

Ruth 2:22

2:22 Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. ⁸  That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field.” ⁹ 

¹ tn The suffix “them” appears to be masculine, but it is probably an archaic dual form (E. F. Campbell, Ruth [AB], 65; F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 75-76).

² map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

³ tn The temporal indicator וַיְהִי (vayÿhi, “and it was”) here introduces a new scene.

⁴ map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

⁵ tn Heb “because of them” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “excited to see them.”

⁶ tn Heb “they said,” but the verb form is third person feminine plural, indicating that the women of the village are the subject.

⁷ tn Heb “Is this Naomi?” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The question here expresses surprise and delight because of the way Naomi reacts to it (F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 92).

⁸ tn Naomi uses the feminine form of the word “servant” (as Boaz did earlier, see v. 8), in contrast to Ruth’s use of the masculine form in the preceding verse. Since she is concerned for Ruth’s safety, she may be subtly reminding Ruth to stay with the female workers and not get too close to the men.

⁹ tn Heb “and they will not harm you in another field”; NRSV “otherwise you might be bothered in another field.”