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 3:16

3:16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.

Ruth Returns to Naomi

When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi ⁸  asked, ⁹  “How did things turn out for you, ¹⁰  my daughter?” Ruth ¹¹  told her about all the man had done for her. ¹² 

Ruth 4:7

4:7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: ¹³  A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. ¹⁴  This was a legally binding act ¹⁵  in Israel.)

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 Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn Heb “said.” Since what follows is a question, the present translation uses “asked” here.

¹⁰ tn Heb “Who are you?” In this context Naomi is clearly not asking for Ruth’s identity. Here the question has the semantic force “Are you his wife?” See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 223-24, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 184-85.

¹¹ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹² sn All that the man had done. This would have included his promise to marry her and his gift of barley.

¹⁵ tn Heb “and this formerly in Israel concerning redemption and concerning a transfer to ratify every matter.”

¹⁶ tn Heb “a man removed his sandal and gave [it] to his companion”; NASB “gave it to another”; NIV, NRSV, CEV “to the other.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “the legal witness”; KJV “a testimony”; ASV, NASB “the manner (form NAB) of attestation.”