ABSTRACT
Ruth is the second of the five Megillot of the Hebrew Bible, and is part of the Writings. It is the thirty-eighth book of the Hebrew Bible, coming after The Song of Songs and before Lam- entations. Cynthia Ozick argues that Ruth decides to follow Naomi because she has become a monotheist. "She is drawn to Israel because Israel is the inheritor of the One Universal Creator." Julia Kristeva argues that Ruth wants to continue to Bethlehem because of her love of Naomi. Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem during the barley harvest. Naomi's husband had a rich kinsman, Boaz. Naomi tells Ruth to glean in Boaz's fields. Boaz comes to his fields and sees Ruth gleaning. Naomi gives Ruth detailed instructions, explaining that Boaz is her near kinsman. She should enter his tent at night and uncover his feet, a term often used as a euphemism for male genitals.
