Was Ruth a Moabitess?

Moabites were pagans and worshiped the god Chemosh. Therefore, Ruth, as a Moabite, is an unlikely hero in Jewish story. However, the story clearly presents Ruth as a hero, for she exhibits several important qualities, valued in the ancient world and in the Bible overall. Ruth is loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Did Ruth become an Israelite?

In the narrative, she is not an Israelite but rather is from Moab; she marries an Israelite. Both her husband and her father-in-law die, and she helps her mother-in-law, Naomi, find protection. The two of them travel to Bethlehem together, where Ruth wins the love of Boaz through her kindness.

Is Ruth a foreigner?

In the story of Ruth, which is set in the time when there is “no king in Israel” and “everybody does what is right in his own eyes” (cf. Judges 17:6), the main character moves from being a Moabite foreigner to a valued member of the community.