Ruth returned from Moab in penury with her mother-in-law, Naomi. The opera traces their life from Naomi's departure from and return to Bethlehem through to the birth of Ruth's first child looking forward to the coming king. This is the overture. 

Ruth, the Moabitess - Overture

The history begins when Elimelech takes his family away with him to Moab driven away from his home by a famine. Mahlon and Chilion, his two sons, take wives in Moab. Whilst they are there the three men die and Naomi is bereft. She tells her daughters in law to return to their homes, after all, they have no hope for the future with her.

Ruth Act 1, scene 1

Naomi continues to seek to persuade Ruth and Orpah to return to their families. Eventually she prevails with Orpah, but nothing will turn Ruth away. She wants to stay with Naomi, for she wants herself to know Naomi’s God. Naomi acquiesces in Ruth’s stand and declares that Ruth indeed shall accompany her, They both declare that nothing but death shall separate them.

Ruth Act 1, scene 2

After a long journey Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem. The villagers, seeing them arrive, ask among themselves who this is, hardly believing that Naomi who left a rich woman has returned in poverty. Naomi speaks briefly of what has taken place, and they welcome her home.

Ruth Act 1, scene 3

It was harvest time when they arrived in Bethlehem so Ruth asks her mother-in-law permission to glean in the fields. Permission is granted and together they seek the Lord’s blessing upon the venture and upon the man in whose field she will work.

Ruth Act 2, scene 1

In the field the reapers are singing the praises of the Lord as they work. Soon Boaz joins them and is curious about the young woman gleaning with his reapers. They express their joy that she keeps company with them and relate to him how well she has worked.
Boaz is overjoyed to find that this young woman is Ruth, for he had already heard many good words about her in the town. He welcomes her and gives her instructions to stay in his fields. After they have all lunched together, and she has gone back to work, he instructs his workers to take good care of her, and ensure that she is able to glean well.

Ruth Act 2, scene 2

Ruth returns to her mother-in-law, who is amazed at the quantity of grain she has gathered. Her questions of Ruth are not to chide her, but to elicit a full account of how good the Lord had been to her. When she learns that it was Boaz’s field in which she worked she is enraptured. Boaz is her cousin. He is not quite the closest relative, but he is a generous and God-fearing man. Naomi praises God and advises Ruth to remain with him.

Ruth Act 2, scene 3

Ruth had worked, quite by accident, in a field which belonged to one of her nearest kinsmen. Arrangements must be made.

Ruth Act 3, prelude

Soon Naomi tells Ruth about the law of redemption, and what she must do to bring this to Boaz’s attention.

Ruth Act 3, scene 1

Boaz was not ignorant of the law, and he takes advice before ever Ruth comes, about what he should do. Ruth is a Moabitess, and therefore ineligible for marriage to a Hebrew. But during the discussion, Boaz realises that he is in the eleventh generation and the law of exclusion only applied down to the generation before him (Deuteronomy 23:3). That gladdens his heart, but there is a nearer kinsman than he. It is his right to take Ruth and provide an inheritance for Mahlon.
Boaz is an honourable man, and so he resolves to take the matter forward when the occasion demands it, but for the present he has no good reason or duty to act, because of the nearer kinsman.

Ruth Act 3, scene 2

After a day's hard work the men are feasting on the threshing floor. Boaz is leading them in thanksgiving for the Lord's provision for them. They sing of their gladness that Boaz is their master.
When all is quiet Ruth in obedience to her mother-in-law approaches Boaz, where he agrees to take up her case.

Ruth Act 3, scene 3

Ruth returns to Naomi, who is assured that Boaz will represent Ruth in the matter of her inheritance.
Boaz is on stage, but the women are unaware of his presence, as he is of theirs. He muses to himself how he shall approach the near kinsman in the city gate.

Ruth Act 3, scene 4

A brief intermission for the change of scene

Ruth Act 4, prelude

As the scene opens the children are playing jack near the city gate and quietly poking fun at the elders who are sitting and standing around talking.
Boaz appears and suddenly the children take notice, he speaks to them and they listen intently - no poking of fun now!

Ruth Act 4, scene 1

Boaz moves over to the gate of the town with the elders. Presently the near kinsman comes by and Boaz brings Ruth’s case before him and the elders. At first he is inclined to perform his duty on behalf of Naomi, but upon learning that he must also take Ruth as his wife, he declines. So before the elders of the city to affirm that he would not fulfil his duty he hands Boaz his sandal.
Boaz therefore declares that he will perform the duty of kinsman redeemer. The elders are satisfied and bear witness to the legality of the transaction between the near kinsman and Boaz. The people rejoice together with the elders, that Naomi will now be provided for and Elimelech’s name will not be cut off from Israel.

The wedding is prepared.

Ruth Act 4, scene 2

Some months later Ruth has given birth to a child. Naomi is nursing the child and the people around rejoicing that a son, Obed, has been born. They were not to know, but some of the younger ones there may have lived to see the day when the grandson of this child sat upon the throne of Israel as her second king. Boaz had stepped in to provide an inheritance to Mahlon, just as great David’s greater son has stepped in to provide an inheritance for all of his people through his death on the cross for sinners.

Ruth Act 4, scene 3

In the final scene Boaz recites his genealogy, and enigmatically adds onto it the descendants of his son.
The people sing one of the songs of Obed’s grandson. We leave them singing of Ruth's faithfulness to her mother-in-law and the God of Israel.

SeftonHall

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