SECTION VII

Megillat Ruth 1:19-22 in PaRDeS

By Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)

The Story – Chapter 1:19-22

SECTION III

INTRODUCTION

In this series of documents I will be translating Megillat Ruth in four separate ways to produce a Pshat translation, a Remez translation, a Drash translation, and a Sod translation. I will be building these four translations by examining how Chazal translated the words in the oral and written Torah. For all four levels I will examine the Torah. For the Pshat I will draw from the text of Ruth, sefer Mordechai, the Mishna, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra. For the Remez I will draw from the Gemara, sefer Luqas, Meam Loez, and sefer Baal HaTurim. For the Drash I will draw from the Midrash, sefer Matityahu, Alshich, and the Malbim. Finally, for the Sod I will draw from the Zohar and sefer Yochanan. I will also, on occasion, use logical arguments (sevarah) to justify a particular translation.

I will be presenting the Hebrew, Greek, and english translations in order to see the traditional understanding of the text. I will then build the PaRDeS translation for the key words. Finally, I will retranslate the pasukim to bring out the PaRDeS translation. This is the goal of this work. To bring to the English speaking audience a glimpse of the richness of the text ans seen through the eyes of Chazal in the four levels of PaRDeS.

Ruth 1:19-22

Text:

וַתֵּלַכְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶם עַד־בֹּאָנָה בֵּית לָחֶם וַיְהִי כְּבֹאָנָה בֵּית לֶחֶם וַתֵּהֹם כָּל־הָעִיר עֲלֵיהֶן וַתֹּאמַרְנָה הֲזֹאת נָעֳמִֽי׃	יט
וַתֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶן אַל־תִּקְרֶאנָה לִי נָעֳמִי קְרֶאןָ לִי מָרָא כִּי־הֵמַר שַׁדַּי לִי מְאֹֽד׃	כ
אֲנִי מְלֵאָה הָלַכְתִּי וְרֵיקָם הֱשִׁיבַנִי יְהוָה לָמָּה תִקְרֶאנָה לִי נָעֳמִי וַֽיהוָה עָנָה בִי וְשַׁדַּי הֵרַֽע לִֽי׃	כא
וַתָּשָׁב נָעֳמִי וְרוּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּה כַלָּתָהּ עִמָּהּ הַשָּׁבָה מִשְּׂדֵי מֹואָב וְהֵמָּה בָּאוּ בֵּית לֶחֶם בִּתְחִלַּת קְצִיר שְׂעֹרִֽים׃	כב

Septuagint:

Ruth 1:19-22 19 The two of them went until they came to Beth Lehem. And it happened that when they came to Beth Lehem all the inhabitants of the city became excited over them and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

20- But she said to them: "Do not call me Naomi [pleasant]; call me the bitter of soul, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me indeed.

21- "I went away full, with my husband and sons, but the Lord has brought me back destitute of them. Why, then, should you call me Naomi, seeing that my guilt has been testified to before the Lord, and the Almighty has brought evil upon me?"

22- So Naomi returned, and with her was Ruth, the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the field of Moab. And they came to Beth Lehem on the eve of the Passover, and on that very day the Israelites began to harvest the Omer of the heave-offering which was of barley.

TANAKH

Translation

SEPTUAGINT

Translation

וַתֵּלַכְנָה

and they went on

ἐπορεύθησαν δὲ

Thus

שְׁתֵּיהֶם

two of them

ἀμφότεραι

both of them traversed

עַד

until

ἕως

until

בֹאָנָה

they came

τοῦ παραγενέσθαι αὐτὰς

they came to

בֵּית

house

εἰς βαιθλεεμ

Bethleëm

לָחֶם

bread

וַיְהִי

and he was

and it came to pass

כְּבֹאָנָה

when they arrive

when they arrived

בֵּית

house

εἰς βαιθλεεμ

in Bethleëm

לֶחֶם

bread

וַתֵּהֹם

and she was stirred

καὶ ἤχησεν

And buzzing

כָּל

all

πᾶσα

all

הָעִיר

the town

ἡ πόλις

The city

עֲלֵיהֶן

because of them

ἐπʼ αὐταῖς

about them

וַתֹּאמַרְנָה

and they exclaimed

καὶ εἶπον

and they said

הֲזֹאת

this

αὕτη ἐστὶν

Is this

נָעֳמִי

Naomi

νωεμιν

Noemin

וַתֹּאמֶר

and she told

καὶ εἶπεν

And she said

אֲלֵיהֶן

to them

πρὸς αὐτάς

to them

אַל

not

μὴ

Do not

תִּקְרֶאנָה

you call תּקראנה

καλεῖτέ δὴ

call

לִי

to me

με

נָעֳמִי

Naomi

νωεμιν

Noemin

קְרֶאןָ

call

καλέσατέ

call

לִי

to me

με

מָרָא

bitter

πικράν

bitter

כִּי

because

ὅτι

for

הֵמַר

he made bitter

ἐπικράνθη

embittered

שַׁדַּי

Almighty

ἐν ἐμοὶ

the Mighty One

לִי

for me

ὁ ἱκανὸς

with me

מְאֹֽד

very

σφόδρα

greatly

אֲנִי

ἐγὼ

מְלֵאָה

full

πλήρης

full

הָלַכְתִּי

I walked away

ἐπορεύθην

went out

וְרֵיקָם

and empty

καὶ κενὴν

And empty

הֱשִׁיבַנִי

He brought me back

ἀπέστρεψέν με

has brought me back

יְהוָה

HaShem

ὁ κύριος

the LORD

לָמָּה

why

καὶ ἵνα τί

and why

תִקְרֶאנָה

you call

καλεῖτέ

do you call

לִי

to me

με

נָעֳמִי

Naomi

νωεμιν

Noemin

וַיהוָה

and HaShem

καὶ κύριος

And the LORD

עָנָה

He afflicted

ἐταπείνωσέν

has humbled

בִי

to me

με

וְשַׁדַּי

and Almighty

καὶ ὁ ἱκανὸς

and the Mighty One

הֵרַע

He brought evil

ἐκάκωσέν

has afflicted

לִי

to me

με

וַתָּשָׁב

and she returned

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν

And she returned

נָעֳמִי

Naomi

νωεμιν

Noemin

וְרוּת

and Ruth

καὶ ρουθ

and Ruth

הַמּואֲבִיָּה

the Moabitess

ἡ μωαβῖτις

the Moabitess

כַלָּתָהּ

her daughter-in-law

ἡ νύμφη αὐτῆς

her daughter-in-law

עִמָּהּ

with her

הַשָּׁבָה

who she returned

ἐπιστρέφουσα

who returned

מִשְּׂדֵי

from the fields of

ἐξ ἀγροῦ

from the land of

מֹואָב

Moav

μωαβ

Moab

וְהֵמָּה

and they

αὐταὶ δὲ

so they

בָּאוּ

arrived

παρεγενήθησαν εἰς

arrived

בֵּית

house

βαιθλεεμ

Bethleëm

לֶחֶם

bread

בִּתְחִלַּת

in the beginning of

ἐν ἀρχῇ

at the beginning

קְצִיר

harvest of

θερισμοῦ

harvest

שְׂעֹרִים

barley

κριθῶν

barley

Peshitta

1:19 So they went together until they came to Beth-lehem of Judah. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, the whole city rejoiced over them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

1:20 And she said to them, Do not call me Naomi, but call me Bitter of Soul; for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.

1:21 For I went forth from here full, and HaShem has brought me back empty; why then call me Naomi, seeing HaShem has humbled me, and has sorely afflicted me?

1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, for she was wholeheartedly willing to return with her, and they came from the land of Moab at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Stone’s Translation

1:19 and the two of them went on until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they arrived in Beth-lehem, the entire city was tumultuous over them, and the women said, “Could this be Naomi?”

1:20 She said to them “Do not call me Naomi [pleasant one], call me Mara [embittered one], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

1:21 I was full when I went away, but HaShem has brought me back empty. Why shall you call me Naomi; HASHEM has testified against me, the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me!”

1:22 And so Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, with her — who returned from the fields of Moab. They came to Beth-lehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

KJV

1:19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi?

1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

1:21 I went out full, and HaShem hath brought me home again empty: why [then] call ye me Naomi, seeing HaShem hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of the barley harvest.

Symbols and their Meaning

פשת Pshat simple meaning	רמז Remez Hinted / allegorical meaning	דרש Drush Metaphoric Meaning	סוד Sod Symbolic meaning
Bethlehem: “Bread House” or ‘House of War”	Bethlehem: The House of Torah.	Bethlehem: “Royal House”.	Bethlehem: The universal capital of the world.
Women: Women	Women: Nations	Women: Husband’s crown	Woman: The great city
Two: proliferation	Two: witnesses	Two: blessing	Two: a non-unified entity
Town^[1]: City (05892 - feminine) – a place guarded by a watcher. (also see 5894 – a watcher) – root – ‘to wake up’	Town: Jerusalem	Town: Teacher (a watcher in study)	Town: divine faith
Naomi: My delight	Naomi: Ami – (my people)	Naomi: the Pleasant and Sweet [the Torah] One	Naomi: Chava
Call: to draw down	Call:	Call:	Call:
Bitter: bitter	Bitter: rebellious	Bitter: awesome	Bitter: Talmud
Almighty: Despoiler, Vanquisher [of constellations]	Almighty: dayenu – enough (suffering)	Almighty: Guardian of the doors of Israel	Almighty:manipulate
Full: with wealth and sons	Full: pregnant	Full: with sons and daughters and pregnant.	Full: full with Torah and goodness
I walked away: I walked away	I walked away: I went off the path of life	I walked away: I left the way of the righteous	I walked away: I took the path to gehinnom
Empty: without wealth and sons	Empty: barren	Empty: without children and pregnancy.	Empty: empty of Torah and goodness
Brought me back: turned me back	Brought me back: Shabbat [sitting]	Brought me back: brought me tikkun – key to redemption	Brought me back: Covering my nakedness [in Eden]
HaShem: The Name of Existence	HaShem: Loving-Kindness	HaShem: Mercy / ruthlessness	HaShem: Shekinah
Afflicted: humbled	Afflicted: sing out	Afflicted: Testified against me (in this world) / with the attribute of justice	Afflicted: compassion in the world to come
Returned: turn back	Returned: Shabbat [sitting]	Returned: who obtained a tikkun [the key to redemption]	Returned: Covering nakedness [in Eden]
Ruth: Friend or companion.	Ruth: To saturate or replenish.	Ruth: Considered well. (‘she saw’) [Israel]	Ruth: Turtle dove (faithful spouse)
Moabitess: “daughter by my father”.	Moabitess: daughter from The forty-ninth level of impurity.	Moabitess:	Moabitess: Daughter from the Place of Lions, of the Temple.
Daughters-in-law: completion / perfect	Daughters-in-law: bride	Daughters-in-law: shabbat	Daughters-in-law: Israel / Mashiach
Field: A working place for nourishment.	Field: A place where Torah Scholars work.	Field: A city (Edom) / the world.	Field: A woman.
Moab: “by my father”.	Moab: The forty-ninth level of impurity.	Field of Moab: Beit din of Moav.	Moab: Place of Lions, of the Temple.
harvest	harvest	Harvest: the greatness of Israel. The end of the world.	harvest
Barley: barley grain	Barley: animal fodder [animal soul (nefesh behami)]	Barley: righteous men	Barley: undefiled
Barley harvest: barley harvest (the harvest of the omer)	Barley harvest	Barley harvest: Nisan 16	Barley harvest

Pshat

Ruth 1:19 and the proliferation of people went on until they came to the House of Bread. And it came to pass, when they arrived in the House of Bread, the entire guarded place was tumultuous over them, and the women said, “Could this be My Delight?”

Ruth 1:20 She said to them “Do not call me My Delight, call me Embittered One, for the Vanquisher [of constellations] has dealt very bitterly with me.

Ruth 1:21 I had wealth and sons when I went away, but HaShem has turned me back without wealth and sons. Why should you call me My Delight; HaShem has testified against me, the Vanquisher [of constellations] has brought misfortune upon me!”

Ruth 1:22 And so My Delight sat for Shabbat, and her Friend the Moabite, her completion, with her — who turned back from the working place for nourishment of By My Father. They came to House of Bread at the harvest of the Omer of barley.

Remez

Ruth 1:19 and the witnesses went on until they came to The House of Torah. And it came to pass, when they arrived in The House of Torah, the entire city of “Jerusalem” was tumultuous over them, and the nations said, “Could this be My People?”

Ruth 1:20 She said to them “Do not call me His People, call me rebellious, for the One who said enough! (suffering) has dealt very rebelliously with me.

Ruth 1:21 I was pregnant when I went off the path of life, but HaShem has me sitting on the Shabbat in barreness. Why shall you call me His People; HaShem has testified against me, the One who said enough (suffering) has brought misfortune upon me!”

Ruth 1:22 And so His People sat for Shabbat, and The One Who Replenishes the bride from The forty-ninth level of impurity, her bride, with her — who observed Shabbat from the place where Torah Scholars work in the forty-ninth level of impurity. They came to The House of Torah at the beginning of the harvest of animal fodder.

Drash

Ruth 1:19 and the blessing went on until they came to the Royal House. And it came to pass, when they arrived at the Royal House, all the Teachers (a watcher in study) were tumultuous over them, and the Husband’s Crowns said, “Could this be The Torah?”

Ruth 1:20 She said to them “Do not call me the Pleasant and Sweet One [the Torah], call me the Awesome One, for the Guardian of the doors of Israel has dealt very awesomely with me.

Ruth 1:21 I had sons and daughters and I was pregnant when I left the way of the righteous, but HaShem has brought me tikkun [ the key to redemption] back without children and pregnancy. Why should you call me the Pleasant and Sweet One [the Torah]; HaShem has testified against me, the Guardian of the doors of Israel has brought misfortune upon me!”

Ruth 1:22 And so the Pleasant and Sweet [the Torah] One, who obtained a tikkun [the key to redemption], and the one who Considered Well (Israel), from the Beit din of Moav, her shabbat, with her — who obtained a tikkun [the key to redemption] from the the city of the Beit din of Moav. They came to the Royal House at the beginning of the harvest of the righteous [Nisan 16].

Sod

Ruth 1:19 and a non-unified people went on until they came to the universal capital of the world. And it came to pass, when they arrived in the universal capital of the world, the people of the divine faith were tumultuous over them, and the The great cities said, “Could this be Chava [Eve]?”

Ruth 1:20 She said to them “Do not call me Chava [Eve], call me Talmud, for The Manipulator has dealt according to the Talmud [bitterly] with me.

Ruth 1:21 I was full with Torah and goodness when I took the path to gehinnom, but HaShem has covered my nakedness [in Eden] though I was devoid of Torah and goodness. Why should you call me Chava [Eve]; HaShem has testified against me, The Manipulator has brought misfortune upon me!”

Ruth 1:22 And so Chava [Eve] returned, and The Faithful Spouse the daughter from the Place of Lions, of the Temple, her Mashiach, with her — who covered nakedness [in Eden] from a woman of the Place of Lions, of the Temple. They came to the universal capital of the world at the beginning of the harvest of the undefiled.

* * *

Supporting materials for these first five pesukim will be found here.

This study was written by

Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David

(Greg Killian).

Comments may be submitted to:

Rabbi Dr. Greg Killian

12210 Luckey Summit

San Antonio, TX 78252

Internet address: gkilli@aol.com

Web page: http://www.betemunah.org/

(360) 918-2905

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Send comments to Greg Killian at his email address: gkilli@aol.com

^[1] Only a town, referred to as ‘ir (v. Deut. XIII, 14) can be condemned. R. Josiah holds that a community of less than ten is a village (kefar) and one of more than a hundred is an entire community, of which the ‘city’ is only a part.