Megillat Ruth 1:6-18 in PaRDeS

By Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)

The Story – Chapter 1:6-18

SECTION II

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 1:6-18

Text:

וַתָּקָם הִיא וְכַלֹּתֶיהָ וַתָּשָׁב מִשְּׂדֵי מֹואָב כִּי שָֽׁמְעָה בִּשְׂדֵה מֹואָב כִּֽי־פָקַד יְהוָה אֶת־עַמֹּו לָתֵת לָהֶם לָֽחֶם׃	ו
וַתֵּצֵא מִן־הַמָּקֹום אֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה־שָׁמָּה וּשְׁתֵּי כַלֹּתֶיהָ עִמָּהּ וַתֵּלַכְנָה בַדֶּרֶךְ לָשׁוּב אֶל־אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃	ז
וַתֹּאמֶר נָעֳמִי לִשְׁתֵּי כַלֹּתֶיהָ לֵכְנָה שֹּׁבְנָה אִשָּׁה לְבֵית אִמָּהּ יעשֶׂה יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם חֶסֶד כַּאֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם־הַמֵּתִים וְעִמָּדִֽי׃	ח
יִתֵּן יְהוָה לָכֶם וּמְצֶאןָ מְנוּחָה אִשָּׁה בֵּית אִישָׁהּ וַתִּשַּׁק לָהֶן וַתִּשֶּׂאנָה קֹולָן וַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃	ט
וַתֹּאמַרְנָה־לָּהּ כִּי־אִתָּךְ נָשׁוּב לְעַמֵּֽךְ׃	י
וַתֹּאמֶר נָעֳמִי שֹׁבְנָה בְנֹתַי לָמָּה תֵלַכְנָה עִמִּי הַֽעֹֽוד־לִי בָנִים בְּֽמֵעַי וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃	יא
שֹׁבְנָה בְנֹתַי לֵכְןָ כִּי זָקַנְתִּי מִהְיֹות לְאִישׁ כִּי אָמַרְתִּי יֶשׁ־לִי תִקְוָה גַּם הָיִיתִי הַלַּיְלָה לְאִישׁ וְגַם יָלַדְתִּי בָנִֽים׃	יב
הֲלָהֵן תְּשַׂבֵּרְנָה עַד אֲשֶׁר יִגְדָּלוּ הֲלָהֵן תֵּֽעָגֵנָה לְבִלְתִּי הֱיֹות לְאִישׁ אַל בְּנֹתַי כִּֽי־מַר־לִי מְאֹד מִכֶּם כִּֽי־יָצְאָה בִי יַד־יְהוָֽה׃	יג
וַתִּשֶּׂנָה קֹולָן וַתִּבְכֶּינָה עֹוד וַתִּשַּׁק עָרְפָּה לַחֲמֹותָהּ וְרוּת דָּבְקָה בָּֽהּ׃	יד
וַתֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה שָׁבָה יְבִמְתֵּךְ אֶל־עַמָּהּ וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֶיהָ שׁוּבִי אַחֲרֵי יְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃	טו
וַתֹּאמֶר רוּת אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִי לְעָזְבֵךְ לָשׁוּב מֵאַחֲרָיִךְ כִּי אֶל־אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכִי אֵלֵךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁר תָּלִינִי אָלִין עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃	טז
בַּאֲשֶׁר תָּמוּתִי אָמוּת וְשָׁם אֶקָּבֵר כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה לִי וְכֹה יֹסִיף כִּי הַמָּוֶת יַפְרִיד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃	יז
וַתֵּרֶא כִּֽי־מִתְאַמֶּצֶת הִיא לָלֶכֶת אִתָּהּ וַתֶּחְדַּל לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶֽיהָ׃	יח

Septuagint:

Ruth 1:6-17 And she arose with her two daughters-in-law, and they returned from the land of Moab, for she heard in the land of Moab, that HaShem has visited His people to give them loaves of bread.

7 And she came out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went forth on the road to return to the land of Juda.

8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

14 And they raised their voices and wept again; and Orpha kissed her mother-in-law, and returned to her people, but Ruth followed her.

15 And Noemin said to Ruth, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; now you also turn back after your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth said: “Reply not for me to leave you, or to turn back behind you; for wherever you may go, I will go; and wherever you may lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;

17 and wherever you may die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the LORD do these to me, and add to these, because death alone will separate you and me.”

18 But seeing that Noemin was determined to go with her, she ceased speaking to her any longer.

TANAKH	Translation	SEPTUAGINT	Translation
ותקם	And she arose	καὶ ἀνέστη	and she arose
היא	she	αὐτὴ	she
וכלתיה	and her daughters-in-law	νύμφαι αὐτῆς	and her two daughters-in-law
ותשב	and returned	καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν	and returned
משדי	from fields of	ἐξ ἀγροῦ	from the fields of
מואב	Moav	μωαβ	Moab
כי	for	ὅτι	for
שמעה	she had heard	ἤκουσαν	she had heard
בשדה	in the fields	ἐν ἀγρῷ	in the fields
מואב	Moav	μωαβ	Moab
כי פקד	that had remembered (‘count’, ‘appoint’, ‘commanded’, ‘remember’, ‘believed’)	ὅτι ἐπέσκεπται	that had visited
יהוה	HaShem	κύριος	the sovereign
את עמו	his people	τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ	his people
לתת	to provide	δοῦναι	to give
להם	for them	αὐτοῖς	them
לחם	bread	ἄρτους	bread
ותצא	and she went out	καὶ ἐξῆλθεν	and she went forth
מן	from	ἐκ	out
המקום	the place	τοῦ τόπου	the place
אשר	where	οὗ	where
היתה	she had been	ἦν	she had been
שמה	at there	ἐκεῖ	there
ושתי	and two (of)	καὶ αἱ δύο	and the two
כלתיה	her daughters-in-law	νύμφαι αὐτῆς	her daughters-in-law
עמה	with her	μετʼ αὐτῆς	with her
ותלכנה	and they set out	καὶ ἐπορεύοντο	and they set out
בדרך	in the way	ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ	in the way
לשוב	to return	τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι	to return
אל	to	εἰς	to
ארץ	land of	τὴν γῆν	this true
יהודה	Yehudah	ιουδα	Judah
ותאמר	and she said	καὶ εἶπεν	and said
נעמי	Naomi	νωεμιν	Noemin
לשתי	to two of	ταῖς	to
כלתיה	her daughters-in-law	νύμφαις αὐτῆς	daughters-in-law
לכנה	go	πορεύεσθε δὴ	go
שבנה	return	ἀποστράφητε vfhte	return and go back
אשה	each	ἑκάστη	each
לבית	to house of	εἰς οἶκον	to house
אמה	her mother	μητρὸς αὐτῆς	her mother
יעשה	may do (ketiv - written)	ποιήσαι	may he make
יעש	may do (keri - read) – less kindness than a born Jew	ποιήσαι	may he make
יהוה	HaShem	κύριος	Lord
עמכם	to you	μεθʼ ὑμῶν	with you
חסד	kindness	ἔλεος	kindness
כאשר	just as	καθὼς	according as
עשיתם	you showed	ἐποιήσατε	you showed
עם	to	μετὰ	with
המתים	the dead ones	τῶν τεθνηκότων	with the dead
ועמדי	and to me	καὶ μετʼ ἐμοῦ	and with me
יתן	may he grant	δῴη	may he give
יהוה	HaShem	κύριος	Lord
לכם	to you	ὑμῖν	to you
ומצאן	and find	καὶ εὕροιτε	and find
מנוחה	rest	ἀνάπαυσιν	rest
אשה	each	ἑκάστη	every one
בית	house of	εἰς οἶκον	in house of
אישה	her husband	ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς	her husband
ותשק	then she kissed	καὶ κατεφίλησεν	and she kissed again and again
להן	on them	αὐτάς	herself
ותשאנה	and they raised	καὶ ἐπῆραν	and they raised
קולן	voice of them	τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν	their voice herself
ותבכינה	and they wept	καὶ ἔκλαυσαν	and they wept
ותאמרנה	and they said	καὶ εἶπαν	and they said
לה	to her	αὐτῇ	to her
כי	indeed
אתך	with you	μετὰ σοῦ	with you
נשוב	we will go back	ἐπιστρέφομεν	we will be converted
לעמך	to people of you	εἰς τὸν λαόν σου	to your people
ותאמר	and she said	καὶ εἶπεν	and she said
נעמי	Naomi	νωεμιν	Noemin
שבנה	return	ἐπιστράφητε δή	turn
בנתי	daughters of me	θυγατέρες μου	daughters of me
למה	why	καὶ ἵνα τί	and in order
תלכנה	would you come	πορεύεσθε	would you walk
עמי	with me	μετʼ ἐμοῦ	after me
העוד	any more	μὴ ἔτι	me
לי	to me	μοι	more
בנים	sons	υἱοὶ	my sons
במעי	inside of me	ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου	in my womb
והיו	that they could become	καὶ ἔσονται	and happen
לכם	for you	ὑμῖν	for you
לאנשים	as husbands	εἰς ἄνδρας	husbands
שבנה	return	ἐπιστράφητε δή	turn again
בנתי	my daughters	θυγατέρες μου	daughters of me
לכן	go
כי	for	διότι	because
זקנתי	I am too old	διότι	I am old
מהיות	than to be	τοῦ μὴ εἶναι	than to be
לאיש	to husband	ἀνδρί	husband
כי	if	ὅτι	because
אמרתי	I thought	εἶπα ὅτι	because
יש	there was	ἔστιν	I am
לי	for me	μοι	that
תקוה	hope	ὑπόστασις	confidant
גם	also		that
הייתי	I was	τοῦ γενηθῆναί με	it came to pass
הלילה	the night
לאיש	to husband	ἀνδρὶ	my husband
וגם	and also	καὶ	and
ילדתי	I bore	τέξομαι	bring forth
בנים	sons	υἱούς	sons
הלהן	for them	μὴ αὐτοὺς	not yourselves
תשברנה	would you wait	προσδέξεσθε	wait for
עד	until	ἕως	until
אשר	when	οὗ	when
יגדלו	they grew up	ἁδρυνθῶσιν	they grew up
הלהן	for them	ἢ αὐτοῖς	for them
תעגנה	would you remain	κατασχεθήσεσθε	would you hold back
לבלתי	not	τοῦ μὴ	these
היות	to become	γενέσθαι	me married
לאיש	to husband	ἀνδρί	to husband
אל	no	μὴ δή	not
בנתי	my daughters	θυγατέρες μου	my daughters
כי	for	ὅτι	since
מר	bitter	ἐπικράνθη	bitter
לי	to me	μοι	me
מאד	more	ὑπὲρ	beyond
מכם	than you	ὑμᾶς	you
כי	for	ὅτι	because
יצאה	she went out	ἐξῆλθεν	she went out
בי	against me	ἐν ἐμοὶ	against me
יד	hand of	χεὶρ	hand of
יהוה	HaShem	κυρίου	Lord
ותשנה	and they raised	καὶ ἐπῆραν	And they lifted up
קולן	their voice	τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν	their voice
ותבכינה	and they wept	καὶ ἔκλαυσαν	and wept
עוד	again	ἔτι	again
ותשק	and she kissed	καὶ κατεφίλησεν	and she kissed
ערפה	Orpah	ορφα	Orpah
לחמותה	on her mother-in-law	τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς	her mother-in-law
ורות	and Ruth	ρουθ	Ruth
דבקה	she clung	ἠκολούθησεν	followed
בה	to her	αὐτῇ	her
ותאמר	and she said	καὶ εἶπεν	And she said
הנה	behold	ἰδοὺ	Behold
שבה	she goes back	ἀνέστρεψεν	She returned
יבמתך	your sister-in-law	ἡ σύννυμφός σου	thy sister-in-law
אל	to	πρὸς	to
עמה	her people	λαὸν αὐτῆς	her people
ואל	and to	καὶ πρὸς	and to
אלהיה	her gods	τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῆς	her gods
שובי	return	ἐπιστράφητι	turn now you
אחרי	with	ὀπίσω	after
יבמתך	your sister-in-law	τῆς συννύμφου σου	thy sister-in-law
ותאמר	and she replied	εἶπεν  δὲ	she replied
רות	Ruth	ρουθ	Ruth
אל	not	μὴ	not
תפגעי	you urge	ἀπαντήσαι	Intreat
בי	to me	ἐμοὶ	me
לעזבך	to leave you	τοῦ καταλιπεῖν σε	not to leave thee
לשוב	to return	ἢ ἀποστρέψαι	or to return
מאחריך	from after you	ὄπισθέν σου	from following thee
כי	for	ὅτι	for
אל	to	ἐὰν	to
אשר	where	ὅπου	where
תלכי	you go	πορευθῇς	you go
אלך	I will go	πορεύσομαι	I will go
ובאשר	and at where	καὶ οὗ ἐὰν	And where
תליני	you stay	αὐλισθῇς	You lodge
אלין	I will stay	αὐλισθήσομαι	I will lodge
עמך	your people	ὁ λαός σου	Your people
עמי	my people	λαός μου	My people
ואלהיך	and your God	καὶ ὁ θεός σου	and thy God
אלהי	my God	θεός μου	My God
באשר	at where	καὶ οὗ ἐὰν	And wherever
תמותי	you die	ἀποθάνῃς	You die
אמות	I will die	ἀποθανοῦμαι	I will die
ושם	and there	κἀκεῖ	And there
אקבר	I will be buried	ταφήσομαι	I will be buried
כה	so	τάδε	so
יעשה	may he deal	ποιήσαι	Do
יהוה	HaShem	κυρίου	God
לי	to me	ὅτι	that
וכה	and so	καὶ τάδε	And so
יסיף	may he be severe	προσθείη	More also
כי	unless	ὅτι	that
המות	the death	θάνατος	death
יפריד	he separates	διαστελεῖ	divide
ביני	between me	ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ	Between me
ובינך	and between you	καὶ σοῦ	And you
ותרא	and she realized	ἰδοῦσα  δὲ	She saw
כי	that	ὅτι	that
מתאמצת	being determined	κραταιοῦται	was determined
היא	she	αὐτὴ	she
ללכת	to go	τοῦ πορεύεσθαι	To go
אתה	with her	μετʼ αὐτῆς	With her
ותחדל	and she stopped	ἐκόπασεν	ceased
לדבר	to urge	τοῦ λαλῆσαι	To speak
אליה	to her	πρὸς αὐτὴν	To her again

Peshitta

1:6 Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab; for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited his people in giving them food.

1:7 So she went forth out of the place where they sojourned, along with her two daughters-in-law, to return and go to the land of Judah.

1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Return, go back to your own country and to the house of your kinsmen; may the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with me and with both of my sons who now are dead.

1:9 The Lord grant you favor so that you may find rest in the house of your parents. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices and wept.

1:10 And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your land and to your people.

1:11 But Naomi said to them, Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Will I bear sons again that they may be your husbands?

1:12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope. and even if I should have a husband. and should also bear sons;

1:13 Would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you stay for them from having husbands? No, my daughters; for I am greatly grieved for your sakes, and it grieves me more than it does you, because the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me.

1:14 And they lifted up their voices again and wept; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and turned back and went away; but Ruth clung to her.

1:15 And her mother-in-law said to her, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her kinsmen; return also after your sister-in-law.

1:16 And Ruth said to her, Far be it from me to return from following after you, and to leave you; for where you go, I will go; and where you dwell, I will dwell; your people shall be my people, and your God my

God:

1:17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.

1:18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, then she ceased from urging her to go back.

Stone’s Translation

1:6 She then arose along with her daughters-in-law to return from the fields of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that HASHEM had remembered His people by giving them food.

1:7 She left the place where she had been, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they set out on the road to return to the land of Judah.

1:8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return, each of you to her widows mother’s house. May HASHEM deal kindly with you, as you have dealt kindly with the dead and with me!

1:9 May HASHEM grant that you may find security, each in the home of her husband.” She kissed them, and they raised their voice and wept.

1:10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

1:11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why should you come with me? Have I more sons in my womb who could become husbands to you?

1:12 Turn back, my daughters, go, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if! were to say, ‘There Is hope for me! ’and even if I were to have a husband tonight — and even bear sons —

1:13 would you wait for them until they were grown up? Would you tie yourselves down for them, not to marry anyone else? No, my daughters! I am very embittered on account of you, for the hand of HASHEM has gone forth against me.

1:14 They raised their voice and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

1:15 So she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

1:16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people, and your God is my God;

1:17 where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may HaShem do to me, and so may He do more, if anything but death separates me from you.”

1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her,

KJV

1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.

1:7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

1:8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

1:9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each [of you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

1:10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

1:11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

1:12 Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

1:13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God:

1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: HaShem do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.

1:18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Symbols and their Meaning

פשאת Pshat simple meaning	רמס Remez Hinted / allegorical meaning	דרש Drush Metaphoric Meaning	סוד Sod Symbolic meaning
Daughters-in-law: completion / perfect	Daughters-in-law: bride	Daughters-in-law: shabbat	Daughters-in-law: Israel / Mashiach
Returned: turn back	Returned: Shabbat [sitting]	Returned: tikkun – key to redemption	Returned: Covering nakedness [in Eden]
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.
Remember: focus attention	Remember: Controls reality	Remember: Redeem	Remember: Chastisement is complete
HaShem: The Name of Existence	HaShem: Loving-Kindness	HaShem: Mercy / ruthlessness	HaShem: Shekinah
Bread: Food	Bread: Halacha	Bread: Torah	Bread: Mashiach
the place: a certain spot	the place: Jerusalem	the place: The Temple	the place: Gan Eden
Two: proliferation	Two: witnesses	Two: blessing	Two: a non-unified entity
In the way: journey	In the way: Cohabitation	In the way: Torah path	In the way: Shining light
Land: Country / settlement	Land: Israel	Land: HaShem’s place	Land: Sabbath
Judah: “Now I will praise HaShem”.	Judah: HaShem’s worship.	Judah: Lion's whelp / HaShem’s kingship.	Judah: Kingship and divine order.
Naomi: My delight	Naomi: Ami – (my people)	Naomi: Pleasant and sweet [the Torah]	Naomi: Chava
Mother’s House: Place of origin / home	Mother’s House: Babylon (Ur)	Mother’s House: Sinai	Mother’s House: The written and the Oral Torah
Kindness: Unlimited giving	Kindness: An abundance of truth	Kindness: Aaron	Kindness: the right hand
the dead: Sleeping ones	the dead: Semen	the dead: Forgotten	the dead: Deprived of his power
Rest: Rest from creation	Rest: Inheritance	Rest: Sabbath	Rest: No need to move
Husband: Husband	Husband: The Giver	Husband: Dweller in the house.	Husband: Provider of the house.
Kiss: kiss	Kiss: intimacy	Kiss: His statutes and His ordinances	Kiss: two souls connecting
Voice: sound from a mouth	Voice: sound	Voice: Guide / weeping	Voice: Connecting
Wept: confusion	Wept: Expression of the heart	Wept: Remorse / returning	Wept: End of a process
Two sons: Two sons.	Two sons: The feet and hands of Elimelech. ‘Builders’	Two sons: Two talmidim.	Two sons: A proliferation of sons.
My Daughters: Daughters	My Daughters: Israel	My Daughters: The righteous	My Daughters: the 12 tribes
Old: Aged	Old: crown of willowrods (60 years old)	Old: Acquired two worlds	Old: A Torah scholar
Womb: inside of me	Womb: womb	Womb: my essence	Womb: the place of Torah
Mother-in-law: hot woman (Chamot)	Mother-in-law:	Mother-in-law:	Mother-in-law:
Grew up: Physical growth	Grew up: Spiritual growth	Grew up: Sin or Life	Grew up: Become a Hakham
Remain: tie down	Remain: Anchored	Remain: hope	Remain: Sorrowing
More: very	More: Money / material property	More: Angel of Death	More: beyond the natural order of the world
Hand of HaShem: hand / monument	Hand of HaShem: person’s property	Hand of HaShem: HaShem’s desire	Hand of HaShem: Malchut
Orpah: Fawn	Orpah (Harafah – the giant):	Orpah: Nape of the neck. [the nations]	Orpah: Phaoroh? Nefesh-Soul of the left side. ‘Stiff necked’
Ruth: Friend or companion.	Ruth: To saturate or replenish.	Ruth: Considered well. (‘she saw’) [Israel]	Ruth: Turtle dove (faithful spouse)
Clung: intense commitment	Clung: one flesh	Clung: expression of love	Clung: Faithful obedience
she goes back: turn back	she goes back: Shabbat [sitting]	she goes back: tikkun – key to redemption	she goes back: Covering nakedness [in Eden]
sister-in-law: levirate relation	sister-in-law: Chained (agunah)	sister-in-law: Mitzvah woman	sister-in-law: Goyim / Israel
Her people: her mother	Her people: her tribe	Her people: her mother	Her people: a part of them
Gods: judges	Gods: kicked / dumb ones	Gods: Egypt	Gods: Angels
God: God – Powers or Forces	God: Judge	God: Attribute of Judgment	God: Shekinah
Die: Die	Die: Separated from Torah / Atonement / Ever Living	Die: Relieved from duty. (exempt)	Die: The penalty of transgression (Tree of Death).
Buried: buried	Buried: immersed	Buried: Birthed	Buried: concealed
Death: Died	Death: Separated from Torah / Atonement / Ever Living	Death: Relieved from duty. (exempt)	Death: The penalty of transgression (Tree of Death).
	whither thou goest, I will go: ‘We are forbidden’, she told her, ‘[to move on the Sabbath beyond the] Sabbath boundaries’!	whither thou goest, I will go: ‘My daughter, it is not the custom of daughters of Israel to frequent Gentile theatres and circuses’.
	where thou lodgest, I will lodge: ‘We are forbidden private meeting between man and woman’!	where thou lodgest, I will lodge: ‘My daughter, it is not the custom of daughters of Israel to dwell in a house which has no mezuzah’.
My people: HaShem’s people	thy people shall be my people: ‘We have been commanded six hundred and thirteen commandments’!	thy people shall be my people: the penalties and admonitions [of the Torah]	My people: to be a collaborator with Me
My God:	thy God my God: ‘We are forbidden idolatry’!	thy God my God: the other commandments of the Tanach.	My God: The tzaddik
	Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: ‘Four modes of death were entrusted to Beth din’!	Where thou diest, will I die: refers to the four forms of capital punishment inflicted by the Court, viz. stoning, burning, beheading, and strangulation.
	and there will I be buried: ‘Two graveyards were placed at the disposal of the Beth din’!	and there will I be buried: these are the two graves prepared by the Beth din, one for those who have suffered stoning and burning, the other for those decapitated and strangled.

When we substitute the meanings of the names and the other words, we see the following:

Pshat

1:6 She then arose along with her completion to turn back from the working place for nourishment of ‘by my father’, for she had heard in the working place for nourishment of ‘by my father’ that The Name of Existence had focused His attention on His people by giving them food.

1:7 She left a certain spot where she had been, her complete proliferation with her, and they set out on a journey to turn back to the country of ‘Now I will praise HaShem’.

1:8 Then ‘My Delight’ said to her completions, “Go, turn back, each of you to her place of origin. May The Name of Existence deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the sleeping ones and with me!

1:9 May The Name of Existence grant that you may find rest from creation, each in the home of her husband.” She kissed them, and they raised a sound from their mouth and experienced confusion.

1:10 And they said to her, “No, we will turn back with you to your people.”

1:11 But My Delight said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why should you come with me? Have I more sons in my womb who could become husbands to you?

1:12 Turn back, my daughters, go, for I am too aged to have a husband. Even if I were to say, ‘There is hope for me!’, and even if I were to have a husband tonight – and bear sons –

1:13 would you wait for them until they were grown up? Would you tie yourselves down for them, not to marry anyone else? No, my daughters! I am embittered on account of you, for the hand of The Name of Existence has gone forth against me.

1:14 They raised their voice and experienced confusion again. The fawn kissed her mother-in-law, but her friend clung to her.

1:15 So she said, “Look, your levirate relation has turned back to her people and to her gods; turn back after your levirate relation.”

1:16 But Friend said, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people, and your Power is my Power;

1:17 where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may HaShem do to me, and so may He do more, if anything but death separates me from you.”

1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her,

Remez

1:6 She then arose along with her bride of the Sabbath from the place where Torah scholars work in the forty-ninth level of impurity, for she had heard in the place where Torah scholars work in the forty-ninth level of impurity that Loving Kindness had controlled reality for His people by giving them a way to walk (halacha).

1:7 She left Jerusalem where she had been, her brides with her, and they set out with Shabbat cohabitation to Israel, the worship of HaShem.

1:8 Then My People said to her witness brides, “Go, Sabbath, each of you to Babylon. May Loving Kindness deal kindly with you, as you have dealt kindly with semen and with me.

1:9 May Loving Kindness grant that you may find your inheritance, each in the home of her giver.” She was intimate with them, and they raised their sound and expressed their heart.

1:10 And they said to her, “No we will have Shabbat with you to your people.

1:11 But My People said, “Celebrate Shabbat, Israel. How could you come with me? Have I more builders in the portal who could become givers to you?

1:12 Celebrate Shabbat, Israel, go, for I am too aged to have a giver. Even if I were to say, ‘There is hope for me!’, and even if I were to have a giver tonight – and even bear builders –

1:13 would you wait for them until they experience spiritual growth? Would you anchor yourselves down for them, not to marry anyone else? No, my Israel! I am very embittered on account of you, for my property has gone forth against me.

1:14 They raised their sound and expressed their heart again. Harafah, the giant, had intimacy with her mother-in-law, but the one who saturates became one flesh with her.

1:15 So she said, “Look your chained one has begun the Shabbat of her people and to her gods; begin your Shabbat after your chained one.

1:16 But Saturation said, “Do not urge me to leave you, to follow you on Shabbat. For ‘We are forbidden’, she told her, ‘[to move on the Sabbath beyond the] Sabbath boundaries’! ‘We are forbidden private meeting between man and woman’! ‘We have been commanded six hundred and thirteen commandments’! ‘We are forbidden idolatry’!

1:17 ‘Four modes of death were entrusted to Beth din’! ‘Two graveyards were placed at the disposal of the Beth din’! Thus may Loving Kindness do to me, and so may He do more, if anything but separation from Torah separates me from you.”

1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her,

Drash

1:6 She then arose along with her Sabbath to effect a tikkun from the beit din of Moab, for she had heard in beit din of Moab that Mercy had redeemed His people by giving them [the Living] Torah.

1:7 She left the Temple where she had been, her Meshichim with her, and they set out on the Torah path of correction to HaShem’s place of His kingship.

1:8 Then Pleasant One said to her two Sabbaths, “Go, correct, each of you to Sinai. May Mercy deal kindly with you, as you have dealt kindly with the forgotten and with me!

1:9 May Mercy grant that you may find the Sabbath, each in the home of a dweller.” She gave His statutes and ordinances to them, and they raised their guide and returned.

1:10 And they said to her, “No we will make a tikkun with you to your people.”

1:11 But the pleasant one said, “Do a tikkun, my righteous ones. Why should you come with me? Have I more talmidim who could become dwellers with you?

1:12 Do a tikkun, my righteous ones, go, for I am too old to have a dweller in the house. Even if I were to say, ‘There is home for me!’, and even if I were to have a dweller tonight – and even bear talmidim –

1:13 would you wait for them until they sin? Would you hope for them, not to marry anyone else? No, my righteous ones! I am very embittered on account of you, for the hand of Mercy has gone forth against me.

1:14 They wept louder and experienced remorse again. The nations connected to His statutes and His ordinances with her mother-in-law, but the one who considered well expressed her love to her.

1:15 So she said, “Look, your mitzvah woman has done the tikkun for her people and her gods; do the tikkun after your mitzvah woman.”

1:16 But Considered Well said, “Do not urge me to leave you, to do a tikkun. ‘My daughter, it is not the custom of daughters of Israel to frequent Gentile theatres and circuses’. ‘My daughter, it is not the custom of daughters of Israel to dwell in a house which has no mezuzah’. the penalties and admonitions [of the Torah], the other commandments of the Tanach.

1:17 This Refers to the four forms of capital punishment inflicted by the Court, viz. Stoning, burning, beheading, and strangulation., these are the two graves prepared by the Beth din, one for those who have suffered stoning and burning, the other for those decapitated and strangled. Thus may Mercy do to me, and so may He do more, if anything but being relieved of duty separate me from you.”

1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her,

Sod

1:6 She then arose along with the Meshichim to have her nakedness covered by the woman of the Temple, for she had heard from the woman of the Temple that the Shekhina had completed the chastisement of His People by giving them Mashiach.

1:7 She left Gan Eden where she had been, her Meshichim with her, and they set out a shining light to cover their nakedness on the Sabbath of kingship and divine order.

1:8 Then Chava said to her Meshichim, “Go, get your nakedness covered, each of you, the written and the oral Torah. May the Shekinah deal kindly with you, as you have dealt kindly with those deprived of their power, and with me!

1:9 May the shekinah grant that you may no need to move, each in the home of a provider.” She connected with them, and they raised their connection and the process ended.

1:10 And they said to her, “No we will have you cover our nakedness with your people.

1:11 But Chava said, “Have your nakedness covered, my twelve tribes. Why should you come with me? Have I a proliferation of sons in my womb who could become providers for you?

1:12 Have your nakedness covered, my twelve tribes, go, for I am too old to have a provider for the house. Even if I were to say, ‘There is hope for me!’, and even if I vere to have a provider for the house tonight – and even bear a proliferation of sons –

1:13 would you wait for them until they become Hakhamim? Would you become sorrowful for them, not to marry anyone else? No, my twelve tribes! I am very embittered on account of you, for Malchut has gone forth against me.

1:14 They connected strongly and ended the process again. The Stiff-Necked one connected her soul with her mother-in-law, but the faithful spouse was faithfully obedient to her.

1:15 So she said, “Look, the Goyim have covered their nakedness and that of their gods; cover the nakedness of Israel.

1:16 But the faithful spouse said, “Do not urge me to leave you, to cover my nakedness when following you. For where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people, and your angel is my angel;

1:17 where you suffer the penalty of transgression, I will suffer the penalty of transgression, and there I will be concealed. Thus may the Shekinah do to me, and so may He do more, if anything but the penalty of transgression separates me from you.”

1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her,

* * *

Supporting materials for these pesukim will be found here.

* * *

This study was written by Hillel ben David

(Greg Killian).

Comments may be submitted to:

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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