1 And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died ; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab ; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth : and they dwelt there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them ; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
Note · Ruth 1.1–5
Le récit des pertes ne fournit pas leur explication morale
L’époque des juges situe l’histoire, sans lui donner une date précise dans leur succession. La famille cherche du pain hors de son pays, puis les décès sont rapportés sobrement. Le narrateur n’accuse ni Élimélek d’avoir manqué de foi ni les femmes moabites d’avoir attiré le malheur. Ces explications ne doivent pas être ajoutées pour rendre la souffrance plus facile à classer.
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 Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 And 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.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house : Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 Jehovah 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, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters : why will ye go with me ? have I yet 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 a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear sons ;
13 would ye therefore tarry till they were grown ? would ye therefore stay from having husbands ? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again : and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.
Note · Ruth 1.6–14
Naomi reconnaît la bonté de ses deux belles-filles
Elle les bénit pour leur fidélité envers les morts et envers elle, puis les invite à retourner. Son argument sur d’éventuels fils montre l’impasse d’un avenir pensé dans les structures familiales de son temps. Orpa embrasse Naomi et suit le chemin proposé : le texte ne la condamne pas comme une femme sans amour ou sans fidélité.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god : return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and 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 ;
17 where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried : Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
18 And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking unto her.
Note · Ruth 1.15–18
Ruth engage sa vie envers Naomi, son peuple et son Dieu
Sa réponse dépasse la promesse d’un trajet partagé. Demeure, appartenance, mort et sépulture disent un lien durable. Cette parole est adressée à une belle-mère, même si elle est souvent reprise lors de mariages. Son engagement libre dans le récit ne devient pas une règle obligeant toute personne à rester dans une relation dangereuse ni à renoncer à ses propres possibilités de vie.
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 the women said, Is this Naomi ?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara ; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty ; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me ?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab : and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Note · Ruth 1.19–22
L’amertume est entendue avant toute résolution
Naomi demande un nom qui exprime son affliction et attribue son malheur à Dieu. C’est sa parole dans le deuil ; le narrateur ne révèle pas une faute cachée qui lui donnerait raison sur une condamnation personnelle. Ruth est pourtant à ses côtés, et la moisson commence. Ces ouvertures discrètes ne rendent ni ses pertes imaginaires ni son chagrin illégitime.