{"id":13849,"date":"2024-01-12T18:34:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T17:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/?p=13849"},"modified":"2024-01-12T18:34:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T17:34:02","slug":"who-was-naomi-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/who-was-naomi-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Naomi In The Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Bible is an amazing book, full of mystery and knowledge. Among the characters featured in this book is the enigmatic figure of Naomi. Her story provides insight into the struggles and triumphs of a widow in the ancient world, a world where women were often marginalised, with very few rights and little access to resources. Naomi is introduced in the Book of Ruth, a story set in the days of the judges. This biblical figure is said to be of Moabite origin and is the wife of Elimelech, a man with two sons, who took his family to the land of Moab to survive a famine in Israel.<\/p>\n

When they arrived in Moab, Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabite women. Naomi’s two sons also died leaving their wives, Orpah and Ruth, widows with no children. With no husband or children to keep them, Naomi was determined to return to her homeland and eventually convinced her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. Against her better judgement, Orpah chose to remain in Moab, but Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi, declaring “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” <\/p>\n

Back in Israel, Naomi encouraged Ruth to marry Boaz, one of her family’s close relatives. Boaz welcomed Ruth and offered to buy the land of Elimelech so that he could marry Ruth and give her a secure future. Ruth married Boaz and eventually gave birth to a son who was named Obed. Obed’s son, Jesse, was the father of the famous King David, making Naomi an important link in Biblical lineage.<\/p>\n

Naomi’s story speaks of great faith and courage in the face of adversity. In a time when women had very limited opportunities and faced discrimination, Naomi was able to use her intelligence, strength and faith to find a secure and faithful future for her and her adopted daughter. She also encouraged Ruth to marry outside of her family’s culture, showing great courage in a time when such actions were strongly frowned upon. <\/p>\n