The Community That Welcomed Naomi Home
The women of Bethlehem play a significant but often overlooked role in the book of Ruth. They are the first to greet Naomi on her return (1:19), they witness her declaration of bitterness (1:20–21), and they celebrate the birth of Obed with a theological commentary that is among the most significant in the book (4:14–17). Their presence at the beginning and end of the narrative frames the story as a community event — not merely the private story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz but the story of a covenant community that welcomes the returning widow and celebrates the restoration of her family.
The women's role in the book of Ruth models the kind of community care that the covenant community is called to provide. They do not merely observe Naomi's suffering from a distance; they engage with it, witness it, and eventually celebrate its resolution. Their presence is not intrusive but supportive — the kind of sustained community engagement that makes genuine pastoral care possible.
The Theology of Community Support in Grief
The women of Bethlehem's response to Naomi's grief models a form of community support that is both honest and hopeful. They do not minimize her grief — they acknowledge that she has returned "empty" — but they also do not abandon her to it. Their presence at the beginning of the narrative and their celebration at the end suggests a community that has sustained its engagement with Naomi through the entire arc of her story, from grief to restoration.
Contemporary pastoral care literature consistently emphasizes the importance of sustained community engagement in grief. Henri Nouwen's concept of "the wounded healer" — the recognition that genuine pastoral care requires the willingness to enter into the suffering of others rather than merely observing it from a distance — captures something of what the women of Bethlehem embody. Their presence with Naomi is not merely sympathetic but participatory: they share in her grief and in her joy.
The Women's Theological Commentary: Naming the Grace
The women's theological commentary at the birth of Obed (Ruth 4:14–17) is one of the most significant moments in the book. They name the grace that has been given: "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." Their commentary does three things: it attributes the restoration to Yahweh, it celebrates the role of Ruth, and it names the significance of Obed for Naomi's future.
The pastoral implication is significant: the community's role in grief and restoration is not merely supportive but interpretive. The women of Bethlehem help Naomi understand the theological significance of what has happened to her — they name the grace that she might not have been able to name for herself. This is one of the most important functions of pastoral community: to help those who are suffering understand the theological significance of their experience, to name the grace that is present even in the midst of pain.
Implications for Ministry and Credentialing
The women of Bethlehem model the kind of sustained community engagement that makes genuine pastoral care possible. Their presence with Naomi through the entire arc of her story — from grief to restoration — is a model for the church's ministry of care. For those seeking to develop their capacity for community-based pastoral care rooted in biblical theology, Abide University offers programs that integrate biblical scholarship with pastoral practice.
For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.
References
- Nouwen, Henri J. M.. The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society. Doubleday, 1972.
- Hubbard, Robert L.. The Book of Ruth (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). Eerdmans, 1988.
- Block, Daniel I.. Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary). Broadman & Holman, 1999.
- Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. Ruth (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching). John Knox Press, 1999.
- Bush, Frederic W.. Ruth, Esther (Word Biblical Commentary). Word Books, 1996.