Megilat Rut - Conversion of Rut

(1) In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab. (2) The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the country of Moab and remained there. (3) Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. (4) They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth, and they lived there about ten years. (5) Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband. (6) She started out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab; for in the country of Moab she had heard that the LORD had taken note of His people and given them food. Ruth clung to her.

And Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai would likewise say: Elimelech and his sons Mahlon and Chilion were prominent members of their generation and were leaders of their generation. And for what reason were they punished? They were punished because they left Eretz Yisrael to go outside of Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated concerning Naomi and Ruth: “And all the city was astir concerning them, and the women said: Is this Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19). The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the phrase: “Is this Naomi”? Rabbi Yitzḥak says that the women said: Have you seen Naomi, who left Eretz Yisrael for outside of Eretz Yisrael? (have you seen) what happened to her?

It is written: “Mahlon and Chilion” (Ruth 1:2), and it is written elsewhere: “Joash and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab” (I Chronicles 4:22). Rav and Shmuel disagreed with regard to their true names. One says: Their given names were Mahlon and Chilion....And one of them says: Their given names were Joash and Saraph...

As it is taught in a baraita: According to the one who said their names were Machlon and Chilion, what is the meaning of that which is written: “And Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubi Lehem. ..(I Chronicles 4:22)? “...And Joash, and Saraph,” these are Mahlon and Chilion.

And why were they called by the names Joash and Saraph? One was called Joash because they despaired [shenitya’ashu] of the redemption; the other was called Saraph because they were liable to receive the punishment of burning [sereifa] for their sins against God.

...“Who had dominion in Moab,” this means that they married Moabite women. (The word "ba'alu has another meaning, they married“)

And it is not probable that Machlon and Chilion would marry these women before they converted. And the proof is "(And Arpa returned ) to her nation and to her gods.

(11) Judah has broken faith; abhorrent things have been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned what is holy to the LORD—what He desires—and married daughters of alien gods. (12) May the LORD (כרת)leave to him who does this no descendants dwelling in the tents of Jacob and presenting offerings to the LORD of Hosts.

(9) It is forbidden to leave Eretz Yisroel, ever, except for purposes of learning Torah or marrying or to save (his money) from the non-Jews. Then he must return to the Land. One may leave for commerce. However, one may not reside (permanently) outside of the Land unless there is famine so severe that wheat which once cost one Dinar now costs two Dinars. (High inflation) ... Although it may be permissible to leave the country, it would not be “a pious trait” to do so. For we see that Machlon and Kilyon were two of the great community leaders of their generation, left only because of the considerable troubles. Still and all, they were judged before G-d and perished.

The Baal Halachot Gedoloty (Bahag) wrote that a convert who returns to his wrong ways, his wine is considered like the wine of a non-Jew and his bread is considered like the bread of a non-Jew...and his oil and wind and in all other matters, he is like an idol worshiper. And it appears that is not for everything do we consider him an idol worshiper, since if he married a daughter of Isarel with kidushin (Jewish wedding), it is considered a Jewish marriage. The other prohibitions are just to keep him far....

Rabbi Elazar said: What is the verse from which this ruling is derived? (From where do we learn that we tell tell the prospective convert a little bit of the laws and a little bit of the punishments and if he accepts, we receive him immmediately?)

As it is written: “And when she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off from talking her. Once Naomi saw Ruth’s resolve to convert, she stopped from her trying to dissuade her. The Gemara infers from here that the same approach should be taken by a court in all cases of conversion.

The Gemara reconstructs the original dialogue between Naomi and Rut:

Naomi: On Shabbat, it is prohibited for us to go beyond the Shabbat limit.

Ruth: “Where you go, I shall go”, and no further.

Naomi: It is forbidden for us to be alone together with a man with whom it is forbidden to engage in relations .

Ruth: “Where you lodge, I shall lodge”

Naomi: We are commanded to observe six hundred and thirteen mitzvot.

Ruth: “Your people are my people” .

Naomi: Idolatrous worship is forbidden to us. Ruth : “Your God is my God”.

Naomi: Four types of capital punishment were handed over to a court with which to punish those who transgress the mitzvot. Ruth: “Where you die, I shall die”.

Naomi: Two burial grounds were handed over to the court, one for those executed for more severe crimes and another for those executed for less severe crimes.

Ruth: “And there I shall be buried” . Immediately following this dialogue, the verse states: “And when she saw that she was steadfastly minded she left off speaking with her”. The baraita continues: If he accepts upon himself all of these ramifications, then they circumcise him immediately.

(9) “Who are you?” he asked. And she replied, “I am your handmaid Ruth. Spread your robe over your handmaid, for you are a redeeming kinsman.”

(1) Spread your mantle. The corner of your garment to cover me with your cloak; and this is an expression of marriage.

(2) For you are a near relative. To redeem my husband’s inheritance, as it is stated, “and a close relative comes and redeems, etc.”¹⁰Vayikra 25:25. And my mother-in-law and I must sell our inheritance, and now it is incumbent upon you to buy it. Marry me also, along with itso that the name of the deceased be remembered upon his estate, so that when I come to the field they will say, “this is Machlon’s wife.”

(5) Boaz continued (to the closer relative), “When you acquire the property from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabite, you must also marry the wife of the deceased, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate.” (6) The redeemer replied, “Then I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own estate. You take over my right of redemption, for I am unable to exercise it.” (8) So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Acquire for yourself,” .... (9) And Boaz said to the elders and to the rest of the people, “You are witnesses today that I am acquiring from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. (10) I am also marrying Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate, that the name of the deceased may not disappear from among his kinsmen and from the gate of his home town. You are witnesses today.”