1, 2. (a) URuthe wayesenzani emasimini? (b) URuthe wafundani mayelana loMthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi wananzelelani ngabantu bakhe?

URUTHE wayeguqe phambi kwenqumbi yebhali ayetshone eyibuthelela ilanga lonke. Kwakusemasimini aseBhethilehema, ilanga selisiyakuthi qobhi kunina. Izisebenzi ezinengi zasezizihudula ziqonde esangweni ledolobho leli elincane futhi isango leli laliphezu koqaqa. Kumele ukuthi uRuthe wayesedinwe efile, umzimba usufutha njengoba wayekade esebenza nzima kusukela liphuma. Kodwa wayelokhu eqhubeka ngawo umsebenzi, ebhula ibhali yakhe. Lanxa umsebenzi lo wawunzima, izinto zazimhambele kuhle ngendlela ayengayicabangeli.

² Kambe impilo yomfelokazi lo owayesesemutsha yayisizantshintsha ibe ngcono yini? Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sibonile ukuthi uRuthe kazange amtshiye uninazala uNawomi. Wafunga ngelokuthi wayezanamathela kuye, enze ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu kaNawomi abe nguNkulunkulu wakhe. Abafelokazi laba ababesosizini babebuye eBhethilehema bevela eMowabi futhi uRuthe wayesezwe lokuthi kwakuloMthetho kaJehova owawusiza ababengabayanga ko-Israyeli kanye labezizweni ukuthi bathole ukudla. Khathesi-ke wayesebone ukuthi abanye abantu bakaJehova babetshengisa ngezenzo langomusa ukuthi babewuthanda uMthetho wakhe ababewufundisiwe futhi lokhu kwathoba inhliziyo yakhe eyayimanxebanxeba.

3, 4. (a) UBhowazi wayemkhuthaze njani uRuthe? (b) Kungani isibonelo sikaRuthe singasinceda ezikhathini ezinzima esiphila kuzo?

³ Omunye wabantu ababethanda uMthetho kaNkulunkulu nguBhowazi, indoda eyayisikhulile njalo eyayikhomba ngophakathi. URuthe wayedobha ibhali emasimini akhe njalo mhlalokho uBhowazi wayemphathe njengomntanakhe sibili. Kumele ukuthi nxa wayecabanga amazwi amnandi ayewatshelwe nguBhowazi wayebobotheka izihlathi zixotshane lendlebe. Wayemncome ngokuthi wayenakekela uNawomi langokuthi wayekhethe ukuphephela ngaphansi kwamaphiko kaJehova, uNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Bala uRuthe 2:11-14.

⁴ Lanxa kunjalo, kumele ukuthi uRuthe wayezibuza ukuthi ikusasa limphatheleni. Phela wayengowezizweni owayezidubekela nje, engelandoda futhi engela lamntwana. Pho wayezaphila ngani futhi wayezamnakekela njani uNawomi eminyakeni ezayo? Kambe wayengaphila ngokudobha emasimini abantu kuphela? Yena wayezanakekelwa ngubani nxa eseluphele? Singakuzwisisa ukuthi kungani imicabango le yayingabe imtshayisa ngekhanda. Lalamuhla abanengi bayakhathazeka ngenxa yokuthi bakuthola nzima okokuziphilisa. Yikho-ke  sizafunda ukuthi ukholo lukaRuthe lwamnceda njani ukuthi alwisane lezinhlupho lezi, besesithola okunengi esingamlingisela ngakho.

5, 6. (a) Izinto zamhambela njani uRuthe ngelanga lokuqala adobha ngalo ibhali ensimini kaBhowazi? (b) UNawomi wenzani lapho ebona uRuthe?

⁵ URuthe wathi eseqedile ukubhula ibhali yakhe wayibutha wabona ukuthi wayethole engaba yisilinganiso sehefa. Kumele ukuthi yayingamakhilogiramu angu-14. Wayithwala-ke ekhanda, mhlawumbe eyigoqele ngesembatho wasebuyela eBhethilehema njengoba kwasekunqunda amehlo.—Ruthe. 2:17.

⁶ UNawomi wathaba ebona umalokazana wakhe ayemthanda. Mhlawumbe wamangala wabamba owangaphansi ebona uRuthe ethwele ibhali enengi kangako. Kanti njalo uRuthe wayebuye lokudla ayekutshiyile ngesikhathi esidla lokho uBhowazi ayekunike izisebenzi zakhe, basebekudla bobabili. UNawomi wabuza wathi: “Udobhe ngaphi lamhlanje? Usebenze ngaphi? Ubusisiwe lowomuntu okwenzele umusa!” (Ruthe. 2:19) UNawomi wayelelihlo elibukhali; yikho wananzelela ukuthi ibhali enengi uRuthe ayebuye layo yayitshengisa ukuthi kwakulomuntu olomusa owayemncedile.

7, 8. (a) UNawomi wayebona umusa kaBhowazi uvela kubani, njalo kungani wayebona njalo? (b) Kuyini okunye uRuthe akwenzayo okwakutshengisa ukuthi wayelothando oluqotho?

⁷ Ingxoxo yathi isatsha uRuthe watshela uNawomi ukuthi uBhowazi wayemenzele umusa omkhulu. Lokhu kwamthokozisa uNawomi waze wathi: “UJehova kambusise! Kakuyekelanga ukutshengisa umusa wakhe kwabaphilayo lakwasebafayo.” (Ruthe. 2:20) Wayebona ukuthi umusa kaBhowazi wawuvela kuJehova ngoba nguye okhuthaza abantu abamkhonzayo ukuthi babe ngabaphanayo futhi uthembisa lokuthi uzabanika umvuzo nxa besiba lomusa kwabanye. *—Bala iZaga 19:17.

⁸ UNawomi wakhuthaza uRuthe ukuthi alalele uBhowazi, aqhubeke esiyadobha okwakuyabe kusele ensimini yakhe futhi angatshiyani lamantombazana ezincekukazi zakhe ukuze angahlutshwa ngabavunayo. URuthe wakwenza konke lokhu. Kanti njalo waqhubeka ‘ehlala loninazala.’ (Ruthe. 2:22, 23) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uRuthe wayelalo sibili uthando oluqotho. Nxa sifunda okwenziwa nguRuthe kungaba kuhle ukuthi sizibuze ukuthi thina siyawathanda yini amalunga ezimuli zethu. Sihlala siwasekela zikhathi zonke yini?  Siyawaphathisa yini nxa efuna usizo? UJehova uyabe ekhangele nxa sitshengisa ukuthi silothando oluqotho.

9. Isibonelo sikaRuthe loNawomi sisifundisani ngemuli?

⁹ URuthe loNawomi babengasiyo muli yini? Phela abanye bacabanga ukuthi abantu baba yimuli nxa kulobaba, umama, indodana, indodakazi, ugogo, ukhulu kanye lamanye amalunga emuli. Kodwa isibonelo sikaRuthe loNawomi sisikhumbuza ukuthi abantu ababili kuphela bangaba yimuli nxa bethokoza, belomusa njalo belothando. Uyawaqakathekisa yini amalunga emuli yakho? UJesu wakhumbuza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi labangelazimuli bangathola omama, obaba, abafowabo, odadewabo kanye labantwana ebandleni lobuKhristu.—Mak. 10:29, 30.

10. UNawomi wayefuna ukumnceda njani uRuthe?

¹⁰ URuthe waqhubeka esiyadobha ensimini kaBhowazi kusukela ngesikhathi sokuvuna ibhali ngoMabasa kwaze kwafika esokuvuna ingqoloyi ngoNhlangula. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uNawomi wayebindana lemicabango yokuthi wayezamenzelani umalokazana wakhe ayemthanda kangaka njengoba isikhathi sasilokhu sihamba. EseseMowabi, uNawomi wayezitshela ukuthi kasoze wafa watholela uRuthe enye indoda. (Ruthe. 1:11-13) Kodwa khathesi wayeseyikhangela ngelinye ilihlo indaba le. Walanda uRuthe wathi kuye: ‘Ndodakazi yami, akungcono ngikudingele umuzi na?’ (Ruthe. 3:1) URuthe wayeseyindodakazi kaNawomi sibili futhi ngalezo zinsuku kwakujayelekile ukuthi abazali badingele abantwababo abantu bokutshada labo. Yikho wayefuna ukumdingela “umuzi” lapho ayezazihlalela khona kuhle futhi avikelwe ngumkakhe. Kodwa wayezaqalisela ngaphi ukukwenza lokhu?

11, 12. (a) Lapho uNawomi etshela uRuthe ukuthi uBhowazi ‘wayengumhlengi’ wayekhuluma ngaluphi uhlelo olwaluseMthethweni kaNkulunkulu? (b) URuthe wathini ngalokho ayekutshelwa nguninazala?

¹¹ URuthe wathi eqamba ibizo likaBhowazi, uNawomi wahle wathi: “Indoda leyo iyisihlobo sethu esiseduze; ingomunye wezihlobo zethu ezingabahlengi.” (Ruthe. 2:20) Kwakusitshoni lokhu? UMthetho uNkulunkulu awunika abako-Israyeli wawulezinhlelo ezazitshengisa ukuthi wayezikhathalela izimuli ezazithwele nzima ngenxa yobuyanga kumbe ukufelwa. Nxa owesifazana engafelwa ngumkakhe engakabi lomntwana wayedabuka kakhulu enhliziyweni ngoba ibizo lomkakhe laliyahle litshabalale, lingazakali kuzizukulwane ezilandelayo.  Kodwa uMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawuvumela umfowabo wendoda ukuthi athathe umfelokazi lo ukuze azale indlalifa eyayingakhulisa ibizo lomkakhe owayetshonile futhi ikhangele lempahla yemuli. *—Dute. 25:5-7.

¹² UNawomi wamendlalela-ke uRuthe icebo lakhe. Uyambona yini uRuthe enkema umlomo ngesikhathi uninazala emtshela lokho ayefuna akwenze? Wayengakawajayeli amasiko ako-Israyeli futhi loMthetho wayesanda kuwufunda. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayemhlonipha kakhulu uNawomi, walalela konke ayekutshelwa. Lokho uNawomi ayesithi kakwenze kwakungakhanya kunzima, kuthelela inhloni futhi kuyangisa. Lanxa kunjalo, wavuma. Wakhuluma amazwi ayetshengisa ukuthi wayezithoba wathi: “Ngizakwenza lokho ongitshela khona.”—Ruthe. 3:5.

13. Isibonelo sikaRuthe sisifundisani ngokulalela nxa abantu abadala beseluleka? (Khangela loJobe 12:12.)

¹³ Kwezinye izikhathi kunzima ukuthi abasakhulayo balalele nxa abantu abadala asebehlangane lokunengi empilweni bebeluleka. Kulula ukuthi bacabange ukuthi kababuzwisisi ubunzima kanye lezinhlupho zabo. Kodwa uRuthe wayethobekile futhi isibonelo sakhe sisikhumbuza ukuthi kungasisiza kakhulu ukulalela abantu abadala ngoba bakhaliphile, bayasithanda futhi basifisela okuhle. (Bala iHubo 71:17, 18.) Manje uNawomi wameluleka wathini umalokazana wakhe njalo uRuthe kwamnceda yini ukwenza lokho ayekutsheliwe?

14. Chaza ukuthi esizeni kwakuyindawo enjani, futhi kwakusenziwani endaweni le?

¹⁴ Kwathi sekuhlwile uRuthe waqonda esizeni. Le kwakuyindawo eyayigandelwe yagandelwa lapho abalimi ababejayele ukubhulela khona kanye lokwela amabele abo. Kwakujayele ukukhethwa indawo eluqaqa lapho okwakusiba lomoya nxa selikhotheme langesikhathi sekuhwalala. Izisebenzi lezi zazisebenzisa amafologwe lamafotsholo amakhulu ukuze ziphosele amabele emoyeni, umoya ubusuphephula amakhoba kanye lomule, kusale inhlamvu zamabele.

15, 16. (a) Chaza ukuthi kwenzakalani esizeni uBhowazi esetshayisile emsebenzini. (b) UBhowazi wabona njani ukuthi uRuthe wayelele ezinyaweni zakhe?

¹⁵ URuthe wayezikhangele ngelozingelayo izisebenzi seziwugoqa umsebenzi wazo njengoba laselisiyatshona. UBhowazi nguye owayekhangela ababesebenza ukwela amabele akhe, futhi ayelokhu esiba yinqumbi. Wathi esedle wasutha nti, wahamba wayalala ekucineni kwenqumbi yamabele. Kukhanya lokhu kwakujayelekile, mhlawumbe kusenzelwa ukulinda isivuno ukuze singantshontshwa ngamasela kanye lezikliwi. URuthe wambona uBhowazi eselungiselela ukulala. Sasesifikile-ke isikhathi sokwenza ayekutshelwe nguninazala.

¹⁶ Wasondela enyenya, uvalo selumtshaye lwameqa. URuthe wayezibonela ukuthi indoda le yayisibubhuqa ubuthongo. Wafika wenza ayekutshelwe nguNawomi, wembula izinyawo zikaBhowazi waselala khonapho. Walinda. Walinda. Mhlawumbe waze wabona angathi sekuthatha umnyaka wonke. Kodwa kwathi sekuphakathi kwamabili, uBhowazi watshibilika eseqhaqhazela ngomqando, mhlawumbe efuna ukwembathisa izinyawo zakhe. Wathi esithi qaqabu wabona nangu  umuntu. IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Wathola owesifazana elele ezinyaweni zakhe.’—Ruthe. 3:8.

17. Yiziphi izinto ezimbili abangazinanzeleliyo labo abacabangela ukuthi kukhona okwakutshaya amanzi kulokho okwenziwa nguRuthe?

¹⁷ UBhowazi wabuza uRuthe wathi: “Ungubani wena?” Yena waphendula wathi: “NginguRuthe, incekukazi yakho. Ngembathisa ngesambatho sakho, njengoba uyisihlobo sethu esingumhlengi.” (Ruthe. 3:9) Mhlawumbe lelizwi lakhe laselivevezela. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi amazwi kaRuthe kanye lezenzo zakhe kwakungokomuntu ofuna ukuya emacansini. Kodwa kulezinto ezimbili abangazinanzeleliyo. Okokuqala, okwakusenziwa nguRuthe kwakuhambelana lamasiko angalesosikhathi futhi amanengi akhona kawasajayelekanga lamuhla. Yikho-ke siyabe singaqondanga nxa singaphetha ngokuthi okwenziwa nguRuthe kuhambelana lezigigaba ezenziwa emhlabeni lo ogcwele ukuziphatha okubi. Okwesibili, indlela uBhowazi aphendula ngayo itshengisa ukuthi wayengacabangeli ukuthi kulento embi uRuthe ayefuna ukuyenza futhi wamncoma kakhulu.

18. UBhowazi wamduduza njani uRuthe, njalo yiziphi izinto ezimbili akhuluma ngazo ezazitshengisa ukuthi uRuthe wayelothando oluqotho?

¹⁸ UBhowazi wakhuluma ngelizwi elipholileyo futhi kumele ukuthi uRuthe wezwa kusithi hu! Wathi: “UJehova akubusise, ndodakazi yami. Umusa wakho lo mkhulu ukwedlula lokho okwenze kuqala. Awuzange ukhethe ukulandelana lamajaha, ingabe nganothileyo loba angabayanga.” (Ruthe. 3:10) Lapho ekhuluma ngalokho uRuthe akwenza “kuqala” wayesitsho uthando oluqotho alutshengisa lapho ebuya loNawomi ko-Israyeli futhi emnakekela. Lapho esithi “umusa wakho lo,” wayesesitsho lokho ayesanda kukwenza. UBhowazi wayekunanzelela ukuthi owesifazana owayesesemutsha njengoRuthe wayengazitholela indoda phakathi kwamajaha ayenothile kumbe ayengabayanga. Kodwa uRuthe wayefuna ukwenzela uNawomi okuhle futhi wayefuna lokuthi ibizo lomkaNawomi lingatshabalali ko-Israyeli. Kuyasicacela-ke ukuthi okwenza uBhowazi wamncoma kangaka uRuthe yikuthi owesifazana lo wayeziqakathekisa izifiso zabanye.

19, 20. (a) Kungani uBhowazi engazange ahle azithathele uRuthe? (b) UBhowazi watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelomusa futhi engafuni ukungcolisa ibizo likaRuthe?

¹⁹ UBhowazi waqhubeka wathi: “Ngakho-ke, ungesabi ndodakazi yami. Ngizakwenzela konke okucelayo. Bonke abantu bakulo umuzi bayakwazi ukuthi wena ungowesifazana oqotho.” (Ruthe. 3:11)  Kwakumthokozisa ukuthi wayengatshada loRuthe. Mhlawumbe akummangalisanga kangako ukuthi acelwe ukuthi abe ngumhlengi wakhe. Kodwa uBhowazi wayeyindoda elungileyo yikho engazange ahle athi zimbiwe ngulinda. Kazange agijimele ukusuthisa esakhe isifiso, kodwa watshela uRuthe ukuthi kwakulomunye umhlengi owayeyisihlobo esasiseduze kulaye. UBhowazi wayezaqala alande isihlobo leso asiphe ithuba lokuthi sithathe uRuthe.

²⁰ Watshela uRuthe ukuthi ake athi yoko kancane abesevuka emathathakusa, athi nyelele kungela ombonayo. Wayengafuni ukungcolisa ibizo likaRuthe kanye lelakhe kumbe ukuthi abantu bacabangele ukuthi kulokunye okubi ababekwenzile ngalobobusuku. URuthe waphinda walala eduze lenyawo zendoda le. Mhlawumbe khathesi wayesekhululekile ngenxa yokuthi kayizange imhalade. Wavuka-ke kusesemnyama. UBhowazi wagcwalisa isembatho sakhe ngebhali enengi kakhulu, uRuthe wasebuyela eBhethilehema.—Bala uRuthe 3:13-15.

21. Kuyini okwakusenza ukuthi abantu bathi uRuthe ‘‘ungowesifazana oqotho,’’ futhi singamlingisela njani?

²¹ Kumele ukuthi inhliziyo kaRuthe yayincibilika sibili nxa wayecabanga ngokuthi uBhowazi wayethe abantu bonke babekwazi ukuthi yena ‘wayengowesifazana oqotho’! Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukufuna kwakhe ukwazi uJehova lokuzimisela ukumkhonza yikho okwakusenza ukuthi abantu bathi uqotho. Wayebe lomusa omkhulu kuNawomi lasebantwini bakibo futhi watshengisa lokhu ngokuzimisela ukulandela indlela ababephila ngayo kanye lamasiko ayengawajayelanga ngitsho. Yikho-ke lathi singalingisela uRuthe owayelokholo ngokuhlonipha amasiko abanye kanye lendlela abaphila ngayo. Nxa singenza njalo, lathi kuzathiwa singabantu abaqotho.

22, 23. (a) Isipho uBhowazi asinika uRuthe sasingabe sisitshoni? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (b) UNawomi watshela uRuthe ukuthi enzeni?

²² URuthe wathi efika ngekhaya, uninazala wambuza wathi: “Kuhambe njani ndodakazi yami?” Wayefuna ukwazi ukuthi uRuthe wayebuye elambatha yini kumbe wayesemtholile umuntu ayengendela kuye. URuthe wahle wamxoxela konke okwakwenzakele phakathi kwakhe loBhowazi. Wamnika lebhali enengi ayeyiphathiswe nguBhowazi. *—Ruthe. 3:16, 17.

²³ UNawomi wacebisa uRuthe emtshela ukuthi ngalelolanga  angahambi ukuyadobha emasimini, azihlalele ngekhaya. Wathi: “Umuntu lo kasoke aphumule indaba le ize ilungiswe lamhlanje.”—Ruthe. 3:18.

24, 25. (a) UBhowazi watshengisa njani ukuthi wayeyindoda elungileyo futhi elendaba labanye? (b) URuthe wabusiswa njani?

²⁴ Okwakukhulunywe nguNawomi mayelana loBhowazi kwakuyikho sibili. UBhowazi wahamba esangweni ledolobho lapho abadala ababejayele ukuhlanganela khona. Wasimelela saze safika isihlobo esasiseduze esasingahlenga uRuthe. Ephambi kwabofakazi, wapha indoda le ithuba lokuthi ibe ngumhlengi ngokutshada loRuthe. Kodwa yala, yathi nxa yayingenza njalo ilifa layo lalingonakala. Phambi kwabofakazi ababesesangweni ledolobho, uBhowazi wavuma ukuthi wayezakuba ngumhlengi athenge isiqinti somuyi u-Elimeleki, owayengumkaNawomi. Waphinda wathi wayezatshada loRuthe owayengumkaMaheloni indodana ka-Elimeleki. Watsho lokuthi wayethemba ukuthi lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukuthi “kugcinakale ibizo lomufi kanye lempahla yakhe.” (Ruthe. 4:1-10) Kuyazikhanyela-ke ukuthi uBhowazi wayeyindoda elungileyo futhi elendaba labanye.

²⁵ URuthe watshada loBhowazi. Ngemva kwalokho “uJehova wenza wakhulelwa, wasezala indodana.” Abesifazana baseBhethilehema bamenzela amhlophe uNawomi bancoma loRuthe besithi wayengcono kuninazala kulamadodana ayisikhombisa. Ngemva kwalokho iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi indodana kaRuthe yaba ngukhokho weNkosi uDavida. (Ruthe. 4:11-22) UDavida yena waba ngukhokho kaJesu Khristu.—Mat. 1:1. *

26. Okwenzakala kuRuthe loNawomi kusikhumbuzani?

²⁶ URuthe loNawomi babusiswa sibili futhi uNawomi wancedisa ukondla umntwana lo owayengathi ngowakhe. Indaba yabo isikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu uyababona bonke abasebenza gadalala bezama ukondla abemuli yabo futhi uyababona labamkhonza beqotho ndawonye labantu bakhe. Uyababusisa loba sekutheni abantu abathembekileyo njengoBhowazi, uNawomi kanye loRuthe.