Midrasch zu Rut 1:20
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ן אַל־תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה לִ֖י נָעֳמִ֑י קְרֶ֤אןָ לִי֙ מָרָ֔א כִּי־הֵמַ֥ר שַׁדַּ֛י לִ֖י מְאֹֽד׃
Sie antwortete ihnen. Nennet mich nicht Naomi [die Liebliche], nennet mich Mara [die Verbitterte), denn der Allmächtige hat mir sehr bitteres Leid zugefügt.
Ruth Rabbah
“The two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem the entire city was in a tumult about them, and the women said: Is that Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19).
“The two of them went” – Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Simon said: That day was the harvesting of the omer,139Meaning, it was the second day of Passover, on which the new barley would be harvested in order to bring the omer offering. as it is taught there:140In the Land of Israel. See Mishna Menaḥot 10:3. All the adjacent towns would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare. Some say: Ivtzan was marrying off his daughters that day. Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Azarya, and Rabbi Menaḥama in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua bar Avin: It is written: “Lord, [God] of hosts, who is mighty like You, Lord” (Psalms 89:9) – who brings things about in their appropriate time. Boaz’s wife died on that day, and all of Israel assembled to show kindness [to participate in the funeral]. As all the populace was going to show kindness, Ruth entered with Naomi; this one [Boaz’s first wife] departed, and that one entered.
“The entire city was in a tumult about them and the women said: Is that Naomi” – is that she whose actions are fine and pleasant [ne’imim]? In the past, she would go about in her litters, and now she is walking barefoot, and [that is why] you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past she was clothed in silken garments, and now she is clothed in rags, and you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past, her face was red from food and drink, and now her face is pale from hunger, and you say: “Is that Naomi?”
She said to them: Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara; as the Almighty has greatly embittered [hemar] me (Ruth 1:20).
And she says to them: “Do not call me Naomi [pleasantness]; call me Mara [bitterness]” – Bar Kappara said: [It is analogous] to an inferior cow whose owner stood it in the marketplace and said: It is for plowing and it plows straight furrows. They said: If it is for plowing, what are all these wounds on it?141If the cow plowed well it would not have been necessary to whip it. So said Naomi: “[I went full, and the Lord brought me back empty;] why [call me Naomi,] and the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has hurt me” (Ruth 1:21)?
“The two of them went” – Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Simon said: That day was the harvesting of the omer,139Meaning, it was the second day of Passover, on which the new barley would be harvested in order to bring the omer offering. as it is taught there:140In the Land of Israel. See Mishna Menaḥot 10:3. All the adjacent towns would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare. Some say: Ivtzan was marrying off his daughters that day. Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Azarya, and Rabbi Menaḥama in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua bar Avin: It is written: “Lord, [God] of hosts, who is mighty like You, Lord” (Psalms 89:9) – who brings things about in their appropriate time. Boaz’s wife died on that day, and all of Israel assembled to show kindness [to participate in the funeral]. As all the populace was going to show kindness, Ruth entered with Naomi; this one [Boaz’s first wife] departed, and that one entered.
“The entire city was in a tumult about them and the women said: Is that Naomi” – is that she whose actions are fine and pleasant [ne’imim]? In the past, she would go about in her litters, and now she is walking barefoot, and [that is why] you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past she was clothed in silken garments, and now she is clothed in rags, and you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past, her face was red from food and drink, and now her face is pale from hunger, and you say: “Is that Naomi?”
She said to them: Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara; as the Almighty has greatly embittered [hemar] me (Ruth 1:20).
And she says to them: “Do not call me Naomi [pleasantness]; call me Mara [bitterness]” – Bar Kappara said: [It is analogous] to an inferior cow whose owner stood it in the marketplace and said: It is for plowing and it plows straight furrows. They said: If it is for plowing, what are all these wounds on it?141If the cow plowed well it would not have been necessary to whip it. So said Naomi: “[I went full, and the Lord brought me back empty;] why [call me Naomi,] and the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has hurt me” (Ruth 1:21)?
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