Midrash sobre Rut 4:11

“He said: ‘Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter; you have shown more kindness [at the end than at the beginning]...” Rabbi Yoḥanan, Reish Lakish, and the Rabbis – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: A person should never refrain from going to an elder to be blessed, as Boaz was eighty years old and he had not been remembered,²¹²God had not given him a son. but when that righteous woman prayed for him, he was immediately remembered, as it is stated: “Naomi said…: Blessed be he by the Lord…” (Ruth 2:20). Reish Lakish said: Ruth was forty years old, and had not been remembered when she was married to Maḥlon. When that righteous one [Boaz] prayed for her, she was remembered, as it is stated: “He said: Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter.” The Rabbis say: The two of them were remembered only due to the blessing of the righteous, as it is stated: “All the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said: May the Lord render the woman…[like Rachel and like Leah…]” (Ruth 4:11). “You have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak said: A woman prefers a poor young man to an elderly rich man.

“All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said: We are witnesses. May the Lord render the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and like Leah, the two of whom built the house of Israel; prosper in Efrat, and proclaim a name in Bethlehem” (Ruth 4:11).
“All the people who were in the gate…” Most of those participating in the feast were from Leah; therefore they accorded priority to Rachel.²⁵¹Most of those present were from the tribe of Judah, a son of Leah. Therefore, they mentioned Rachel before Leah so that it would not appear that they were according honor to themselves. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Rachel was his primary wife, as it is stated: “Rachel was barren [akara]” (Genesis 29:31), [alluding to the fact that she was] primary [ikar]. Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai taught: Because they said things against Rachel,²⁵²Her enemies would attribute her barrenness to her character flaws. therefore [all the tribes of Israel] are called her children, as it is written: “Rachel is weeping over her children” (Jeremiah 31:15).²⁵³The verse is referring to the entire nation of Israel, not just the tribes who descended from Rachel. The same is true of the verses in Amos and Jeremiah cited below. They are not only attributed to her; they are even attributed to her son: “Perhaps the Lord, God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:15). They are not only attributed to her son; they are even attributed to her grandson, as it is stated: “Is Ephraim My favorite son, a delightful child?” (Jeremiah 31:20).

[Another interpretation (of Gen. 29:31): WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT LEAH WAS HATED]…. BUT RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR), < i.e., > she was the chief (rt.: 'QR) of the house, since Jacob would not have subjugated himself (to Laban) except for her.⁴¹Gen. R. 71:2; PRK 20:2. It is so stated (in Gen. 29:20): SO JACOB SERVED SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL. Where is it shown that she was house chief? Where Leah's children admit it.⁴²Ruth R. 7:13. Boaz and all his court⁴³Gk.: synhedrion. were from the tribe of Judah, < i.e., > from the sons of the sons of Leah. And what is written (in Ruth 4:11)? THEN ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE GATE AND THE ELDERS SAID: < WE ARE > WITNESSES. MAY THE LORD MAKE THE WOMAN WHO IS COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE LIKE RACHEL AND LEAH,⁴⁴The fact that Leah’s descendants mention Rachel before Leah, even though Leah is the elder, is seen as their admission that Rachel was favored over Leah. BOTH OF WHOM BUILT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. SO PROSPER IN EPHRATHAH AND BECOME RENOWNED IN BETHLEHEM. Hence Rachel is the chief (rt.: 'QR) of the house, since it is stated (in Gen. 29:31): but RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR). R. Berekhyah [Berabbi] the Priest said: She had no foundation (rt.: 'QR), < i.e., > metra,⁴⁵The Greek work means “womb.” since it is stated (in Gen. 29:31): BUT RACHEL WAS BARREN (rt.: 'QR)… nevertheless, she and her children are the foundation of the world, since no one maintains Israel in the world but the children of Rachel.⁴⁶Gen. R. 71:2 and PRK 20:2 add that Israel is referred to as Rachel’s children in Jer. 31:15, 20; Amos 5:15. See also Matthew 2:16-18.

Another interpretation (of Ps. 98:3): HE HAS REMEMBERED HIS LOVING-KINDNESS. The remembrance is of our mother Rachel. (Ibid., cont.:) TOWARD THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, as stated (in Ruth 4:11) < RACHEL AND LEAH >, BOTH OF WHOM BUILT UP THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Ergo (in Gen. 30:22): THEN GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL.