The Mantle of the Matriarchs: Ruth 4:11-15
Applies intra-biblical interpretation to the elders' blessing over Ruth and Boaz's marriage, arguing that the text deliberately echoes Rachel, Leah, and Tamar to cast Ruth as a culmination of the matriarchal tradition, and contends against Phyllis Trible that Ruth's role is not eclipsed but rather elevated through these allusions, even as Rebekah's absence from the parallel remains a puzzle the Sages themselves noticed.
Levenson reads the townspeople’s blessing over Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:11-15) as a case study in intra-biblical interpretation, showing how its language deliberately recalls Rachel, Leah, and Tamar to position Ruth as heir to the matriarchal legacy that builds toward the Davidic line. He argues that this network of allusions elevates Ruth’s role rather than diminishing it, pushing back on readings that see her overshadowed by Naomi in the chapter’s final verses.
Alan T. Levenson is the Schusterman Professor of Jewish Religious and Intellectual History at the University of Oklahoma.
Cite this article
Alan T. Levenson. "The Mantle of the Matriarchs: Ruth 4:11-15." Jewish Bible Quarterly 38, no. 4 (October – December 2010): 237–243.
Alan T. Levenson. "The Mantle of the Matriarchs: Ruth 4:11-15." Jewish Bible Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 4, 2010, pp. 237–243.