Note
Expanded Wall Label:
The Scarlet Thread and The Golden Cord: Thirteen Women of the Hebrew Scriptures
Edgar G. Boevé
The writers of the Hebrew Scriptures give great attention to the women. They were totally involved in the lives of their men and are often the driving force of their lives together. These women were the mothers of the leaders of lsrael, God's chosen people. The scarlet thread defines the place of those women in the royal line of David. Other women were essential to saving the nation of Israel, therefore, the golden cord.
The intent of the thirteen fabric art works is to interpret the essential character of each woman who contributed to the royal line of the preservation of lsrael by texture, color and design through diverse fabrics gathered from around the world.
Ruth
Ruth was a Moabitess married to Mahlon, son of Elimelech and Naomi. When ten years after their father's death both Mahlon and his brother died, Naomi decided to return to her homeland, Judah. Ruth insisted on going with her mother-in-law and speaks the memorable lines, "For where you go, I will go, and where you will lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God, where you die I will die" (Ruth 1:16, 17).
Upon arriving in the land of Judah, to the city of Bethlehem, Naomi sent Ruth to glean in the fields of her wealthy relative, Boaz. Immediately Boaz was smitten by her beauty when he saw her as he was inspecting his fields during the harvest. He gave Ruth every courtesy and
respect for her faithfulness to his relative, Naomi.
Boaz negotiated to buy land belonging to Elimelech, where upon he would also marry its heir Ruth. Upon their marriage Ruth bore a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of King David.
The Scarlet Thread continues.