Ruth (Rut) was a Moabite woman who lived during the time of the Judges. She married a Jewish man from Bethlehem who had come to Moab to escape famine. After Rut's husband dies, she severed her ties to Moab, joined Israel, and returned with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem. In time, she married a wealthy Bethlehemite named Boaz. Rut was the great-grandmother of David. Jewish tradition praises Ruth's faith and loyalty.