Kabbalah Library

180. Since ruth converted [became Jewish], why was she not called by another name? She did have another name, and when she married Machlon she was named Ruth, and from there she rose by that name, since when she married Machlon, she converted, and not after some time.

181. It is written, “And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Naomi gave Ruth many warnings, and she took all of them upon herself. But if she converted when she married Machlon, why did she have to warn her so?

182. It is not that she married Machlon while being a gentile. Rather, when she married, she converted and was in the custody of her husband’s mother. She and Orpa stood in this matter. When their husbands died, Orpa returned to her stench, and Ruth remained in her flavor, as it is written, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth clung to her, as she did in the beginning. Since her husband had died, she adhered to the Torah of her own volition.

183. At first, her name was Gilit. When she married Machlon, he named her Ruth. The name of Orpa was Herpa, and she returned to her stench and to her name, and to her people and to her gods, as it is written, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods,” to be called by the first name. “And to her gods,” to do idol-worship.