The Moabitess

On leaving Moab He looked down at Naomi, “Old Hebrew woman, as for you, be sure you are away from my house before the moon changes. Another tenet needs to be found.” “Your servant is going back to my, Tribe, Judah, in Bethlehem. I will be no further trouble to you,” she whispered, looking down. “Be sure that you are not,” he snapped, “now, I must take the burden of these women upon my back.” Then Naomi looked at me, tears running down her face. She touched my cheek. The woman was old and broken, but kind. Now, she would go to whatever fate awaited her, giving what little she had to us. It broke my heart. I heard myself say in a loud, clear voice, “I will not be a burden to your wealth.” “Niece, be careful what you say. You must accept whatever he chooses to give you,” my aunt whispered under her breath. Shaking, I turned to my mother-in-law, taking her hands in mine. Looking deep into her eyes I was silent for a long time. Feelings swirling around in me, pushing against all logic. “Your stepsister has gone back to her people. You must go too,” Naomi whispered. “Sister, you have no choice,” Orpah muttered. In that instant, it came to me what I had to do. It seemed as if the wind and time had stopped. Until I die, I will never forget my mother Naomi’s face. It was worn, crushed by tragedy. But there was love in those sad eyes. “Do not send me away, Mother Naomi. I know where you go,” I said, with authority, gripping her hands. Silent for an eternity, I measured each word so that it would be carved on my heart. Here and now, I would speak an oath. “Where you go, I will go. Where you lie your head, I will also lie my head. Your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die. I will be buried where you are buried. May God do so to me and more if I should be parted from you but by death,” I felt stunned by my words. Until that moment, I expected to go with my stepsister. But deep inside of me, in a place where my heart lives, I knew I would never leave Naomi. Not as long as her heart and my heart beat. “Has your head been carried away by a demon?” he screeched, as he grabbed my arm and jerked me away from her to his wife as if I were a child. “You will not live to see her land! You will be dead in a ditch by the road.” He shook me hard so that my teeth rattled, “Men will rape you, and put you beside the road for a whore. Do you think those damned Hebrews will accept you? They think Lot's daughter bred us from incest. You will die, alone away from your people, your bones will be picked clean by the fowl of the air.” For an instant, I thought he might strike me. Not answering, I quietly peeled his hand from me and walked the few steps back to Naomi. Taking her hand in mine, I defiantly raised my eyes to meet his. “In my shame she was kind and if she is the only one, then she will be my people,” I said.