[Avodah] Yebamoth and Megilath Ruth

[Galsaba at aol.com]

The Medrash Rabah on Rus (quoted by the Torah Temimah on Rus 1:11) in fact 
states that Naomi's question "ha'Od Li Banim b'Mei'ai v'Hayu Lachem l'Anashim" 
-- "have I anymore children in my innards and they will be for you for men?" 
(Rus 1:11) was a rhetorical question concerning Yibum (as well as her inability 
to bear children). The Medrash describes her thoughts: "Does a person do Yibum 
with Eishes Achiv Shelo Hayah b'Olamo?" The Ibn Ezra similarly explains that 
Naomi's statement was not that they shouldn't wait for Yibum, as that would be 
impossible due to the children's being brothers from the mother's side. It 
was rather a loving and sympathetic statement that if she could produce children 
which would take the place of their husbands, in order to help them, she 
would. She knew this was impossible both from a practical and halachic aspect, and 
sympathized with them in this fashion.
 
Was Ruth converted before her husband died, or after?
If it was after, why to mention "Goel"? there is no Mitzva of Yibum, as she 
does not have any relatives.
 
Aaron Galsaba





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