[Avodah] Was Moav Monotheistic?

[Akiva Miller]

.
R' Isaac Balbin wrote:
> Several mefarshim (and this is hinted at in Rus Rabbah)
> understand Naomi's words not as a sincere recommendation but
> as a nisayon — she was actively trying to dissuade Ruth and
> Orpah from following her, precisely to ensure that whoever
> did follow her was doing so l'shem shamayim. The "advice"
> was a probe, not a pesak

This actually strengthens my question!

Megilas Rus 1:15 does not tell us what Naami said to Orpah. Rather, after
Orpah has already left and returned "to her people and to her religion",
and she advises Ruth to do the same. My question is why Naami didn't
realize how the odds were stacked: If Orpah returned to Avodah Zara, it is
likely that Ruth would do so also. Whatever Naami's intentions were, how
did she not realize the tragic consequences?

Even according to the Alshich, who was cited as interpreting Naami's words
to be, "go follow Orpah back to your people, but only to your people, not
to their religion", didn't Naami realize the lion's den that she was
offering? It seems to me almost the very definition of "michshol" - "Ruth,
dearest, go back to Moav, and see if you can hold on to your monotheism in
an entire nation of avodah zara-niks." Seriously?

My understanding is that if an idolater approaches us with a desire to
become Jewish, we do not simply rebuff him, urging him to stay in his
idolatry. That would be Lifnei Iver! Rather, we explain that there's no
need to accept the Taryag Mitzvos, he can get into Gen Eden simply by
accepting the Sheva Mitzvos. Why didn't Naami suggest this?

Again, I do realize that Naami was penniless, and had nothing to offer Ruth
financially. But is that a good enough reason to send her to Moav?

Akiva Miller
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