Ruth and Naomi: Follow Their Path from Bethlehem to Moab on a Biblical Journey

An authentic Bible tour is exemplified by putting yourself in the shoes of Biblical people who once walked on the very same ground. Travel the distance from Bethlehem to Moab in the Footsteps of Ruth and Naomi and experience the Biblical narrative come alive as you take the same journey!

As you travel on an Israel tour from Bethlehem to Moab, a mountainous strip of land in Jordan, you can imagine Ruth and Naomi traveling the same 50 miles of rugged and steep terrain. Although it is a short trip today, it would have taken Ruth and Naomi 7-10 days on foot. We know from the Book of Ruth that they took this trip 2 times. Once in haste with their husbands, to find bread in Moab and once alone in Naomi’s bitterness, after both of their husbands died in Moab (along with Naomi’s other son).

What does “Mara” Mean?

After Naomi lost both of her sons and husband in Moab, she says in Ruth 1:20, “Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” The word Mara is a form of Marah, meaning “a bitter place in the desert.” We see in the Word that Moses threw wood into the bitter water of Marah and it was made sweet (Exodus 15:22-26). It is the same with Jesus. Through his death on the cross, a bitter soul is made sweet through redemption.

Explore the Biblical Passage of Ruth On-Site in Israel

So, as we make our way from Bethlehem to Moab on an Israel tour, we can take a moment to visualize the journey of Ruth and Naomi. We can also dwell in thankfulness that when we say our name is “bitter,” God says there is a Redeemer. His name is Jesus Christ.

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