The play opens with a short scene in front of the curtain, depicting the journey of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, from Moab to Israel. Orpah decides to return to her own people, while Ruth chooses allegiance to Naomi. The curtain rises on their arrival on the outskirts of Bethlehem. They find a humble hut in which to live. Ruth is permitted by the bailiff or Boaz to glean in the harvest fields, and great kindness is shown to them by him, with certain reservations. Boaz himself arrives to watch the gathering of the harvest, and, becoming acquainted with Ruth and Naomi, reminds the latter of the Israelitish custom by which the kinsman of one who leaves a widow without means is enjoined to take her to wife. Naomi explains this law to Ruth, who is a woman of Moab, and Ruth accepts with glad obedience.