The Ethics of Land Hebrew Bible laws, customs and stories

Leviticus 25.4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.

Leviticus The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants. Deuteronomy 24:14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

Deuteronomy 24:19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

The Story of Ruth Depictions in Art Renaissance to Contemporary

Bening 1525

Marian 1625

Boaz and Ruth Rembrant 1635

Boaz pouring barley for Ruth Rembrandt

Carolsfeld, Naomi and Ruth

Carolsfeld, Boaz meets Ruth

Dore 1865

Steinhardt, Undated

Tissot c. 1900

Chagall 1960 Ruth and her daughters-in-law

Chagall Ruth brings grain to Naomi

Chagall Boaz awakes

Chagall Ruth at Boaz’ feet

Chagall

McBee 2001

Contemporary, Ruth and Naomi

Millet, 1857, The Gleaners

The Gleaners, by Jean Francois Millet When The Gleaners was first exhibited in 1857, it met with mixed reviews within the art world. Some commentators attacked its depiction of the rural poor, which on the one hand served as an unwelcome reminder of the marginalized poor (a threat to society)...who had no place within the artistic realm. Part of the shock value of Millet’s painting was undoubtedly due to the fact that in the past gleaning had usually been represented in art through the Old Testament tale of Ruth... And not, as it was now, as a statement on rural poverty. Taken from a commentary on “Behind the Picture” posted on the web:

Millet, The Angelus

Millet, The Faggot Carriers

Millet, Planting Potatoes

Millet, The Threshers

Millet Girl with Brush Wood

Millet, Haystacks

Millet, Man with Hoe

Millet, The Shepherdess

Jules Breton [French Realist Painter, ] Song of the LarkRealist

Jules Breton Brittany Girl

Breton, The Communicants

Breton, Vintage

Breton, Calling in the Gleaners

Breton The Gleaner

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