The Rashi commentary on Ruth (1:12) writes that Ruth converted after her husband died. How could there be a concept of Yibum (Levirate marriage) later on in the story when marriage to a non-Jew does not establish a bond that would require Yibum?

Hi! It’s a tough question, and I don’t think I’ll really be able to answer it satisfactorily. You’re making it tough, by bringing in Rashi. As I think you know, there are different explanations there, and some are of the opinion that the women converted before the marriage. Truth is, there are problems either way. If they did convert before the marriage, what sense does it make to say that the husbands died for the sin of marrying Moabite women? – the wives were Jewish already, and the prohibition of marrying a Moabite applies only to their men, not their women.

You’ve pointed out one major problem with saying they did not convert. I have another – an explicit verse. When Orpah turns to leave Naomi and Ruth, Naomi says (Ruth 1:15), “Your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her god; return after your sister- in-law.” To me, that says that until then she was being Jewish, staying with our people and avoiding her gods. Maybe you could get out of it by saying there was no formal conversion, but that doesn’t sit well with me.

I think that the most plausible approach is that their conversions were tenuous and conditional. Part of a conversion is the acceptance of the Mitzvos (commandments), and we don’t (normally) take converts just because they want to marry someone. Here, then, they may have gone through a conversion, but their true acceptance of Mitzvos was still up in the air. Things sorted themselves out later; Ruth really was married and could do Yibum, or the approximation described there. Orpah went back to being non-Jewish, perhaps retroactively.

I’ve seen those who explain the verses this way, though I don’t have my sources in front of me, and it’s the clearest explanation I know of. I don’t know, though, if this can possibly be true in the Rashi you asked about. If you find out more, please let me know.

Thanks much,
Michoel Reach