Told in an economical four chapters, the story of Ruth is charged with romance and sexuality, but romance and sexuality that are inextricably linked to the making of the family and the fertility of the land. (firstthings.com)
For the nation prided itself in the great historic events which were accepted as their God's intervention on their behalf; but Baal, of whom they learned from the Canaanites, was god of the fertility of the land. (religion-online.org)
Baal was a storm god worshiped by the Phoenicians and by Israelite peasants who sought to insure the fertility of the land. (religion-online.org)