Lot's Separation from Abraham and Ruth's Return

The book of Shoftim ends on a dark and ominous note, describing an immoral and corrupt society that deserves destruction. Through the midrashic depictions of both Ruth and Orpah in Megillat Ruth, and comparison to the characters of Avraham and Lot in Genesis 13, Dr. Yael Ziegler explains that Ruth is the person who ultimately saves the Jewish nation from their corruption, single-handedly leading them into a better era. Using classical commentaries, Ziegler describes the path of morality and kindness depicted by Avraham, as opposed to Lot's cruel and immoral path.   Ruth makes a conscious decision to return the nation from Lot's path, down which they had strayed throughout the book of Shoftim, back to Avraham's path of righteousness, thereby instilling modesty and kindness back into Am Yisrael.