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CHAPTER 8 – Ruth: Approx. 1364 B.C.-Approx. 1079 B.C.

Ruth is the eight book of the Bible. The title of the book in the Hebrew Bible is “Ruth” which is the name of a woman who is a main character in the book. So, the English title comes down to us from the Hebrew Bible.

Authorship

According to ancient Jewish tradition, the book of Ruth was written by Samuel. If so, it was written no later than 1011 B.C.

Summary

The book of Ruth opens with the statement that there was a famine in Israel in the days that the judges ruled. Thus, the events recorded by the book occurred in the approximate period 1364 B.C. to 1079 B.C.

According to the book, because of the famine, an Israelite man named Elimelech went to live in the country of Moab with his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Then Elimelech died in Moab. Naomi’s two sons marry Moabite women and then both of these sons die in Moab.

After this Naomi hears that God has blessed Israel by giving them bread, that is, that the famine had ended. Naomi, therefore, decided to return alone to her homeland, Israel, for she recommended to both of her daughter-in-laws that they should remain in Moab.

One daughter-in-law, Orpah, took Naomi’s advice and stayed in Moab but the second daughter-in-law, Ruth, decided to go with Naomi to Israel. Ruth declared that she would never leave Naomi and that Naomi’s people would be her people and Naomi’s God would be her God.

The two, Naomi and Ruth, arrive in Israel at the time of the barley harvest. In order to provide herself and Naomi with food, Ruth goes out to glean, that is, to gather what was left by the reapers in a barley field. This field happened to belong Boaz, a man of great wealth. He had received a good report of Ruth from his chief servant and had also heard a good report of Ruth’s conduct towards her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Boaz, therefore, treated Ruth kindly and suggested that she glean in no other barley field but his. In the evening, Ruth returned home to Naomi with her gleanings and also food she had received from Boaz. When Naomi hears that Ruth had encountered Boaz, she explains that he was a near kinsman, that is, a close relative.

Naomi then forms a plan for Ruth to make known to Boaz that he was a near kinsman and Ruth’s interest in entering into marriage with Him. Ruth obeys Naomi, and Boaz is delighted to learn of Ruth’s interest in him. Boaz informs Ruth though, that there is a nearer kinsman than him who has first right to carry out the requirements for marriage to Ruth.

Boaz approaches the nearer kinsman about his redeeming the deceased Elimelech’s land and also his marrying Ruth according to Jewish requirements and this nearer kinsman waives his right. So, Boaz marries Ruth and together they had a son named Obed.

The book of Ruth ends with a genealogy including the fact that Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, who was to become a king of Israel.

Themes

• The faith of a non-Jew in God in the midst of repeated Jewish unfaithfulness to God.
• Devotion to God.
• Humble industry.
• Genuine love.
• Caring.
• Kindness.
• Loyalty.
• Constancy.
• A wise choice.
• God’s providence.
• Obedience to wise counsel.
• Generosity.
• Uprightness of character.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God’s love for all humanity including the non-Jewish nations.
• God’s equal love for women as well as for men.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

Speaking of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, God says, “Booz [Boaz] begat [was the father of] Obed of [by] Ruth; and Obed begat [was the father of] Jesse; and Jesse begat [was the father of] David the king.” Matthew 1:5, 6. Thus, Ruth became an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

It is true of Ruth that as God says, “Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes [once] were far off are made nigh [near] by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12, 13.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19), who are those in right standing before God, “and [are a part] of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19. In other words, the grace of God triumphed in the conversion of Ruth from unbelief in God to belief in God.

God is “a friend [that] loveth at all times, and [Christ is] a brother [who] is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17. That is, because of their sin, humanity faced misery and woe in their lives and eternal death (annihilation by God). But just as Boaz was a kinsman redeemer for Ruth in her time of adversity, Christ was born into the world to redeem humanity from their troubles and eternal ruin.

“For thy [humanity’s] Maker is thine husband; the LORD [God] of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of [the] Israel [of God]; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isaiah 54:5. “I [God] that speak in righteousness, [am] mighty to save” (Isaiah 63:1) from eternal death (annihilation by God) and instead give eternal life.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Respond positively to God’s drawing you to Himself.
• Be devoted to God.
• Be diligent in providing for the necessities of life.
• Have genuine love for all humanity.
• Be kind and show care for others.
• Be loyal to those who are worthy.
• Make wise choices.
• Obey wise counsel.
• Be generous.
• Be upright in character.

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