An important hebrew word in the book of ruth is goel. Even though its small, this remarkable book contains many principles with profound impact to our lives today. Indeed, if there be a contrast, as it appears to me, complete and welldefined in this part of scripture, it is between the real and proper appendix of the book of judges judges 1721 and this book of ruth, which man and tradition tell us once made another supplement. In the book of ruth, it was land that boaz redeemed. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david a dreadful time in a strange country. The book of ruth starts out right away with a famine in the land 1. In the narrative, she is not an israelite but rather is from moab. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. Ruth, biblical character, a woman who after being widowed remains with her husbands mother.
And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. The story of ruth begins with death, moves toward marriage, and finds its ultimate fulfillment in birth. There, they set up shop, eat some food, and live for about ten years. Tragedy strikes the family of ruth and naomi ruth 1.
Ruth was a moabite woman, whose sense of piety and devotion to her mother in law naomi led to her marriage to the prominent boaz of bethlehem in judah. This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spirit. Ruth, book ofcommentaries, commentaries old testament. The typical field hand poses a threat to ruths personal safety ruth 2. She continually points to christ and discusses how scripture interprets scripture. May god, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change.
Ruth was a moabite woman, whose sense of piety and devotion to her motherinlaw naomi led to her marriage to the prominent boaz of bethlehem in judah. And so the book concludes with the pedigree of david, ver. Although some sources credit samuel the prophet, samuel died before davids kingship, which is alluded to at the end of the book date written. Our story opens on a nice jewish family with a problem. The book of ruth, an in depth study of the church and. To you who listen on the radio, you are sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. It begins in the time of the judges, and ends with a genealogy that runs on to king david, thus justifying the books canonical position between judges and 1 samuel. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period. May, 2020 the book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Jul 21, 20 ruth and boaz have a son, and the book closes with a surprise. However, as a comedy, there is rebirth in the end, literally in.
The two of them travel to bethlehem together, where ruth wins the love of boaz. How his marriage with ruth was publicly solemnized, and attended with the good wishes of his neighbours, ver. This is ironic since at the opening of the book, bethlehem was lacking in bread due to the famine. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. Ruth was a descendant of lot, abrahams nephew, and therefore, a gentile.
How boaz got clear of his rival, and fairly shook him off, ver. Upon his death she becomes a childless widow who chooses to accompany her motherinlaw, naomi, to judah. Later, you go and buy that animal back for yourself. This is the first commentary to which one should turn with questions about the book of ruth. The story is set in the time of the judges, a time characterized in the book of judges as a period of religious and moral degeneracy, national disunity and frequent foreign oppression. In the days when the judges were judging 1 there was a famine in the land of israel, therefore, a man from bethlehem in judah named elimelech left for moab with his wife and two sons, remained in moab and died, and his children married moabite women orpah and ruth, and also remained in moab and thus died leaving naomi in mourning over. The book of ruth, which appears in the third section of the hebrew bible, ktuvim, writings, is a beautiful folktale written in four short chapters. Intro to ruth biblica the international bible society. The book of ruth is named for the moabite woman who commits herself to the israelite people by an oath to her mother in law naomi and becomes the greatgrandmother of david by marriage to boaz of bethlehem. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. The book of ruth is an important historical work in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible, as it traces the lineage of king david and ultimately that of the messiah, jesus christ. Because of a famine in israel, a hebrew family moved to moab.
A workbook suitable for bible classes, family studies, or. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. In short, the setting and details of ruth are pregnant with meaning. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. It manages to deal with both details and the big picture. The events described in the book occur during the time of the judges.
Ruth s story is celebrated during the jewish festival of shavuot, the feast of weeks, 50 days after passover. Ruth s name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of historical fiction set in the time of the judges. Like 1sa 12, it gives a series of intimate glimpses into the private lives of the members of an israelite family. It celebrates the loyalty and reward of a young moabite widow ruth who chooses to follow her israelite mother in law naomi back to bethlehem after naomi was bereaved of her own husband and two sons. Read as much as you can of the book of joshua and summarize its theme. I encourage you to read the book four chapters along with me as we. The hebrew uses the same term for sons to show in inclusio naomis loss of sons to her regaining of a child. Jesus, the greatest of all kings, came from bethlehem from the same family. The story is told in the book of ruth, part of the biblical canon called ketuvim, or writings.
For example, the opening words, in the days when the judges ruled looks back to that period. Famine has hit bethlehem, which forces elimelech and his wife, naomi, to move east to moab with their two sons to get some grub. An overview of the book of ruth ruth 14 the structure of the book of ruth is interesting. It is a very unique book of the bible and a story full of types and shadows of the messiah. T he book of ruth contains an interesting story about a moabite woman who was redeemed into a hebrew family. As the logic goes, any one of these components may suggest the probability that ruth comes from a particular period and that it may address a particular matter.
Robert hubbards commentary on ruth is a model of how commentaries should be written. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. The book of ruth reflects a time of peace between israel and moab contrast jdg 3. Ruths name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of historical fiction set in the time of the judges. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries.
The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. Ruth, a moabitess, stands out as a refreshing contrast to the declension of israel in the time of the judges. Introduction and chapter 1 ruth entrusts her life to naomi ruth lessons list next holy father, we have the promise of your son that he is our emmanuel, god with us, and that we will never be abandoned in our hour of distress when we call upon your mercy, lord. The book of ruth lesson 1 ruth entrusts her life to naomi. The historical setting is the period of the judges ruth. It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. The final words of the book link ruth with her greatgrandson, david ruth 4. Ruth bible story summary what christians want to know. Ruth bible story summary bible verses, quotes, christian. This was a country not far from israel on the east side of the dead sea. But elizabeth ahlman has managed to bring a depth to the book of ruth that i previously didnt notice. The sons marry two local girls, ruth and orpah, during this time. The book was written sometime after bc 1010 since that was when david took the throne of israel. There are many details in the book of ruth that leave the reader wondering what more of the.
The book reveals the extent of gods gracehe accepted ruth into his chosen people and honored her with. Ruth and boaz have a son, and the book closes with a surprise. In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. The book centers around the theme of redemption and provides a beautiful picture of the coming messiah jesus christ. The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david. The book of ruth is a poignant, heartbreaking story of one womans attempt to understand the tragedies of life and how her simple desire to be loved leads to the loneliest place a person can experience. The bible is full of complex hidden information and this book contains some of the keys to information found in other places of the bible. The book of ruth is truly more than a love story of ruth and naomi. Book of ruth bible survey who was naomi in the bible. From this family came boaz and, later, great king david. Ruth 1 niv bible in the days when the judges ruled, there. Thus she is an ancestor in the messianic line that leads to jesus.
There is no special book in the bible about mary, but god has given us this lovely book about ruth. You can find the best commentary on ruth for you using the tools on the right side. List 3 facts outside the book of joshua about joshuas life. The book of ruth demonstrates gods love for the gentiles, even in a period of history when the hebrew people were given prominence due to their role in gods redemptive plan for humanity. The mans name was elimelek, his wifes name was naomi, and. To start off, i would suggest that you sit down and read through this beautiful book. The book of ruth new international commentary on the old testament, 1989. Ruth was a gentile not of the judeanisraeli descent but from another ethnic group, her background was a nation otherthan israel and she married a descendant.
This was a time when the people of israel had abandoned gods ways and fallen into idolatry, horrific social conditions, and a disastrous civil war, as told in the chapters of judges immediately preceding the book of ruth in christian bibles. Ruth looks back on her life and the one consistent thing there is her mother may. Last, they try to match the various details andor the wider argument of the book with a reasonably paired moment in israels history i. Ruth most likely comes from a moabite andor hebrew word meaning friendship. Ruth breaks our hearts and teaches us about her life in north central illinois during the 1970s. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. The happy issue that descended from this marriage, obed, the grandfather of david, ver.
Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. What did it mean to spread the corner of your garment over someone. Ruth is a moabite woman who marries a judean immigrant named mahlon 1. Ruth, a verse by verse bible study my christian space. Like 1sa 12, it gives a series of intimate glimpses into the. Ruth is the greatgrandmother of king david, whom we meet later in the book of 1 samuel. Her writing style is informed and authoritative, yet simple and clear.
The story begins with a famine in the days when the judges ruled ruth 1. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. This book is beautifully designed by god to show how his grace can sustain a faithful testimony of individuals at a time when the general condition of things is low and naturally discouraging. In ruth, imagery such as provision is embodied in bethlehem. The genealogy at the end of the book shows davids lineage through the days of the judges, acting as a support for his rightful kingship. It also presents a delightful account of the remnant of true faith and piety in the period of the judges, relieving an otherwise wholly.
The book of ruth provides details about part of the genealogy of king david and of the christ who is called the son of david refer to matthew 1. The story of ruth takes place during the time of the judges. Although it is not known who wrote the book, it was probably written during the reign of israels king david. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. No matter your age or season of life, there is wisdom to learn from the lessons that unfold as we walk along with naomi, ruth, and boaz. It also refers to a former time in israel, indicating it was written years after the actual events occurred. The tension and tragedy lies in the empty and lonely naomi. The book of ruth derives its name from its principal character.