RUTH
The Title and Authorship
The Book of Ruth is named for a Moabitess who had married a Hebrew man living in Moab which the name Ruth maybe derived from a Hebrew word meaning “friendship”.
No one knows for sure who wrote The Book of Ruth. However, Jewish tradition has attributed it to The Book of Samuel.
No one knows for sure who wrote The Book of Ruth. However, Jewish tradition has attributed it to The Book of Samuel.
The Date
Date written: 1200 – 1150 B.C., but the mention of David in 4:17 and 22 not only indentifies the significance of the book but also suggests that it was written during the early part of David’s reign as king.
The Purpose
The purpose of the book seems to be a record of God’s preservation of a remnant during a dark and difficult period of Israel’s history (Judges). In a time when rebellion and apostasy abounded, God’s plan to send a Redeemer goes on unhindered.
3 Main Characters
Naomi -- means pleasant...changed her name to Mara, which means bitter...she begins the book empty and hopeless and ends the book renewed and with a new son
Ruth -- suggests friendship...a young Moabite widow...by faith, leaves her country, people and gods to follow Naomi and her God...she is listed in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5..."Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse." (NASB))
Boaz – probably means in him is strength...an old, wealthy relative of Naomi...an upright man, concerned about Naomi, and generous to Ruth...marries Ruth and becomes an ancestor of Jesus
Ruth -- suggests friendship...a young Moabite widow...by faith, leaves her country, people and gods to follow Naomi and her God...she is listed in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5..."Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse." (NASB))
Boaz – probably means in him is strength...an old, wealthy relative of Naomi...an upright man, concerned about Naomi, and generous to Ruth...marries Ruth and becomes an ancestor of Jesus
The Kinsmen Redeemer?
The Levite law is found in Deuteronomy 25:5 – 10..."When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be {married} outside {the family} to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. "It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. "But if the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel; he is not willing to perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.' Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak to him. And {if} he persists and says, 'I do not desire to take her,' then his brother's wife shall come to him in the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall declare, 'Thus it is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.' In Israel his name shall be called, 'The house of him whose sandal is removed." (NASB). It may be hard for modern people to understand. When a man died without children, his widow married his brother, to carry on the family line. Guarded a family’s inheritance in the promised land...provided for the widow, who might be destitute.
Restoring sold property (Leviticus 25:25 – 28..."'If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold. Or in case a man has no kinsman, but so recovers his means as to find sufficient for its redemption, then he shall calculate the years since its sale and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and so return to his property. But if he has not found sufficient means to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hands of its purchaser until the year of jubilee; but at the jubilee it shall revert, that he may return to his property." (NASB))
Redeeming an enslaved relative (Leviticus 25:47 – 49..."Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger's family, then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself." (NASB))
Raising up an heir (Deuteronomy 25:5 – 10...see above)
Avenging the murder of a relative (Numbers 35:19 – 21..."The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him. If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and {as a result} he died, or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and {as a result} he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." (NASB))
Restoring sold property (Leviticus 25:25 – 28..."'If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold. Or in case a man has no kinsman, but so recovers his means as to find sufficient for its redemption, then he shall calculate the years since its sale and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and so return to his property. But if he has not found sufficient means to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hands of its purchaser until the year of jubilee; but at the jubilee it shall revert, that he may return to his property." (NASB))
Redeeming an enslaved relative (Leviticus 25:47 – 49..."Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger's family, then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself." (NASB))
Raising up an heir (Deuteronomy 25:5 – 10...see above)
Avenging the murder of a relative (Numbers 35:19 – 21..."The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him. If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and {as a result} he died, or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and {as a result} he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." (NASB))
The Historical and Literary Features
The Book of Ruth gleams like a beautiful pearl against a jet-black background. The action recorded in the narrative took place during the period of The Book of Judges (Ruth 1:1).
Contribution to The Bible
Historical- bridge between monarchy and David
Doctrinal - Gentiles are not outside of scope of redemption and God's salvation
Moral - High ideals of integrity in relationship and marriage.
Doctrinal - Gentiles are not outside of scope of redemption and God's salvation
Moral - High ideals of integrity in relationship and marriage.
The Theology
The writer of Ruth stressed several theological truths. Several names of God were used profusely in the book. On two occasions the author spoke directly of God’s sovereign, superintending grace on behalf of the main characters in The Book of Ruth.
The Message
The book’s message may have been an affirmation of King David’s rights to the throne of Israel. The display of God’s providence in bringing this to pass can challenge all Christians to believe that God is at work in their lives as well.
The Outline (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: Introduction (Ruth 1:1 – 5)
A) A Tragic Sojourn (1:1 – 2)
B) A Depressing Emptiness (1:3 – 5)
Pt 2: Seeking a Home by Faith (Ruth 1:6 – 22)
A) A Loving Choice (1:6 – 18)
B) A Bittersweet Return (1:19 – 22)
Pt 3: Seeking Provisions Responsibly (Ruth 2)
A) A God-guided happening (2:1 – 3)
B) A Well-deserved Kindness (2:4 – 17)
C) An Expression of Joy (2:18 – 23)
Pt 4: Seeking Redeeming Love (Ruth 3)
A) A Plan for Redemption (3:1 – 5)
B) A Claim for Redemption (3:6 – 9)
C) A Pledge of Redemption (3:10 – 15)
D) An Anticipation of Redemption (3:16 – 18)
Pt 5: Receiving Redemptions Loving Rewards (Ruth 4:1 – 13)
A) A Refusal of Redemption (4:1 – 8)
B) An Accomplished Redemption (4:9 – 12)
Pt 6: Conclusion (Ruth 4:14 – 21)
A) A Joyful Filling (4:14 – 17)
B) A Surprising Genealogy (4:18 – 21)
A) A Tragic Sojourn (1:1 – 2)
B) A Depressing Emptiness (1:3 – 5)
Pt 2: Seeking a Home by Faith (Ruth 1:6 – 22)
A) A Loving Choice (1:6 – 18)
B) A Bittersweet Return (1:19 – 22)
Pt 3: Seeking Provisions Responsibly (Ruth 2)
A) A God-guided happening (2:1 – 3)
B) A Well-deserved Kindness (2:4 – 17)
C) An Expression of Joy (2:18 – 23)
Pt 4: Seeking Redeeming Love (Ruth 3)
A) A Plan for Redemption (3:1 – 5)
B) A Claim for Redemption (3:6 – 9)
C) A Pledge of Redemption (3:10 – 15)
D) An Anticipation of Redemption (3:16 – 18)
Pt 5: Receiving Redemptions Loving Rewards (Ruth 4:1 – 13)
A) A Refusal of Redemption (4:1 – 8)
B) An Accomplished Redemption (4:9 – 12)
Pt 6: Conclusion (Ruth 4:14 – 21)
A) A Joyful Filling (4:14 – 17)
B) A Surprising Genealogy (4:18 – 21)
