Name: The Book of Ruth
Price: 12 USD

The Book of Ruth offers a beautifully written story that displays God’s providence at work in the lives of a normal family from Bethlehem. It reflects how faithfulness and obedience matter in a world that is submerged in tragedy, loss, and suffering. 

This short story may seem like a random portion of the Bible, but when placement and history are considered, there is an anticipation uncovered that points to God’s redemptive plan for humanity and to His faithfulness in keeping the promises He made with Israel.

Ruth: From Tragedy to Triumph Introduction 

Introductions Are in Order 

Ruth is just this incredible book in the Old Testament that displays the tragic and devastating loss experienced by a normal family and then their complete and total redemption and restoration.

The story is about a widow named Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, who is also a widow. The major theme of this book is about how God provides for our redemption and this is demonstrated by a man named Boaz who is a relative of Naomi’s husband. Through the Jewish customs Boaz redeems (purchases) land owned by Naomi’s husband and in doing so takes Ruth to be his wife and establishes the genealogical line through which David, and eventually the Messiah, would be born.

The author of the Book of Ruth is unknown. It was written in the period after the Judges of Israel. The events of Ruth may have taken place after the time of the judges and the composition of Ruth was sometime during or after the reign of David. 

This is the only book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God, but is inspired by God and points to Jesus as the Messiah and our Redeemer.

Introduction & Overview 

Act One

The Book of Ruth tells this incredible story of an ordinary family that had gone through great loss, tragedy, and grief in the beginning of the story, but by the end of the book, Ruth and her mother in-law, Naomi, are completely redeemed and are brought into the lineage that would bring about a king of Israel, David.

Ruth 1:1-5
1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Naomi is the central figure and she “was left,” i.e. left in life as a widow with only “her two sons.” The two sons then “married Moabite women,” a practice that was likely frowned upon by orthodox Jews in Israel, but nevertheless was not prohibited per se.
 
The names of the two Moabite women are Orpah and Ruth. We learn later that Ruth’s husband was Mahlon (4:10). The name “Orpah” is from a Hebrew noun that means “back of the neck.” Ruth means “friend or companion.”

Ruth 1:6-13
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”

The phrase “prepared to return home” actually appears first in the Hebrew text and literally means “to rise up,” indicating the commencement of an action and, in this case, a journey back to Judah.

The phrase is a bit unusual, given the patriarchal culture in which a widow would often return to the home of her father (cf. Gen. 38:11; Lev. 22:13; Num. 30:16; Deut. 22:21; Jdg. 19:2-3). The expression, however, was used elsewhere in contexts of love and marriage and here may be used to indicate Naomi is releasing her daughters-in-law to remarry.

The word “kindness” is the Hebrew word chesed and as noted in the Introduction is a key thematic term in the book. The term denotes “covenant loyalty” and “faithfulness.”

Prologue & Promise

The Book of Ruth is like a mini play that happens over four acts. Which are the four chapters of the book. The first chapter opens up as a prologue. Tragedy just consumes this small family from Bethlehem.

Ruth 1:14-21
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Verses 16-17 contain one of the most moving confessions of faith in the entire Bible. 

It is just so beautiful. most versions translate the phrase here “don’t urge me to leave you;” yet the verb is literally “to abandon” (‘āzaḇ). This indicates that, from Ruth’s perspective, to withdraw from Naomi at this point would leave her more vulnerable than her current condition.

In chapter one, sacrificial love is on display. Naomi experienced tragic loss and felt rejected by God. Ruth, however, desired to stay with her, even though sacrificial love likely seemed risky and unappreciated.

Ruth broke with her past and her home without being told by God and without any promise of blessing from him, such as Abraham had received (Genesis 12:1-3).

A New Beginning

Act Two

Orpah chooses to return to her homeland of Moab at the persistent urging of Naomi. Yet, despite Naomi’s continual plea, Ruth insists on staying with Naomi, and in so doing offers one of the great confessions of faith and commitment in the Old Testament.

Ruth 2:1-10
1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Chapter 2 is Act 2, and in this chapter there are 3 main sections. There is a prologue, the second act and an epilogue. The story describes a day in the life of Ruth and specifically an encounter between her and her eventual redeemer, Boaz, thus providing the backdrop for her and Naomi’s eventual redemption in chapters 3 and 4.

Boaz enters into this story and is described as a “man of standing.” Which means he was a mighty man of valor or prominence.

Boaz, A Man of Integrity

At the beginning of chapter 2, Ruth has no idea that a single day will change the entire trajectory of her life, as well as the life of the nation.

Ruth 2:2-10
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

The two widows, Naomi and Ruth, needed food to survive and the harvest enabled them to acquire it immediately. In fact, the custom of gleaning was one way open for widows to make a living.

We observe that the events of this important day were not simply the result of “chance” or “luck” but were the result of God providentially working behind the scenes to accomplish his purpose both for Ruth and Naomi. Ruth asks for permission to glean and in her mind, permission was required. She was not familiar with Jewish laws and customs so she believed that she had no legal right to glean. She was faithful to stay with Naomi and she is faithful in working to provide for them. She didn’t look for attention or credit. She did what she knew she needed to do out of her love for Naomi. 

In ancient Near Eastern culture, a foreigner would have drawn water for the Israelites and women would have drawn water for the men. Moreover, the seven statements of Boaz in verses 8-9 indicate that he granted Ruth greater status than the ordinary rights of gleanage.

Ruth’s Big Opportunity

In Chapter 2 verse 2 Ruth is again identified as the Moabite, in all likelihood, to set her in contrast to the noble and virtuous Judean Boaz and perhaps to reflect her vulnerability in a foreign land.

Ruth 2:11-16
11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

In Hebrew, the term rebuke is literally, “do not humiliate her.” This reiterates the kindness and compassion that Boaz was showing toward Ruth. He wanted her gleaning to be uninterrupted and easy. Now to the final section of this chapter.

Ruth 2:17-23
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

In chapter two, events begin to improve in the lives of the central characters. As Ruth sought to provide for Naomi’s needs, Yahweh providentially guided her footsteps to the field of Boaz, a potential kinsman-redeemer of Ruth and benefactor of Elimelek’s family. Impressed by her faithfulness, Boaz rewarded her loyalty by providing her and Naomi with an ample supply of food.

Boaz’s Blessing 

Boaz is impressed with Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, and he pronounces a blessing upon her. Ruth turns around and expresses her humble submission to Boaz.

Ruth 3:1-5
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

Winnowing was a process that involved separating the kernels of grain from the straw and chaff. The grain would be thrown into the air, permitting the wind to separate the kernels; the location of the threshing floor would generally be outside town in a place where the prevailing west wind would facilitate the process of separation.

Through this scene, our guy Boaz, is portrayed as one who upholds the true virtue of chesed. Which is basically a virtuous essence of love, loyalty, and devotion that goes above and beyond. The language that Naomi uses is said to mean that the mourning period that she was going through…remember that she was a widow at the start of our story and now we are basically seeing the plans for her second marriage unfold…but that her time of mourning was over.

The Scheme 

Act Three 

The third chapter of the Book of Ruth provides a real turning point for our characters. Remember where we left off with Boaz and Ruth. Boaz displayed this grand gesture of generosity and we all started to believe that Naomi and Ruth were saved.

Ruth 3:6-15
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.

A kinsman-redeemer would be the nearest adult male blood relative would serve as an advocate for any vulnerable or unfortunate member of the family. His duties as kinsman-redeemer were to redeem, buy back, recover, and restore in a variety of socio-legal contexts. Redemption could take place by means of monetary payment (Lev 25:24-34), avenging the killing of a family member as blood redeemer (Deut 19:6), levirate marriage (Deut 25:5-10), and care for a family widow who is unable to care for herself (Ruth 4:14-15).

Ruth 3:16-18
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Clearly, the gift of barley was a token of Boaz’s intention, as family guardian, to fulfill his responsibility by marrying Ruth. Remember Naomi came back to Bethlehem singing a sad song, but now, we see a different and revived Naomi. We get to see God’s providential and redemptive work in how Ruth and Boaz would be the key to restoring Naomi’s life.

The Turn of Favor

In this passage, we read that there may be complications with Boaz’s ability to carry out obligations as the “kinsman-redeemer.” But he does his best to respect and shield Ruth from any shame or embarrassment.

Ruth 4:1-6
1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

Boaz “goes up” to the “town gate” in Bethlehem and takes a seat, an indication that he intends to initiate his case in the presence of witnesses. The expression indicates the narrator’s desire to orient the reader’s attention to Boaz’s interaction with the “guardian redeemer,” the closer relative about whom he had spoken to. Boaz asked him to take a moment and join him for a discussion (the Heb. is literally “turn aside”). Boaz now puts the issue before the “guardian-redeemer” and challenges him to perform his obligations as the nearer relative.

The Proposal

Act Four 

The final act in our mini play in the Book of Ruth. This final act is going to be seen in two different scenes. The first is going to take place at the city gate where legal matters are handled.

Ruth 4:7-12
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

The nearer relative therefore removed his sandal” and presumably gave it to Boaz to formalize the transfer so Boaz in turn could buy the property and take Ruth as his wife. Through his act of chesed by redeeming Naomi’s property and her daughter-in- law Ruth, Boaz accomplished exactly what he set out to do – to complete the requisite legal transaction to ensure the perpetuation of the family name and the family line.

Ruth 4:13-17
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The second scene of chapter 4 transitions from the city gate to an unidentified location in town. We are now 9 months removed from the events of verses 1-12. The principal character of this scene is Naomi, who is blessed by the choir of townswomen who were present in chapter 1 when she uttered, “Don’t call me Naomi; call me bitter.” At this point in the story, with the birth of her new grandson Obed, she no longer is “bitter” but has once again become “pleasant.”

Ruth 4:18-21
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,

Through God’s providence and his acts of chesed, displayed in response to the faithful actions of the characters of the book, he brings Naomi fulfillment where once there was only emptiness and joy where there was only despair. Ruth is shown to be a virtuous woman, ranked alongside the most important matriarchs of Israel’s history, and Boaz is displayed as a man whose life of faithful and loyal love toward others, especially Ruth and Naomi, foreshadows the life of Messiah Jesus, who gave his life as a ransom for many, i.e. as a “redeemer.”

God’s Blessing

In this chapter, the story of Ruth comes full circle as the circumstances of Naomi are completely reversed.

Key words: 
Hebrew word for Kindness = Chesed”
Kinsman Redeemer

Why is it important to study the Book of Ruth? Because it is foreshadowing of Jesus as the Redeemer. It is equally important to learn from the life of Naomi.

Ruth: From Tragedy to Triumph Outro

Next Steps and a Heart-Felt Farewell 

This book is important for the entire the Canon of Scripture as it describes how God works all things for His Glory.

The Book of Ruth 

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<p>In this course you will be guided by Leslie Garcia through one of the Bible’s most popular love stories. The story of Ruth is filled with the drama of a young widow who leaves her homeland to follow after her mother-in-law, Naomi. Through God’s providence and provision, Ruth’s acts of kindness and loyalty are rewarded by meeting her future husband. But the plot thickens as Leslie reveals how the Jewish customs require that she is “redeemed” by a member of her late husband’s family.  In steps Boaz who becomes her “Kinsman Redeemer.” The Book of Ruth foreshadows the coming Messiah when she, a Moabite widow, becomes the great grandmother of King David.</p>


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Leslie Kristina Garcia

Theological Student | Ministry Laborer

<p>Leslie Garcia brings to this course a fresh perspective on one of the Bible’s most endearing characters in the Bible. Although the Old Testament book of Ruth is only 4 chapters, Leslie walks you through every verse and unpacks the rich context that makes this Bible story a major key to understanding God’s love and redemption for all people.</p>


How the Providence and Provision of God Is Rewarded by Our Acts of Kindness and Loyalty

Your guide, Leslie Kristina Garcia