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The Book of Ruth Many believe the events in the Book of Ruth occurred during the days of the Judges. This would make sense for two reasons. First, the period of the Judges was from 1380 BC to 1040 BC. Ruth was three generations before the birth of David, around 1000 BC. Therefore, it places Ruth in that 1380 to 1040 time period. Second, the reason Naomi, her husband and two sons were in Moab was due to a famine in the land of Canaan. We know God punished Israel during this time by allowing their enemies to persecute them and caused their crops to fail. The book identifies Naomi, Elimelech, her husband, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. After moving to Moab, Elimelech died Naomi’s sons married women of the land, Orpah and Ruth. Tens years later Naomi’s sons died leaving her alone in Moab, with her two daughter-in-laws. It is at this point that Naomi heard that matters were better in Canaan so she made planned to return to her people. Upon telling her two daughter-in-laws of her plan, both wanted to stay with Naomi but Orpah eventually changed her mind and stayed with her people in Moab. Naomi told Ruth to do likewise. This leads to one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible. "Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me’" (Ruth 1.16-17). Chapter one ends with Naomi and Ruth traveling to the town of Bethlehem. In chapter two we are introduced to a man named, Boaz. He was a man of some wealth, having land and servants. Boaz was aware of Ruth as she gleaned in his fields. According to the law of Moses the edge of a field of grain was to be left during harvest for the poor to glean, Leviticus 23.22. Boaz noticed a young woman gleaning from his fields. At first he inquired who this woman was, and upon learning about her he encouraged her stay in his fields; "stay close to my young women" (Ruth 2.8b). He also gave her permission to drink of the water provided for his men. Why was Boaz treating Ruth so well? He knew how she had treated her mother-in-law and how she left her family for Naomi. Next Boaz told his young men to leave behind more than just the gleanings. (Talk about trying to impress a girl!) Apparently Ruth worked hard that day for she reaped much gain. After returning home and showing Naomi the fruit of her labor, Naomi wanted to know whose field worked. Naomi told Ruth to continue gleaning from Boaz’s fields and not go in anyone else’s. Chapter Three could be titled, "How to catch a man" or "The Courtship of Ruth and Boaz." Naomi told Ruth the proper way to approach Boaz. Reading verses 3 and 4 may sound strange, but remember that each culture is different. Ruth listened to her mother-in-law and did her bidding. She lay down at the feet of Boaz as he slept. He awoke at midnight and found Ruth at his feet. She asked Boaz, "take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative" (Ruth 3.9). According the Law of Moses, when a man died childless the next of kin was to marry his widow and have his child; This was so the dead man would have a lineage. This meant a male in Malhon’s lineage had the responsibility to marry her. Boaz was in the lineage but not the closest of kin. "Not it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I" (Ruth 3.12). The next day Ruth told Naomi of her conversation with Boaz. Once again Naomi gave her advice, "Sit still my daughter until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day" (Ruth 3.18).In Chapter four, Boaz exhibited his wisdom. He went to the ten elders of the city and the near kinsman to inform them of Ruth and Naomi. Before Naomi left for Moab she sold the land which belonged to Elimelech. This man had to purchase the land or allow the next of kin to purchase it. If he bought the land he also would take Ruth as his wife. The man did not want to marry Ruth and have a child for Mahlon and ruin his own inheritance (lineage). This left Boaz as the next of kin and he wanted to marry Ruth, which he did. Boaz and Ruth had a son, Obed. Later Obed had a son named Jesse and Jesse then had David. While there are many lessons in the Book of Ruth remember that during the dark days of the Judges there were still people who pleased God. He will provided a way for us during our dark days if we use our trust and patience with Him. D. T. |