A Case for the Bible: Answers for the Book of Ruth Chapters 1 – 4

Answers for a study in the book of Ruth” is part of a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here during the week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted during the week.

Bible Study: The Book of Ruth: Chapters 1 through 4

1. Author: Who wrote the book and when? (Include anything you can find about the author and when it was written)

• Author: Samuel, the last judge, who also served as priest and prophet to the Nation of Israel. He records the events that happened in the disobedient generations that follow the largely obedient generation that had entered the Promised Land under Joshua, and the book of Ruth occurs in that time period.
• The Book of Ruth does not specifically name its author, but tradition holds that the Prophet Samuel was the author of Ruth. Internal evidence indicates that the author of Ruth lived shortly after the period of the Judges, and Samuel fits this qualification. In addition, the Jewish Talmud credits Samuel as the author of this book.
• Note: Ruth was originally part of the book of Judges and was later separated. This separation is thought to have occurred sometime in the 5th century BCE. Some scholars suggest the separation happened later, after the time of King David (because his lineage is mentioned), while others believe it was during the post-exilic period.
• Dating: The Book of Ruth would have been the same as Judges, likely written between 1045 and 1000 B.C.
• The period of the Judges lasts about 330 years, until the last Judge Samuel enters the scene at the beginning of the period of the Kings when the Nation was still united (note: the United Kingdom will function under the rulership of Saul, David and Solomon, and then it will divide in civil war to be known as the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah)
• Note: The Exodus: 1446 – 1406 BC; The Conquest 1406 – 1375 BC; The period of the Judges 1375 – 1075 BC (recorded events and Judges 1383-1052 BC)

2. Audience: Who was it written to? (Include anything you can find about the people, the culture or societal norms, of that time period)

• The Nation of Israel is the intended audience as this historical narrative (the genre) was to be passed on for the generations to come so that they would know their history.
• The setting was in Canaan also called the Promised Land, which occupied the same general geographical territory of modern-day Israel and its surrounding areas; part of the setting is in Moab, where Ruth comes from.
• The people of Israel who partially in their allotment of land in Canaan by tribe, are now functioning as a Nation within the land, but are separated by tribes and are ruled, in part, by various judges throughout this period who, for the most part, do not wholly seek the LORD and His Word, and the people will suffer the consequences.

3. Purpose: Why was it written? (Include anything you can find about their circumstances and what was, or had been, going on in their world at that time; you also want to include the genre or literary style of the book)

• The purpose of the book is to give the history of Israel after the conquest of the Promised Land (a partial fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant which came after their forty years of wandering in the desert following their exodus from Egypt) and was to be used to teach the people of God for generations to come.
• This book focuses on three people (Ruth, Naomi and Boaz) who remained strong in character and true to God, even when the society around them was collapsing.
• Genre: This book is a historical narrative.
• Brief Summary from compellingtruth.org:

“The common themes in Ruth are love, loyalty, sacrifice, obedience, and the faithfulness of God. In the story of Ruth, we see that God blesses those who are obedient and He is faithful to His Word, extending mercy to those who extend mercy to others.”

4. Content: What is in each chapter? (Include chapter by chapter titles and a short summary – no more than 3-5 sentences – Keep in mind the Covenants, the foreshadowing of Jesus and prophecies.)

RUTH REMAINS LOYAL TO NAOMI

Chapter 1:  Naomi Widowed; Ruth’s Loyalty

In this opening chapter we read about a time, during the period of the Judges and a time of famine, when a man from Bethlehem, named Elimelech, took his wife Naomi and two sons to the land of Moab. The sons took wives from Moab, one of them being Ruth, and then eventually all three men died leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah as widows. Naomi chose to return to her home in Judah, and she encouraged her daughter-in-laws to remain with their families, but Ruth refused and committed to going with Naomi. It is here that we see a confession of faith by Ruth in verse 16 “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” This is in contrast to Orpah who, it says in verse 15, “returned to her people and her gods.” When they arrived in Bethlehem, Naomi was recognized, but she wanted to be called Mara, or bitter, because she said “the almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”

Note: The name Naomi means “Pleasant”; The name Ruth means “Friendship”

C and J = We see God’s protection here over Naomi and Ruth in their return to Bethlehem in Judah. Since we know the big picture, we can see God’s sovereign protection over them and His plan for the line of His Son Jesus through Boaz and Ruth.

Guiding Questions:

1. Who left Bethlehem and why? What happened in Moab? (See summary notes above)
2. Who returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and why? What was said in verse 16 in contrast to the other woman (14-15)? Is there any implication of an attitude towards the one true God between these two, and how can we tell? (See summary notes above)
3. Discuss: What can we say about Naomi’s state of mind at the end of chapter one? (See summary notes above)

Chapter 2: Ruth Meets Boaz

In this chapter we meet Boaz, who was called a worthy man (which means he was of good character and standing in the community). Ruth “just so happens” to be gleaning (poor travelers, foreigners, widows and orphans were allowed to do this) in his field and Boaz takes notice of her and talks kindly to her, because he had heard of how she had taken care of her mother-in-law Naomi, and how she had given up all that she had known in Moab to come with her to a foreign land. He also saw how hard she worked. For her protection he told her to only work in his fields, and he charged his young men not to touch her. When she reported this to Naomi at the end of the day, she found out that Boaz was a close relative of and a kinsman redeemer too (this is where we see God’s sovereignty over these circumstances).

C and J = God’s covenant protection is specifically over Ruth and Boaz at this time as God’s overarching plan and promise would continue through the line of these two, culminating in Jesus.

Note: We also see Boaz following God’s Law in the practice of “gleaning” which is the lawful way for the poor, widowed or orphans to gather enough grain for food that had been left over from a harvested field or crop (See Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19).

Guiding Questions:

1. Under what circumstances did Ruth meet Boaz? What can be said about Boaz’ character, and how was it displayed? (See summary notes above)
2. Research: What is “gleaning” and how was it part of the Mosaic Law? (What Old Testament verses can we cross-reference here?) (See reference note at the end of the summary notes above)
3. Discuss: How is God’s sovereignty displayed in this chapter? (answers may vary but can include notes above on C and J)

Chapter 3: Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

In this chapter Naomi encourages Ruth to seek out permanent family so that she could be taken care of; this would mean looking for marriage. Boaz would be the perfect redeemer, and Naomi prepares Ruth to go and make a proposal to him. The next part of this story is hard to understand without context of this time period.

According to the Life Application Bible notes: Ruth uncovers Boaz’ feet as he slept on the threshing floor, and she laid down at his feet. This is a marriage proposal as her request represents her asking for him to cover her. “Ruth was a maidservant to Boaz and she was already considered a full member as such of his household. Boaz had expressed his hopes that Ruth would find refuge under the LORD’s wings, and now Ruth was inviting Boaz to spread his wings (represented in the edge of his garment) over her as a redeemer, to claim her in marriage.”

Boaz understood her request and was impressed that she was not seeking young or wealthy men, but was being true to her family line by wanting him as her redeemer. Boaz told her there was one person closer and that he must first ask him to reject his opportunity before they could marry. In this story Boaz showed himself reputable and was concerned that they did everything right, according to God’s standards, and Ruth returned to Naomi with a good report; and Naomi told her to be patient as Boaz would settle the matter that day.

C = We see the commitment to the Mosaic Covenant and God’s Law in that they went about the redemption process, and reputation process according to what God had written in the Law, thus God’s ultimate protection was over them.

J = We see Boaz presenting a picture of Jesus who will be our ultimate redeemer and protector.

Guiding Questions:

1. What did Naomi tell Ruth to do and what happened when she followed through? (See summary notes above)
2. Research: What Ruth did, and how Boaz responded seems strange to us today. What did these actions by Ruth and Boaz mean in that ancient culture? (See the Life Application Bible notes above)
3. Discuss: How does Boaz foreshadow Jesus in this narrative? (Answers may vary but should include the note from J above)

Chapter 4: Boaz Redeems Ruth; Ruth and Boaz Marry

In this chapter we find Boaz tracking down the closer redeemer at the city gates (where business was done, see Deuteronomy 21:19; 22:15; 25:7) and explaining that he could purchase the land from Naomi that had belonged to her husband’s family. When this closer relative said he would redeem the land it was then that Boaz said that he must also marry Ruth, the Moabite, who came with the property so that their line could continue. Upon hearing this the closer relative declined and told Boaz that he could redeem it (my note: it seems Boaz set this up just right, leaving off the part about Ruth until after he accepted, this would make him have to make a decision, and not leave it hanging) LAB: The concern was that his present family would be compromised in having to share or combine inheritances with Ruth’s family, or subsequent kids that came from that union. So, Boaz redeemed it with the customary giving of the sandal by the one who declined, and representative elders were also there to witness the transaction.

Note: Reference Leviticus 25:48-49; and Numbers 27:11; Deuteronomy 25:5

In the second half of the chapter, we read about Ruth and Boaz’ marriage, and that they had a son. Naomi was given a blessing by the women of the town, and she became the boy’s nurse which allowed her to become the adopted Grandmother of this boy named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of King David; and as we know in hindsight, in the genealogy of Jesus.

Note: There is a prophecy in the blessing by the elders in verses 11-12.

C = All of the Covenants of God are seen in this chapter with the unfolding of the Genesis 3:15 seed promise; the promise and blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant; and the protection of the Mosaic Covenant.

J = Again Boaz pictures Jesus as the Redeemer; we have a prophecy in verses 11-12, and a genealogy that leads to Jesus found in both Matthew chapter one and Luke chapter three with Boaz and Ruth being the Great-Grandparents of King David and thus in the lineage of Jesus.

Guiding Questions:

1. What happened when Boaz went to the city gates? (See summary notes above)
2. Research: Where in the Torah can we find the laws about “kinsmen redeemers”? (See first note in summary above)
3. Discuss: How does Jesus fit into this genealogy? (Cross-reference Luke chapter three) (See the note in J above)

Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? Are there lessons learned; are there reasons we should know this history; does it help us understand God’s character and love for His people and His foreshadowing the promise of His Son, etc.? (Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for us today)

• Today, we are not under the Laws the Israelites were to follow from the Mosaic Covenant, including their rituals and regulations, because all has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 9 and 10).
• Studying this history helps us see the different aspects of Jesus’ sacrifice and points us to God’s ultimate purpose fulfilled in Him, particularly as a “Kinsman Redeemer” who, through His sacrifice in our place and subsequent resurrection, as purchased the right to our salvation as we put our life and trust in Him (just as Ruth did with Boaz).
• We also learn about the importance of God’s Promises as He unfolds the fulfilling of His Covenant to Abraham through the line of Ruth and Boaz, especially the Genesis 3:15 Seed Promise of the Adamic Covenant – Ruth and Boaz are the Great Grandparents of King David and are in the genealogy of Jesus (see Luke chapter three).

Even though our salvation is not based on our works in obedience to the Law (or anything else), because of God’s saving grace (hesed), we should want to follow the LORD in all we do, because we love Him, and He first loved us.

Please join us each week as we continue making a case for the Bible and Christianity!

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15