Introduction to Ruth

Application

• The author of the book of Ruth identifies the setting as “the days when the judges were judging.” In contrast to the spiritual and moral perversion portrayed in the book of Judges, this little book records the beautiful story of loyalty and redemption involving Na‘omi, Rut (Ruth, whose name means “friendship”) the Moabite, and Bo‘az. Whereas the book of Judges records Isra’el’s repeated departure into the idolatry of the surrounding nations, Rut forsakes her people and their gods to embrace the one true God of Isra’el (1:16; 2:12).

Bible Text

(1) Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with 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, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. (3) Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. (4) They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. (5) Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

(6) Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. (7) So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. (8) And 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) May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each 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, but we will surely return with you to your people.” (11) But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? (12) Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, (13) would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.”

(14) And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

-Ruth 1:1-14 (NASB)