ruth: complimentary book to judges

RUTH:COMPLIMENTARY BOOK TO JUDGES

High DramaAnd

Divine Intervention

Title of the Book

Both the Hebrew, the Greek and the English title of this book are the same

It is named after the key character of the book

The name "Ruth" is not a Jewish name Various meanings have been suggested as to

the meaning of the name, but none are certain.

Placement of Ruth in the Canon

Hebrew Bible is divided into three parts Torah-Law The Prophets The Holy Writings

In the Hebrew Bible the book of Ruth does not appear after Judges It is found in the Writings

It is one of the five Megiloth ("Scrolls") Each scroll was read at one of the feasts of the

nation of Israel.

Megiloth Scrolls

Song of Solomon Ruth

Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther

Passover Pentecost-Feast of

Weeks 9th of Ab Feat of Tabernacles Purim

The Septuagint and Vulgate

In the Septuagint as well as in the Latin Vulgate and the Talmud, the book of Ruth follows Judges

There is a reason for this. Ruth seems to be closely associated with

the last several chapters of the book of Judges

In Josephus’ accounting of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures, Ruth is deemed as a part of the book of Judges

Ruth and Judges

JUDGES 17-21 RUTH

Says four times that “there was no king in Israel”

Bethlehem Levite from Bethlehem Concubine from

Bethlehem A Spiritual desert Depicts the need of a

king

Begins with the words “When the judges governed the land”

Naomi and her family were from Bethlehem

An Oasis amidst a desert

Presents the Lineage of the King

If Judges is a book of DEFEAT

then Ruth is a book of QUIET VICTORY.

Book of Ruth

This book compliments Judges 1:1 states that this took place during the time

of the Judges During a time of great famine Probably during the days of the Midianite

oppression Middle of the twelfth century BC It probably starts during the period when Cushan-

Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia controls Israel and ends early in the judgeship of Othniel

The time of the occurrence of the story of Ruth is clear, first, because the mother of Boaz was Rahab the Harlot[ who defected to Israel in the time of Joshua.

Date of Writing There seems to have been a significant passage of

time between the events which the book of Ruth describes and the recording of those events The story is said to take place "in the days when the

judges governed" Ruth 1:1 This indicates that it is written in a time when the judges

were no longer governing Ruth 4:7 speaks of a custom "in former times in Israel"

which was evidently no longer in practice at the time of writing

The fact that David is mentioned at the end of Ruth indicates that it was written after he had become King in Israel The fact that Solomon is not mentioned indicates that

Solomon had not yet come to the throne Approximate date for the writing is 1000 BC

Authorship of Ruth

Author is unknown Jewish Talmud attribute writing to Samuel

Key Words Kinsman Redeemer

Key Characters Ruth Naomi Boaz

Outline of Ruth

The story of Ruth is presented in a chiastic format. It begins "when the judges governed“

Naomi’s Bitterness (1:1-22) Ruth discovers a potential Kinsman Redeemer (2:1-23)

Boaz agrees to be a Kinsman Redeemer (3:1-18) Boaz acquires right to be a Kinsman Redeemer (4:1-12)

Naomi’s Blessing (4:13-21)

It ends with the genealogy of the reigning King

Purpose of the Book It is supplemental to the book of Judges Ruth shows another side to the period of the

Judges A positive, brighter, godly side to life in Israel

The book of Ruth also shows part of the family line of Israel’s greatest king, David

The book also has something to say regarding the missionary ministry which Israel was to have to the world Ruth, a Moabite, became the recipient of special

blessings as she came to believe in the God of Naomi This book teaches us that God is no respecter of

persons The book elevates the role of godly women in the

overall redemptive plan of God

Comparison of Ruth and Esther

RUTH ESTHER

A Gentile who married an Israelite

Build the house of Israel

Her descendant was David, King of Israel

Rural setting

An Israelite girl who married a Gentile

Saved the people of Israel

Married to King of Persia

A royal palace

Purpose of the Book

This book also highlights the genealogy of King David and shows the reversal of the curse which had been laid on the people of Moab "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord;

none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:3).

There was a ten-generation curse placed upon the people of Moab and Ammon during the days of Moses because of their inhospitality toward Israel

There is no record of a Moabite or an Ammonite being accepted into the assembly of God’s people for the next 10 generations But this changes with Ruth

She not only enters the assembly of God’s people, but she is also included in the royal line of David

She is mentioned in the Messianic line of Matthew 1

Key Background Scripture

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. Leviticus 25:25


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. Leviticus 25:47-49


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. Deuteronomy 25:5-6

Key Verses in Ruth

Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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. Ruth 1:15-16

Key Verses in Ruth

Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” Ruth 4:10

Setting for the Story of Ruth

Ruth 1:1 A famine in the land

Famine was likely caused by the heavy tribute demanded by the controlling kings

Bethlehem Two words meaning "House of Bread“ The small town is located on the spur of an east-west

ridge 4 miles to the south of Jerusalem It is surrounded on three sides by lush, fertile

farmlands Land of Moab

Moab was located to the east of the Dead Sea, its northern boarder being the Arnon River and its southern boarder being the Zered wadi

Moab rises up from the Dead Sea, 1200 feet below sea level, the land rises up to a large plateau.

The Family of Naomi

Ruth 1:2 Departure from the Land

Ruth 1:2-4 Elimelech means "My God is King" and stands in contrast

to the kingly name Abimelech "My father is King" And yet, when things got tough, this man had departed from

the inherited land of his king and went to find a home in Moab. After Elimelech had died, his two sons found for

themselves wives among the Moabites, something that was forbidden in the Law (Deuteronomy 7:1-3; 23:3).

The book of Ruth neither commends nor condemns the actions of Elimelech and his sons Marriage to a Moabite was not strictly forbidden nut sever

restrictions were placed upon the children of such unions The point is not whether they sinned. The point is what God brought about in the midst of tragedy

Death of Naomi’s Sons

Ruth 1:5 Cause of death is unknown

Naomi yearned to return home to Bethlehem Naomi wanted to return home because she

heard there was food there 1:6 Ruth and Orpah decided to go with her Ruth encouraged them both to return to Moab

1:11-13 Ruth stays with her and Orpah returns to

Moab 1:14

Ruth Stays with Naomi

1:16-17 This is a solemn oath. It is a commitment of

loyalty Not only to Naomi, but to the Lord

Ruth’s Faithfulness to Naomi

Ruth volunteered to take care of the needs of Naomi Under the Law the poor could enter fields,

orchards and vineyards and pick up leftover fruit and grain in order to meet their needs Leviticus 19:9-10

It was humbling to be a gleaner but it brought forth great blessing to Ruth

Ruth did not know who’s field she was gleaning from God providence is evident here

Naomi recognizes this in 2:20


Boaz was the owner of the field that Ruth was gleaning Boaz notices Ruth and asks about her 2:5 The foreman of the field told Boaz who she

was She was a Moabite who returned with Naomi

2:6 She was a hard worker 2:7

Boaz knows all about Ruth and how she has been kind and loyal to Naomi 2:11-12


Boaz showed her kindness Boaz may have heard of Naomi’s return Boaz told Ruth to remain in his fields and his

servants would not bother her 2:8-9 He allowed her to drink of the water for the

workers and eat their bread 2:14 He allowed her to glean among the sheaves

2:15-17


Boaz’s kindness resulted in Ruth gleaning man days worth of grain in one day

Naomi notices this and ask Ruth where she had gleaned

Ruth tells her about Boaz Naomi tells Ruth he is a kinsman

The phrase “he is one of our next kin” literally reads “he is our redeemer clan” 2:20

Naomi instructs Ruth

Naomi instructs Ruth as to her preparations; she is to look her best 3:1-4

Her best clothes would be none too fancy It appears they were able to afford a little

perfume, as the word "anoint" indicates Naomi gives Ruth some very practical and

down-to-earth advice Wash yourself. Put on your best clothes. Anoint yourself (use perfume). Wait until the work is done and he has finished

eating and drinking.

The Threshing Floor

After the sheaves of grain were collected, they would be placed in a large pile and then beaten with stones and spikes to separate the husks of grain from the straw on which it grew

Then a winnowing fork would be used to throw the grain into the air The wind would carry away the lighter chaff while the

heavier grain would fall to the ground Threshing was often down in late afternoon and evening,

when a wind might arise to separate chaff from grain The threshing floors of Palestine were found in an

open, level, outdoor area which had been stamped down to make the ground hard

Ruth Claims Boaz as Kinsman

At harvest time people would camp out As the owner of the land, Boaz would

have had a place to himself, with his servants sleeping at other places in the vicinity

The word "softly" means "quietly” 3:7 It was used of David when he stole in and cut

a piece from Saul's robe (1 Samuel 24:4) Ruth waits until Boaz is sound asleep and then

she comes to him.


Boaz woke and asked who she was 3:9 Ruth requested he spread his skirt over

her This is a symbolic pledge of marriage

Ezekiel 16:8-14 It is a well know custom in the near east and

is still practiced today in some parts of the world

Boaz’s responsibility as Kinsman

He was charged with redeeming family property that had been lost or was about to be lost by sale

He was obligated to marry the widow of the deceased near relative so as to raise children in the name of the deceased

Naomi’s instructions to Ruth to seek out Boaz is in accordance with the social propriety in that the widow could initiate proceedings relative to the securing of the Kinsman


Boaz tells Ruth there is a nearer kinsman than him but if he will not perform the part of kinsman then he would 3:12-13

Boaz give Ruth 6 measures of grain to bring to Naomi 3:15,17

Naomi asks her “Who are you?” 3:16 My daughter is not in the Hebrew May be Ruth asking her if she is Boaz’s wife or

still the widow of Mahlon

Boaz Redeems the Inheritance

Boaz went to the city gate to meet with the relative The city gate was a place were judicial

matters were resolved by elders and those who had earned the respect of the people

The name of the nearer kinsman is not given Probably because it was shameful not to fulfill

the role of kinsman redeemer The kinsman was unworthy to be named


Boaz calls ten elders to witness the legal brief he was about to set forth Years later ten became the number of men

required to constitute a synagogue Boaz told the kinsman of Naomi wishing

to sell the land The kinsman wanted to buy the land Boaz reminded him of Ruth and the need to

marry her The kinsmen then refused to redeem the land He removed his shoe to show the relinquishing

of his right to act as kinsman redeemer


Boaz tells the elders and the witnesses that he had bought all that had belonged to Elimelech and his sons He also acquired Ruth to become his wife

The generations of Boaz and Ruth

Boaz and Ruth Marry Ruth bore a son named Obed Obed would be reckoned as Mahlon’s son and

all right and privileges were bestowed to him The list of the 10 generation in 4:18-22

from Pharez to David seem to reflect the prohibition in Deuteronomy 23:2 This seems to make legitimate the claim of

David to the throne

Kinsman Redeemer

The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues or redeems property or person

Jehovah is Israel’s Redeemer, the one who promises to defend and vindicate them He is both Father and Deliverer (Exodus 20:2) There are numerous Old Testament appeals to

God as rescuer of the weak and needy (Psalm 82:4; Daniel 6:27; Jeremiah 20:13)

Although the term "kinsman-redeemer" is used only seven times in the and "avenger of blood" is used twelve times, the Hebrew verb go’el, from which both of these terms are translated, is used over 100 times and rendered by such additional terms as "redeemer" or "near relative“

The Hebrew term designates a male relative who Delivers or rescues ( Gen 48:16; Exodus 6:6 ) Redeems property ( Lev27:9-25 ) or person ( Lev 25:47-55 ) Avenges the murder of a relative as a guiltless executioner

( Num 35:9-34 ) Receives restitution for wrong done to a relative who has since

died ( Num 5:8 ) The unique emphasis of the redemption / salvation /

vindication associated with the kinsman-redeemer is the fact that this action is carried out by a kinsman on behalf of a near relative in need

This idea is most clearly illustrated in the Book of Ruth

God is Israel's Redeemer, the one who will defend and vindicate them

The idea that God is a kinsman to Israel can be defended by those passages of Scripture that identify him as Israel's Creator and Father ( Exodus 4:22-23 ; Deut

32:6 ) Deliverer ( Exodus 20:2 ) Owner of the land (Lev25:23 ) The one who hears innocent blood crying out for

vengeance ( Deut 19:10 ; 21:6-9 ) The King who has made his covenant with the people

( Exodus 6:2-8 ) David’s use of the term ( Psalm 19:14 ; 103:4 ),

doubtless has in mind the actions of his great-grandfather Boaz (Ruth 4:9-10 )

Kinsman Redeemer In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an

example of a kinsman-redeemer because as our brother (Hebrews 2:11)

He also redeems us because of our great need, one that only He can fill

In Ruth 3:9, we see a beautiful and poignant picture of the needy supplicant, unable to rescue herself, requesting of the kinsman-redeemer that he cover her with his protection, redeem her, and make her his wife

In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ bought us for Himself, out of the curse, out of our destitution, made us His own beloved bride and blessed us for all generations

He is the true kinsman-redeemer of all who call on Him in faith

ruth: complimentary book to judges

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