RUTH
CONTENT: A famine forces Elimelech and his wife Naomi from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her 2 sons, who soon marry 2 Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem. This is a beautiful story of love, commitment and devotion as Ruth tells Naomi, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay” (1:16). Ruth eventually marries a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who is the grandfather of David. Ruth’s proven devotion has been rewarded with a new husband, a son and a privileged position in the royal lineage of Jesus Christ.
BACKGROUND: The setting for the book of Ruth begins in the country of Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea, but then moves to Bethlehem. This true account takes place during the dismal days of failure and rebellion of the Israelites, called the period of judges.
DATE WRITTEN: Uncertain. (However, the prevalent view ascribes a date between 1011 and 931 B.C.)
AUTHOR: Unknown. (Tradition has suggested Samuel.)
CONTENT: A famine forces Elimelech and his wife Naomi from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her 2 sons, who soon marry 2 Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem. This is a beautiful story of love, commitment and devotion as Ruth tells Naomi, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay” (1:16). Ruth eventually marries a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who is the grandfather of David. Ruth’s proven devotion has been rewarded with a new husband, a son and a privileged position in the royal lineage of Jesus Christ.
BACKGROUND: The setting for the book of Ruth begins in the country of Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea, but then moves to Bethlehem. This true account takes place during the dismal days of failure and rebellion of the Israelites, called the period of judges.
DATE WRITTEN: Uncertain. (However, the prevalent view ascribes a date between 1011 and 931 B.C.)
AUTHOR: Unknown. (Tradition has suggested Samuel.)
