Book 8 The Book Of Ruth
Who wrote the book of Ruth: The author of Ruth is unknown. It was, however, written by someone with knowledge of the Israelite people and their history.
When was it written: Because King David is mentioned, the book was most likely written during or soon after the reign of King David. Most people believe the book was written around 1,000 B.C.
Why was it written: To illustrate God’s plan of redemption and salvation and to demonstrate selfless love.
The book of Ruth reads like a memoir. It tells of a famine that drives an Israelite by the name of Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and their two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) from their home in Bethlehem, Judah, to the land of Moab. While living there, both sons marry Moabite women, and later Elimelech and both sons die.
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Years pass and the famine ends so Naomi decides to return to her homeland to live out the rest of her life with her own people. It is at that point that this family’s history takes a turn down a road that ultimately leads to Calvary.
Who Was Ruth
Ruth was the widow of one of Elimelech and Naomi’s sons. She was also, as you have already read, a Moabite.
Ruth’s ethnicity is somewhat interesting due to the fact that in the Mosaic Law God had forbidden the Israelites from marrying anyone who wasn’t an Israelite.
But we knew even before the book of Ruth that the Israelites had not listened, which is why God said that Moabites who did marry Israelites were not allowed in the assembly to worship God until after the tenth generation.
We also know from previous books in the Old Testament (and some that follow) that the relationship between Israel and Moab was somewhat complicated. At times they were at war with each other, but at other times they were on much friendlier terms.
The famine that drove Naomi and her family away from Bethlehem and into Moabite territory must have taken place during a time of peace between the two nations.
Ruth, the Moabite widow of an Israelite, was also a woman of integrity and as you will soon see, a woman of faith.
Who Were The Moabites
The Moabites were the descendants of Lot—Abraham’s nephew who along with his daughters, escaped Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Moabites lived in what is now the country of Jordan. In the time of the Old Testament, the land of Moab was bordered by the land of Canaan.
Moses was refused by the kings of Moab when he asked to pass through their land on the way to the Promised Land. This, combined with a number of other incidents (both good and bad) is the reason the relationship between Israel and Moab had so many ups and downs.
Ruth And Naomi Travel To Bethlehem
Once Naomi decided to return to her people in Bethlehem, she told her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpha, that they should go back to their own families because she had nothing to offer them in the way of a home and a future.
She herself would have to rely on the good graces of extended family members for her survival.
Orpha agreed and bid the other two women a tearful goodbye—giving credence to the likelihood that Naomi and her family shared a close and loving bond. Ruth, on the other hand, refused to go.
Did she not have a family to return to or was she simply that devoted? We don’t know for sure, but her words to Naomi are proof that devotion definitely played a role in her decision.
And so they left; traveling to Bethlehem with an unknown future waiting for them there.
Ruth And Boaz
Boaz was the son of Salmon, whose mother was Rahab the prostitute whose life was spared because she hid the spies sent by Joshua right before the Israelites took over the city of Jericho.
Boaz was also a relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband. And it was Boaz who came to Naomi and Ruth’s rescue. He took the two women into his care; fell in love with Ruth and she was with him.
Their marriage resulted in the birth of a son they named Obed. Obed in turn became the father of Jesse and Jesse the father of David.
The Road To Calvary
Do you see how Ruth and Naomi’s journey to Bethlehem leads to Calvary? Because of the union of Rahab to Nahshon, Ruth found love with Boaz.
And their love resulted in their great-grandson sitting on the throne of Israel and in the direct lineage of Jesus our Savior who gave his life for our sins on the cross at Calvary.