The events of the little book of Ruth occurred during the period of the Judges, Ruth 1:1. It is a beautiful story of providence in the life of one family, which would have a great effect on a Moabite woman who will play a part in the genealogy of David and finally Jesus.
Some think of this as a love story, but it is really more than a love story. It is a story about devotion, dedication and loyalty. Ruth is not the only Gentile who played a part in the lineage of Jesus, Matthew 1:5, as we know that Tamar, Matthew 1:3, and Rahab the harlot, Matthew 1:5, made their intrusion into the genealogy of David and the Lord.
Rainfall was never plentiful or adequate for the basic crops of barley and wheat in Bethlehem, and so, Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, fled from Judah into the land of Moab, Ruth 1:1-2.
The country was named for the son of Lot, whose birth was the result of drunkenness and the incestuous relationship of Lot with one of his daughters, Genesis 19:30-38. It was in Moab that Balaam was hired to curse Israel during their pilgrimage to Canaan, Numbers 22:1-8.
David once found refuge there while fleeing from Saul, 1 Samuel 22:3-4. There was no specific condemnation in the Law for their sons’ marriages, although orthodox Jews would have frowned on it since the Moabites worshipped Chemosh, a pagan god, Numbers 26:29.
Living in Moab, the sons probably had no other choice but to marry Moabite women, Ruth 1:4. We assume that Elimelech, Naomi and their sons retained their loyalty to God, although they were not able to carry out their sacrificial duties living in a pagan land. It is plain they left because of a famine, Ruth 1:1. Survival was their motive for moving.
After living there for several years, Elimelech and both sons died, Ruth 1:3-5. Naomi learns that the famine in Bethlehem had ended, Ruth 1:6. With family ties there, she decides to return to her native home, Ruth 1:6-7.
The two daughters-in-law were obviously deeply attached to their mother-in-law and were determined to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, Ruth 1:10. Naomi did not consider this to be wise, Ruth 1:11-13.
Their desire to follow her to Bethlehem is a tribute to Naomi and the influence she had over her daughters-in-law. Naomi insists that they remain in Moab, Ruth 1:8-15. This was for two reasons.
First, they would not likely find husbands in Bethlehem, Ruth 1:11-12, being foreign women from a pagan background. Also, it is difficult to move into a new and strange culture where you have never lived before.
They wept aloud, but after their emotions of grief had subsided, Orpha yielded to her mother-in-law’s dissuasive admonition, moving regretfully and tearfully away, Ruth 1:14.
She may have been afraid, perhaps, that if she did return with Naomi, she and Ruth would be just too much of a burden to Naomi. Naomi herself had nothing to sustain them with.
It is said that “Ruth clung to her mother-in-law,” Ruth 1:14. No reasoning or dissuasive admonitions from Naomi would let her part from her. Ruth 1:16-17 is esteemed as one of the most touching passages in all of literature.
Ruth, in effect, renounces all she leaves behind in Moab and voluntarily chooses to go to Judah, and there begins an entirely new life with her mother-in-law. There are both religious and cultural overtones in her words.
They serve as a testimony to her deceased husband and mother-in-law. She solemnly affirms her desire to be loyal to Naomi and entrusts herself to the care of God.
The return of Naomi to Bethlehem caused quite a stir. Naomi and Elimelech, with their two sons, had left healthy, but now Naomi’s very appearance bore testimony to her hardships and sorrow, Ruth 1:19-21. She tells them, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me,” Ruth 1:20.
This has led some Jewish scholars to say God punished the family for leaving Bethlehem to go into Moab. If true, why was Naomi spared? There is more to the story than this. Circumstances brought about the men’s deaths, but God used this tragedy to bring about good.
Of necessity, Ruth had to find work to support herself and her mother-in-law. By chance, she sought out a field where the harvesting of barley was taking place, which happened to belong to Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, Ruth 2:3. Probably because she dressed differently from Hebrew women, he asks who she is and learns she had come with Naomi from Moab, Ruth 2:5-7.
He kindly gave her permission not only to glean ears in his field and even among the sheaves, but also to satisfy her hunger and thirst with the same food and drink of his reapers, Ruth 2:15-16.
When she returned to her mother-in-law with a plentiful gleaning and told of Boaz’s kindness, she learned Boaz was a relative, Ruth 2:20. She continued to glean in his field.
Boaz directed the reapers to make intentional provision for her by dropping grain in her way from their bundles, Ruth 2:15-16. She remained and gleaned with his maidens throughout the barley and wheat harvest, Ruth 2:23. Naomi is aware that Boaz is attracted to Ruth. She devises a plan whereby they could be married, Ruth 3:3-4.
Ruth is to wash and anoint herself, put on attractive clothes other than what she had worked in while gleaning, Ruth 3:3. She is to wait until he is asleep on the threshing floor, then lie down at his feet, Ruth 3:4.
Ruth follows her instructions, waiting until Boaz is asleep, Ruth 3:6-8. She goes and uncovers his feet and lies down at his feet, Ruth 3:7-8. About midnight, Boaz awoke and was frightened to discover a woman lying at his feet, Ruth 3:8.
He said, “Who art thou?” She answers, “I am Ruth, your maidservant, take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a near kinsman,” Ruth 3:9. This event seems strange to us today.
What she had done was to remind Boaz of his duty as a near kinsman. When someone was forced to sell their property on account of poverty or some other cause, it was the duty of the nearest kinsman to redeem it that it might remain in the family, Leviticus 25:25.
Also, there was an old custom that if an Israelite who had been married died without children, it was the duty of his next of kin to marry the widow, Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
By begetting a son through the sister-in-law, the child would be named after the deceased brother. The name would not become extinct in Israel. In time, the son became the legal heir of the land. Land was considered a sacred gift from God; families guarded it faithfully.
Boaz praises her that as a young widow she had not sought to win the affections of a young man but had turned trustfully to an older man, that he might find a successor or become the successor himself, Ruth 3:10-11. He advises her that there is one who is nearer kin than he was. He would talk with this kinsman about the situation, Ruth 3:12-13.
Boaz saw nothing wrong in the fact that Ruth had come to him and regarded her request to marry her as a redeemer as perfectly natural and right. He was ready to carry out her wish as soon as circumstances would permit.
He tells her to remain at his feet until the morning, Ruth 3:14. It should not be known that a woman had come to the threshing floor, Ruth 3:14. It would have injured the reputation not only of Ruth, but also of Boaz himself.
Before leaving early in the morning, when no one would recognise her, he had her bring her shawl in which he had measured six measures of barley to take home, Ruth 3:15-17. Naomi is anxious to hear what happened, Ruth 3:18.
She tells Ruth, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day,” Ruth 3:18.
Boaz goes to the city gate and waits for the kinsman, Ruth 4:1. He takes the kinsman aside before the ten elders and explains the need for the property to be redeemed, Ruth 4:1-4. The man agrees. Boaz explains that if he does buy back the land, he must also marry Ruth, Ruth 4:5. The kinsman refused, saying it was not possible for him to do this, Ruth 4:6.
To legalise the matter, a sandal is removed and given to the other person, Ruth 4:7-8. Ruth would now become the wife of Boaz. The marriage was greatly approved by the people, Ruth 4:11-13.
A son is born to Ruth, Ruth 4:13-17. The women of the city congratulated Naomi that the continuance of her family and property was now assured, Ruth 4:14-17. Naomi soon becomes the child’s nurse, Ruth 4:16. The name Obed was given to the boy, Ruth 4:17. He would become the grandfather of David, Ruth 4:17 / Ruth 4:21-22.