INTRODUCTION TO RUTH
The book of Ruth is tucked into the Canon of the Old Testament in a spot where it is like a breath of fresh air in a room which has become heavy with strong odors. The spirit of the book of Judges is one of violence and struggle, and although there are notes of sadness and conflict in the book of Ruth, it is overall a love story. Its message is one of beauty, setting the stage for the account of the tender love of Hannah, the mother of Samuel.
NAME
The Hebrew word for Ruth is pronounced much the same as the English word. It means comrade, companion, or neighbor. The word is found in Exodus 11:2 in a common setting. The name has come down through the Greek translations of the pre-Christian era, through the Latin translations of the fourth century, A.D., and finds its way into the modern English versions. The book receives its name from the principal character, the Moabitess who became the ancestress of the Christ.
PLACE IN THE CANON
In the later Hebrew arrangement of the Bible, the book of Ruth stands second among the five scrolls called the Megilloth. In the ancient Hebrew Bibles, Judges and Ruth were closely united as is evidenced by the testimony of Josephus, Melito of Sardis, Origen, and Jerome. When the translation of the Bible was made into the Greek, some two hundred years before Christ, Ruth was placed among the historical books. In later times the Jews placed the book among the other writings, called the Hagiographa or Kethubhim.
AUTHOR
The fact that it has been closely associated with the book of Judges has lent emphasis to the view that the book was probably written by the same man who wrote Judges. Ancient Jewish and Christian tradition has pointed to Samuel as the author, Some modern commentators, such as Robert Pfeiffer in his Introduction to the Old Testament (page 717), declare that this view is no longer tenable. A. S. Geden feels that a post-exilic date (about 400 B.C.) seems to be a preferable time for its being written.
Even some very conservative Christian writers such as Merrill Unger (Introductory Guide to the Old Testament, page 384) take the position that the author of the work is unknown, They admit that the Babylonian Talmud ascribes the book to Samuel, but they hold that this is not likely.
The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra, 14 b) says Samuel wrote the book. Matthew Henry in his introductory materials to his comments on the book of Samuel wrote it is probable that Samuel was the penman of it.
Since history knows no other authors, Samuel should be regarded as the writer of the book of Ruth.
DATE
David was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. If we place his birth in the fiftieth year of his father's life, Jesse would have been born in the first year of the Philistine oppression, or forty-eight years after the death of Gideon. It is quite possible that Jesse may also have been a younger son of Obed and born in the fiftieth year of his father's life. If so, the birth of Obed would fall in the last years of Gideon or about 1150 B.C.
The last event mentioned in the book is the birth of David. David began to reign at 1010 B.C., but he was a very popular man in Israel before his death. He had been anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1). Early in his career he slew the giant Goliath and became a constant dependent in the court of Saul (1 Samuel 17). The fact that he was well known as a soldier and popular in Israel would be reason enough for writing the story of his ancestry.
Samuel died before David became king, and the book must have been written prior to Samuel's death. The death of Samuel is recorded in 1 Samuel 25:1. A date of 1015 B.C. is probably the best suggestion one can make for the time of writing.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the book of Ruth is to give a biographical sketch of the righteous ancestors of David, the man destined to be Israel's second king. Through the years the book has given an insight into the history of pious people of the era and encouraged faithful Christian living by their good example. The loving concern of Naomi for her daughters-in-law has inspired many of the mothers of Israel to take good care of their families and to encourage action which will produce the best benefits for all concerned. The devotion of Ruth has been an ideal for married couples through the years, and a song based on her statement of faith is quite often heard in a wedding ceremony. Although Ruth's statement was not made to her husband, her love for a member of his family was the kind of love which must undergird solid, Christian homes.
PLAN
The book is planned as a straightforward historical narrative. There are no poetic passages, and the work is presented in good Hebrew prose, The story flows naturally along and reaches its conclusion in an orderly fashion, It has all the earmarks of historical narrative.
OUTLINE
The following outline is quite usually given for this short narrative. It contains all the major details of the book and presents them in a fashion which is easy to remember. It should be committed to memory by the Bible student.
I.
Ruth comes to Bethlehem (chapter 1)
A.
Introduction (Ruth 1:1-7)
B.
Ruth's determination to remain with Naomi (Ruth 1:8-18)
C.
The arrival in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19-22)
II.
Ruth meets Boaz (chapter 2)
A.
Ruth gleans in the fields (Ruth 2:1-7)
B.
The kindness of Boaz (Ruth 2:8-16)
C.
Ruth returns to Naomi (Ruth 2:17-23)
III.
Ruth appeals to Boaz (chapter 3)
A.
Naomi's advice (Ruth 3:1-5)
B.
Ruth speaks to Boaz (Ruth 3:6-13)
C.
Ruth returns to Naomi (Ruth 3:14-18)
IV.
Ruth marries Boaz (chapter 4)
A.
The kinsman approached (Ruth 4:1-8)
B.
Boaz takes Ruth (Ruth 4:9-12)
C.
Ruth bears a son (Ruth 4:13-17)
D.
The ancestry of David (Ruth 4:18-22)
INDEPENDENCE
Although the book of Ruth is very closely associated with the book of Judges, it is not an appendix to that book. It is a small independent work. It resembles the two appendices of the book of Judges only so far as the incidents recorded in it fall within the period of the Judges. It has a thoroughly distinctive character both in form and content and has nothing in common with the book of Judges to make it inseparable. It differs essentially in substance and design from the book of Judges and its two appendices. As far as history is concerned, the contents of the book pass beyond the time of the Judges. The author plainly shows his intention was not only to give a picture of the family life of pious Israelites in the time of the judges but to give a biographical sketch of the pious ancestors of David, the hero of Israel.
OUTLINE OF RUTH
I.
Ruth Comes to Bethlehem, Chapter One
This section tells how Ruth, the Moabitess, a daughter-in-law of the Bethlehemite Elimelech, of the family of Judah, who had emigrated with his wife and his two sons into the land of Moab on account of a famine, left father and mother, fatherland and kindred, after the death of her husband. Out of childlike affection to her Israelitish mother-in-law, Naomi, whose husband had also died in the land of Moab, Ruth went to Judah, to take refuge under the wings of the God of Israel.
A.
Introduction to the life and times of Ruth, Ruth 1:1-7
B.
Ruth's determination to remain with Naomi, Ruth 1:8-18
C.
Ruth's arrival in Bethlehem, Ruth 1:19-22
II.
Ruth Meets Boaz, Chapter Two
After Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, she went to glean ears of grain in the field of a wealthy man, Boaz, a near relative of Elimelech.
A.
Ruth gleans in the fields, Ruth 2:1-7
B.
The kindness of Boaz, Ruth 2:8-16
C.
Ruth returns to Naomi, Ruth 2:17-23
III.
Ruth's Appeal to Boaz, Chapter Three
Under the Mosaic dispensation, a man was obligated to marry his brother's widow, if the widow had no children by her first marriage. In keeping with this law, Boaz was the nearest willing kinsman of the deceased husband of Ruth, Mahlon. Ruth reminded Boaz of this sacred obligation.
A.
Naomi's advice to Ruth, Ruth 3:1-5
B.
Ruth speaks to Boaz, Ruth 3:6-13
C.
Ruth returns to Naomi, Ruth 3:15-18
IV.
Ruth Marries Boaz, Chapter Four
Boaz did marry Ruth, according to the custom of the Levirate marriage; and they were blessed with a son named Obed. This Obed was the grandfather of David, with whose genealogy the book closes.
A.
The near kinsman approached, Ruth 4:1-8
B.
Boaz marries Ruth, Ruth 4:9-12
C.
Ruth bears a son, Ruth 4:13-17
D.
The ancestry of David, Ruth 4:18-22
EPILOGUE
The books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth were not written merely to tell the story of what happened in the years covered by the narrative. If this were so, the story would be very incomplete. Many more details should have been given in order to give the reader a full perspective of the era. Neither were the books written to tell a life story of the heroes and heroines of the period. The book of Ruth would be especially incomplete in this regard. Her story is not told completely at all. Many questions are left unanswered. How did Ruth die? How long did she live? Where was she buried? Nothing is said about these details of her life at all.
Ruth fits in between the books of Judges and Samuel like a bone in a socket, Probably the events which are recorded in these four Chapter s occurred during the time of Gideon. The final verses of the book reach down to the time of David. Hence, the book reaches back into the middle of the time of the Judges and reaches far down into the time of Samuel.
Israel gloried in David. He was not only a man after God's own heart, but he was a man who captured the hearts of the people. They sang of him. They ascribed more honor to him than they did to their first king, King Saul.
The people gloried in the house of David. His house was to be established forever. As long as there was a throne on which a king might sit in Jerusalem, there was a man from the loins of David to sit on that throne. Like the woman from Tekoah, they looked to David as an angel of God (2 Samuel 14:17).
David captured the city of the Jebusites. The narrative in the book of Judges makes a last mention of this city with a note of despair and contempt. The city was in the hands of the Jebusites, and a Levite from the north passed the city by in scorn and fear. He would rather spend the night in a nearby hamlet of Benjamin than to risk his life and reputation by stopping in the wicked city of the Canaanites. Although this Levite met a terrible fate at the hand of wicked Israelites, his attitude nevertheless reflects the disdain which the men of the time felt for the city now known as the Holy City.
When David took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, he made it his capital. From this central location, he ruled for thirty-three years of his life, and in it he firmly established the throne of Solomon, his heir and succcessor. With pride, the people came to refer to Jerusalem as the City of David. Bethlehem, Ruth's adopted home, was the home of David. Centuries later, wise men from the East journeyed through the streets of the town in search of Him whom they called the king of the Jews. Bringing treasures and gifts of distinction, these strange visitors symbolize the adoration of wise men of all ages from all countries.
On the hills where David must have practiced the use of his sling, shepherds sat as they heard the angels sing. The Son of God was born where Ruth gave birth to Obed.
The history of these three booksJoshua, Judges, and Ruthis only a brief part of the total account of God's dealings with men. It is a part of His Story, the story of redemption. The love story of Ruth couched in the setting of the time when Israel had no king is but a dim reflection of the love story of God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
In similar fashion, the story of Joshua's leading the people into the Promised Land of Canaan is typical of the great Saviour who will eventually lead His people into the promised land of heaven. The story of Joshua is so suggestive of the final triumphal entry of God's people into eternal rest that the pages of the book of Hebrews are in part a rather full exposition of this analogy, In fact, the translators of the King James Version use the names of Jesus and Joshua interchangeably in Hebrews 4:8, The Authorized Version reads as follows: For if Jesus had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. The American Standard Version changes the word Jesus to Joshua. Joshua's name in Greek is the same as the Greek for the English name, Jesus. Joshua gave the people of Israel rest by leading them into the land of Canaan. Jesus will give His faithful followers rest when He comes back to welcome them into the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
All through these historical books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth the modern-day reader is constantly finding issues which are relevant to his own times. Answers to some of his problems are found in his reflections over the causes and results of events recorded in this part of the Bible. At the same time, his eyes are lifted over the horizon of the hills of Judea to see the coming of the Christ. Even beyond these hills, his vision is directed to anticipate the time when the son of David comes again. The end of the story of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth has not yet been written.
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