It also refers to a former time in israel, indicating it was written years after the actual events occurred. It is the first book of the bible without a prophecy or any particular message from god by a prophet to israel. The purpose of the book of ruth from the bible jack wellman. A faithful family is driven by famine from judah to the nonjewish land of moab. Sep 14, 2015 this word is used five times in the book of ruth as look by noami 1. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The book is named after one of its main characters, a young woman of moab, the greatgrandmother of david and an ancestress of jesus 4. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. Jan 06, 2017 and the book of ruth is postexilic meaning it was composed some time after israel returned from exile in babylon in 539 bce.
The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old. T he book of ruth contains an interesting story about a moabite woman who was redeemed into a hebrew family. It showed them the loving, faithful nature of their god. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. The events in ruths life may be summarized as follows. The book was written sometime after bc 1010 since that was when david took the throne of israel. Introduction this chapter is all about redemption, which, according to the new bible dictionary means deliverance from some evil by payment of a price. The book of ruth meaning pity or compassion is the eighth book of the old testament, and the tanakh. It is set in the time of the judges not the best ones, if we assign it to the period of gideon and samson and it attempts to define the rights of widows and aliens within a society fallen upon hard times. The book of ruth is set during the time when israel was ruled by judges.
This book was written to israel but i believe it has an even greater and much deeper meaning to christians today because it is. The book of ruth traces the messianic line of king david back to ruth, who was a moabitess, and the book gives us a beautiful understanding of how god rewards faithfulness and devotion. The book of ruth is the kind of high drama that would have played well in jewish oral tradition. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. There comes a place in our following after god where it comes down to doing.
The book of ruth has long captivated readers of the bible with its simple beauty. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. Since the book of ruth ends with the genealogy of david, whose forbearer ruth was, it has been suggested that it is read on shavuot because there is a legend that david died on shavuot. The book reveals the extent of gods gracehe accepted ruth into his chosen people and honored her with. The book of ruth provides details about part of the genealogy of king david and of the christ who is called the son of david refer to matthew 1. Ruth, a verse by verse bible study my christian space. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. Why we read the book of ruth on shavuot my jewish learning.
The setting of the book is the spring barley harvest, hence its long association with the festival of pentecost, which pictured this early harvest. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. This summary of the book of ruth provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ruth. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. May 21, 2015 the rabbinic explanation of the marriage is that ruth had made a very sincere act of conversion, when she declared that she would follow naomi to her land, which would be her land, and naomis. The nearer kinsman declines his right of redemption. Ruth and orpah both felt the same feelings but ruth did differently than orpah. Now, let me give you a quick synopsis of the book of ruth. The book of ruth one of the 24 books in the hebrew bible. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david.
The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. And in those chapters we saw the godly man from bethlehem named boaz being very kind. What is the significance of the book of ruth in the old. Because of a famine in israel, a hebrew family moved to moab. Famine has hit bethlehem, which forces elimelech and his wife, naomi.
The book of ruth from the holy bible new international version niv book 8 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a c. First obviously were landing in the middle of the book of ruth. A literary analysis of this book enabled an enlightenment of the story development as well as the character development, which revealed the overarching and secondary messages of the book of ruth. There, they set up shop, eat some food, and live for about ten years. The book of ruth derives its name from its principal character. Had ruth acted in any respect that in those days was judged indecent or immodest, it is most likely she would have highly displeased such a grave. These two issues are addressed in the book of ruth. The story centers on the life of ruth, a moabite woman who married an israelite living in a foreign countrymoab.
It also allowed an appreciation for the beauty and complicity of the plot as unfolded by the author. Their sons names are metaphors for their misery mahlon means sickness and chilion means wasting in. After the death of ruths husband as well as his brother and father, her motherinlaw, naomi, decides to return to her hometown in bethlehem. Book of ruth summary the book of ruth is more than just a beautiful, godordained, love story, although it is that.
Dake the book of ruth is the 8th book of the bible. Ruth bible story summary what christians want to know. Ruth was a descendant of lot, abrahams nephew, and therefore, a gentile. It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. It is one of the shortest books in both the jewish and christian holy books, consisting of only four chapters. The significance and application of the book of ruth. Their sons names are metaphors for their misery mahlon means sickness and chilion means wasting in hebrew. The book of ruth niv audio holy bible high quality and. Why is this sowhy are biblical scholars so uncharacteristically agreed in.
To start out, a woman by the name of naomi packed up. Ruth was a moabite princess of very fine character, who became the great grandmother of king david. The book of ruth showed the israelites the blessings that obedience could bring. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. The book of ruth demonstrates gods love for the gentiles, even in a period of history when the hebrew people were given prominence due to their role in gods redemptive plan for humanity. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the. The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to it. This is after the joshuas conquest of gods promised land, and before the nation demanded a king. This word is used five times in the book of ruth as look by noami 1. Ancient versions and modern translations consistently entitle this book after ruth the moabitess heroine, who is. She was dissatisfied with the idolworship of her own. Uncover his feet remove the clothes which are upon his feet. Summary of the book of ruth the story of the bible.
Structural symmetry and its significance in the book of ruth. This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spiritual meaning of the book of ruth. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. The book of ruth relates that ruth and orpah, two women of moab, had married two sons of elimelech and naomi, judeans who had settled in moab to escape a. This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spirit. Some think that it was written by samuel, but there is no evidence for that. Watch our overview video on the book of ruth, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Aug 20, 2015 the book of ruth from the holy bible new international version niv book 8 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a c. Naomi entreating ruth and orpah to return to the land of moab by william blake, 1795. For the christian, our positional redemption is completely past tense we have been redeemed. Introduction to ruth as a book of chesed the hebrew nerd. The book of ruth is a story about ruth, the grandmother of king david, and naomi a jewish woman who had left jerusalem with her husband and two sons and ended up in moab. Jan 10, 2018 the book of ruth is the kind of high drama that would have played well in jewish oral tradition. Study guide for ruth 1 by david guzik blue letter bible.
The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The story is read on the jewish holiday of shavuot, or the harvest festival to remind jews that god is alive in even the most ordinary. The rabbinic explanation of the marriage is that ruth had made a very sincere act of conversion, when she declared that she would follow naomi to. Although some sources credit samuel the prophet, samuel died before davids kingship, which is alluded to at the end of the book date written. Here is the main idea, the purpose of the book, a few leading themes, an explanation of what it means for us today, and some study questions you can use in your small group or quiet time. Outline of the book of ruth 1 due to a severe famine in the land of judah, elimelech, a native of. Even though its small, this remarkable book contains many principles with profound impact to our lives today. Ruth was a gentile not of the judeanisraeli descent but from another ethnic group, her background was a nation otherthan israel and she married a descendant. Ruth is one of the five festival scrolls, also known as the megilloth, in the writings section of the old testament. This was a country not far from israel on the east side of the dead sea. Ruth most likely comes from a moabite andor hebrew word meaning friendship. This book was written to israel but i believe it has an even greater and much deeper meaning to christians today because it is reflective of our own redeemer.
When we open to the 3 rd chapter of the book of ruth were coming into the middle of several story lines in the bible. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Although it is not known who wrote the book, it was probably written during the reign of israels king david. The other festival scrolls are song of songs, lamentations, ecclesiastes and. It appears to have been the aim of the author to relate the deeds of human beings, when they are filled with devotion and lovingkindness, to the greatest hopes and aspirations of israel and humanity. The book centers around the theme of redemption and provides a beautiful picture of the coming messiah jesus christ. And the book of ruth is postexilic meaning it was composed some time after israel returned from exile in babylon in 539 bce. A host of commentators through the ages have observed that the book of ruth is a splendid example of the storytellers art morris, p. To you who listen on the radio, you are sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post. But a choice had to be made, and orpah chose to stay in moab, while ruth clung to naomi. Chapter four of the book of ruth begins with a man named boaz informing the family member who was next of kin in redeeming the land and heritage of elimelech naomis husband, and that heritage included ruth, his daughterinlaw. Orpah kissed her motherinlaw, but ruth clung to her.
The sons marry two local girls, ruth and orpah, during this time. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. Our story opens on a nice jewish family with a problem. The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period.