The Strand Study Bible

RUTH

Author: Possibly Samuel Theme: Redemption (salvation) Book’s Main Character: Ruth

About the Book: The name of the book comes from its heroine, Ruth the Moabitess, and takes place during the days of the Judges (Judg 3:31). It is the story of a man (Elimelech) and his wife (Naomi) who leave Bethlehem with their two sons (Mahlon and Chilion) because of a famine and sojourn in the country of Moab. While in Moab, the husband (Elimelech) dies and the two sons end up marrying two Moabite girls (Orpah and Ruth). Then the two sons (Mahlon and Chilion) die, leaving their mother, Naomi, alone with her two Gentile daughters-in-law. When Naomi (who decided to change her name to Mara, meaning bitter - Ruth 1:20) decides to return back home to Bethlehem, Ruth (who had come to trust in the salvation of a coming MESSIAH - Ruth 1:16 & 2:12) refuses to leave her side (Ruth 1:14). Within a year young Ruth (c. 30 years old) marries Boaz (c. 136 years old), her kinsman redeemer (Deut 25:5-10), and thus becomes the great-grandmother of King David. The primary purpose of the book was to document David’s godly ancestry (Ruth 4:17-22). The book of Ruth covers around ten years (from c. 1275 - 1265 BC). Notes of Interest: 1. Ruth is not quoted in the NT. 2. There are no prophecies referred to in Ruth . 3. There are 2 inset maps used in the book of Ruth . They are numbered chronologically (#105-106). Outline of Ruth : 1. Elimelech decides to sojourn in Moab (Ruth 1:1-15) 2. Ruth decides to be saved (Ruth 1:16-22) 3. Ruth decides to serve (Ruth 2)

4. Ruth decides to marry Boaz (Ruth 3) 5. Boaz agrees to marry Ruth (Ruth 4) Ruth 1 Elimelech decides to sojourn in Moab (Note - This event took place 24 years after Rameses II (1299-1232 BC) assumed Egypt’s throne and ten years after Shamgar (c. 1285 BC) began judging a part of Israel - Judges 3:31) Date - c. 1275 BC/AM 2725

country of Moab, and continued there.

1. Jud 2:16 2. that is, “a local famine” 3. Note - Elimelech’s name means “my God is King.” 4. Note - Naomi’s name means “pleasant; amiable.” 5. Note - Mahlon’s name means “puny; sickly; frail.” 6. Note - Chilion’s name means “pining; sorrowing.” offspring from a marriage with a Moabite ( wives of the women of Moab ) was not admitted into the congregation of Israel until the tenth generation (Deut 23:3-6). 9. Note - Orpah’s name means “fawn; youthful freshness.” 10. Note - Ruth’s name means “friendship or com- panion.” Ruth is referred to 1 time in the NT (Mt 1:5). 7. Gen 35:19 8. Note - The

MED SEA

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the 1 judges ruled, that there was a 2 famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethle- hem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. Historical Note - Egyptian history continued c. 1300 BC with the New Kingdom Period as Rameses II (c. 1299-1232 BC), last of the great Pharaohs, ruled Egypt. Seldom has secular history known so picturesque a monarch. When he died in 1232 BC, Rameses II left 100 sons and 50 daughters. His offspring were so numerous that they constituted for four hundred years a special class in Egypt, from which, for over a century, her rulers were chosen. 2 And the name of the man was 3 Elimelech, and the name of his wife 4 Naomi, and the name of his two sons 5 Mahlon and 6 Chilion, 7 Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the

Bethlehem •

MOAB

JUDAH

Elimelech and Naomi sojourn in Moab Map #105 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them 8 wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was 9 Orpah, and the name of the other 10 Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

1:1a It is interesting to note that the very city that meant “house of bread” ( Bethlehem-judah ) was now “short of bread.” Could it be that the LORD was trying to teach His people here that “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God ” (Deut 8:3 and Mt 4:4)? 1:1 b Elimelech’s intention was to simply sojourn in Moab (an ungodly nation according to Numbers 21:29 and Deuteronomy 23:3-4), not stay there. Yet his family stayed there for ten years (vs 4). Perhaps Elimelech persuaded himself to leave the Promised Land because he was not content with “less” than what he was accustomed to. Although his desire to provide for his own family was commendable (I Tim 5:8), his reason for leaving Bethlehem and placing his family in harm’s way (spiritually speaking) by moving to Moab wasn’t (I Tim 6:6-10 and Phil 4:10-13). 476