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. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. First obviously were landing in the middle of the book of ruth. Let us work the works of him that sent us, while it is day. To you who listen on the radio, you are sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. And in those chapters we saw the godly man from bethlehem named boaz being very kind. Famine has hit bethlehem, which forces elimelech and his wife, naomi, to move east to moab with their two sons to get some grub. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Now, let me give you a quick synopsis of the book of ruth. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth.
Ancient versions and modern translations consistently entitle this book after ruth the moabitess heroine, who is. It also allowed an appreciation for the beauty and complicity of. This was a country not far from israel on the east side of the dead sea. It showed them the loving, faithful nature of their god. 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. Introduction to ruth as a book of chesed the hebrew nerd.
The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Because of a famine in israel, a hebrew family moved to moab. But a choice had to be made, and orpah chose to stay in moab, while ruth clung to naomi. For the christian, our positional redemption is completely past tense we have been redeemed.
The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david. 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. Chapter 2 we see ruth gleaning in the fields of naomis relative boaz. Book of ruth summary the book of ruth is more than just a beautiful, godordained, love story, although it is that. The book of ruth opens in this chapter with the relation of a certain family leaving bethlehem in consequence of a famine, and sojourning in the country of moab. The story begins with a famine in the days when the judges ruled ruth 1. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. Chapter 2 field of gleans so everyone is miserable and no one has a husband.
After the death of ruths husband as well as his brother and father, her motherinlaw, naomi, decides to return to her hometown in bethlehem. Chapter 1 in the beginning our story begins around the time that all that good stuff in the book of judges is happening. The book of ruth starts out right away with a famine in the land 1. She took care not to lose time, for she gleaned until evening. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. The book reveals the extent of gods gracehe accepted ruth into his chosen people and honored her with. And the book of ruth is postexilic meaning it was composed some time after israel returned from exile in babylon in 539 bce. Ruth was married to mahlon something like 10 years. Some think that it was written by samuel, but there is no evidence for that. This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spirit. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther.
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. Chapter 3 to catch a husband naomi tells ruth that she. 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. Boaz was a man of ability and valor, and he was a kinsman relative of naomis deceased husband. The book of ruth is set during the time when israel was ruled by judges. The book of ruth derives its name from its principal character.
Summary of the book of ruth quick overview of ruth. A free bible version and commentary on the book of ruth in easyenglish. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The significance and application of the book of ruth. The book of ruth meaning pity or compassion is the eighth book of the old testament, and the tanakh. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period.
Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. The sons marry two local girls, ruth and orpah, during this time. 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. Ruth free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as ruth, a poor moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbours field, and the minute circumstances thereof. Summary of the book of ruth the story of the bible. Rendered strictly the whole sentence runs what day thou buyest thou wilt have bought perf. Ruth most likely comes from a moabite andor hebrew word meaning friendship. Book of ruth simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. You will also find options for commentaries on ruth that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. In chapter 1, ruth remains loyal to her motherinlaw naomi after the death of her husband and inlaws. 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.
The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. Why we read the book of ruth on shavuot my jewish learning. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. 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. Ruth bible story summary what christians want to know. Ruth was a descendant of lot, abrahams nephew, and therefore, a gentile. This moabite woman, who was free to stay with her people and idols, chose to accompany her bitter motherinlaw and worship the god of israel. Ruth summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ruth for bible study or sunday school lessons.
Because it is about ordinary people, this story can help us today. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. This word is used five times in the book of ruth as look by noami 1. Watch our overview video on the book of ruth, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. T he book of ruth contains an interesting story about a moabite woman who was redeemed into a hebrew family. Ruth 4 commentary summary sermon explaining the book. 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. This story is about an ordinary family whose members suffered many losses but god went on looking after them. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. In contrast to naomi and most of the book of judges. Ruth definition is compassion for the misery of another. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible.
Study guide for ruth 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. Ruth 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Introduction this chapter is all about redemption, which, according to the new bible dictionary means deliverance from some evil by payment of a price. To start out, a woman by the name of naomi packed up and moved from judah to. 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. The story centers on the life of ruth, a moabite woman who married an israelite living in a foreign countrymoab. Our story opens on a nice jewish family with a problem. 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. Usually, when a womans husband died without any sons born to him, it was up to her husbands brother to marry her in his place and so keep the mans seed alive via any sons born to him if there was no brother. The book was written sometime after bc 1010 since that was when david took the throne of israel.
The biographical sketch of this godly young moabitess contains much information concerning the customs of the ancient near east and provides its readers with some valuable data regarding the ancestry of king david. The nearer kinsman declines his right of redemption. Ruth and orpah both felt the same feelings but ruth did differently than orpah. And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. Naomi entreating ruth and orpah to return to the land of moab by william blake, 1795. It is one of the shortest books in both the jewish and christian holy books, consisting of only four chapters. 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. Orpah kissed her motherinlaw, but ruth clung to her.
There, they set up shop, eat some food, and live for about ten years. We must not be weary of welldoing, because in due season we shall reap. Best ruth commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Although some sources credit samuel the prophet, samuel died before davids kingship, which is alluded to at the end of the book date written. 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. This book demonstrates that god responds to his peoples cry. A fun way to see how much you know about the bible whilst complementing your bible study.
Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the. She did not make an excuse to sit still, or go home, till the evening. 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. There comes a place in our following after god where it comes down to doing. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges.
The book of ruth showed the israelites the blessings that obedience could bring. Free interactive bible quizzes with answers and high score tables. It also refers to a former time in israel, indicating it was written years after the actual events. This was a time when the people of israel had abandoned gods ways and fallen into idolatry, horrific social conditions, and a disastrous civil war, as told in the chapters of judges immediately preceding the book of ruth in christian bibles. The events in ruths life may be summarized as follows. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the book. Naomis plan for ruths future reflected selfless love. 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. Sep 14, 2015 this word is used five times in the book of ruth as look by noami 1.
Outline of the book of ruth 1 due to a severe famine in the land of judah, elimelech, a native of. We continue in our ruth 4 commentary ruth 4 commentary. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post. Boazs loyalty to his kinsman, naomis husband, reflected gods faithfulness. This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spiritual meaning of the book of ruth. 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.
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