Ruth Overview + Outline
The book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman. (We're looking at you, Esther!) While this book is short, only four chapters long, it packs a powerful punch. Within its pages, it tells the lineage of King David's great-grandfathers. More miraculously, it sets the stage for the bloodline Christ would come through as the Son of Man. Let's start reading to dive into its goodness!
WHAT TYPE OF BOOK IS THIS? (LAW, HISTORY, POETRY, WISDOM, GOSPEL, EPISTLE, OR PROPHECY)?
The short book of Ruth is a historical account, primarily establishing the lineage Christ Jesus would come through to save His people!
WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR?
Jewish tradition names Samuel as the author. The prophet technically could have written it, for he did not die until after he had anointed David as God's chosen king. However, the book has no objective evidence that points to him.
While we don't know the author, we can see the hand of God woven throughout the book!
WHO IS THE AUDIENCE OF RUTH? WHEN IS IT WRITTEN?
Ancient Israel was the immediate audience of Ruth, depicting a faithful kinsman redeemer to save a Gentile woman. In doing so, Boaz redeemed Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Their family tree would eventually birth King David and, more importantly, King Jesus!
The author most likely wrote Ruth during David's reign of Israel between 1011-971 BC, for the text mentions David but not Solomon.
WHAT IS THE SETTING AND LOCATION OF THIS BOOK?
Two cities appear in Ruth: Bethlehem and Moab. Moab was one of Israel's enemies that lived east of the Dead Sea. The Moabites' history started when Lot, Abraham's nephew, incestuously had a baby with his eldest daughter (Gen 19:37). The tribe started with scandal, but the corruption did not stop there! In Numbers, Balak, the King of Moab, gave the Israelites significant opposition (Num. 22-25). Later on, in Judges, the Israelites were oppressed by Moab for eighteen years (Judg. 3:12-30). And long after Ruth, the Moabites would continue to have a history with Israel for better or worse.
A famine in Judah forced Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to move to Moab. During this time, the sons took two Moabite women as wives: Ruth and Orpah. After the men died and the famine subsided, Naomi returned to Bethlehem while giving her daughters an out. Ruth stayed with her mother-in-law while Orpah went back home.
The events from this point on until Boaz's redemption were about eleven to twelve years.
WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE?
Elimelech and Naomi's Ruin in Moab (1:1-5)
Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem (1:6-22)
Boaz Receives Ruth in His Field (2:1-23)
Ruth's Romance with Boaz (3:1-18)
Boaz Redeems Ruth (4:1-12)
God Rewards Boaz and Ruth with a Son (4:13-17)
David's Right to the Throne of Judah (4:18-22)
HOW DOES THIS BOOK FIT INTO THE TIMELINE OF SCRIPTURE? WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE IT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT?
Ruth coincides with the book of Judges, for Ruth 1:1 says, "In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land…." We don't know which cycle of rejection the Israelites were in. However, we do know that they must have been in a rebellion period due to famines arising outside of their periods of obedience. Nevertheless, Ruth became a widow when the Judges ruled. Her story far surpasses this period, though!
She would go on to give birth to Obed, who birthed Jesse, who birthed David. Ruth's faithfulness includes the Savior of the world to come through this exact lineage! The book of 1 Samuel chronicles Israel's first kings to reign over them.
HOW DID CHRIST FULFILL THE TRUTH FOUND IN RUTH?
The theme of Ruth is the faithful redemption of a kinsman redeemer. Throughout her story, we see the Lord including foreigners into the family of God, a closer redeemer failing to redeem her, and the faithfulness of Boaz to do so. These truths all point to Christ Jesus!
Christ made the Gospel available to all men, regardless of race, gender, or financial class. More importantly, while the Law pointed to Christ, it couldn't ultimately redeem us. Romans 8:1-4 tells us:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Praise be to God that He is our Redeemer!
KEY VERSES IN RUTH
"But Ruth replied, 'don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'"
Ruth 1:16
"Who are you?' he asked. 'I am your servant Ruth,' she said.' spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.'"
Ruth 3:9
"Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!"
Ruth 4:14
"The women living there said, 'Naomi has a son.' And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David."
Ruth 4:17
KEY THEMES IN RUTH: REDEMPTION
Redemption is on full display throughout Ruth. We learn that God redeems even the foreigner! More importantly, Jesus is the better Redeemer and the greater Boaz, for He accomplished what the Law could not do: reconcile and redeem God's people.
WHERE DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT QUOTE OR REFER TO RUTH?
The New Testament only mentions Ruth in Matthew 1:5, which gives the genealogy of Jesus!