![]() ![]() ![]() The longer one is a strategic effort to weave Ruth’s story into the narrative of Genesis and into the future hope of the prophets. The author is clearly drawing a connection between David and his great-grandparents, but why the second, bigger genealogy? The short genealogy in Ruth 4:17 makes the longer one in 4:18 – 22 technically unnecessary within the framework of the story. It concludes with the genealogy that very clearly connects King David with the line of Judges, via Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:21). The concluding blessing of the elders (Ruth 4:11–12) and the women of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:14–15) weaves the story of Ruth and Naomi into the themes of the messianic seed from Genesis. Naomi’s dark night of the soul becomes part of the story of God bringing King David to Israel. But these tragedies do not surprise God, and he’s able to steer Naomi’s losses back into restoration. Naomi loses her entire family early in this story. God uses his integrity to save a widow’s family and he becomes the ancestor of the Messiah. He catches the closer kinsman trying to defraud Naomi of the land and redeems Naomi and Ruth, to his own economic disadvantage (Ruth 4:1–13). He follows Deuteronomy 24:19 in redeeming Naomi’s endangered lineage, according to the family-marriage law in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. In Ruth 2, Boaz follows Leviticus 19:9–10 by leaving work in his fields for the poor widows in his community. Boaz is offered as a model of obedience to the Torah in his treatment of the poor. ![]() God honors Ruth’s integrity and diligence by weaving her into the big story of salvation.īoaz is a no-nonsense man of character, principle, and responsibility. ![]() She makes the offer of marriage to Boaz in an upstanding way in chapter 3:1–4, which is culturally honorable at the time, not scandalous. Ruth trusts in Yahweh and commits herself to his people (Ruth 1:16–18). Ruth is an outsider, a Moabite of all people, (Moabites should make you uneasy at this point, see Numbers 25) who breaks social conventions to do right by Naomi. They are character studies of how God works in mundane, everyday events in the lives of his people (and what human covenant faithfulness looks like in return). The author has gone to great care to honor Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz through the development of their characters in the story. It’s about God’s covenant faithfulness and it contributes to the overall covenantal storyline that unifies the entire Bible. It’s a story about God and how he restores those who look to him with hope. A son is born to Naomi from Ruth and Boaz in Bethlehem and Naomi is restored to life and fullness. Boaz’s loyalty to God, his commandments, and his family is highlighted.Įpilogue: Satisfaction and Fullness (Ruth 4:13–17). Naomi furthers her “plan” to join Ruth and Boaz for “good” (Ruth 3:1).Īct 4: Boaz arranges to marry Ruth (Ruth 4:1–12). Ruth is then presented as a “woman of character” (Ruth 3:10). Naomi hatches a “plan” to join Ruth and Boaz for “good” (Ruth 2:22).Īct 3: Ruth and Boaz are at the threshing floor (Ruth 3:1–18). Boaz is presented as a “man of character” (Ruth 2:1). Ruth the Moabite is loyal to Yahweh and Naomi.Īct 2: Ruth and Boaz the Judahite meet in the fields (Ruth 2:1–23). All the males of this Israelite family leave Bethlehem and die in Moab, leaving Naomi without a male relative to care for her.Īct 1: Naomi returns (Ruth 1:7–22). Introduction & Prologue: The Book of Ruth begins by highlighting the Judges theme of Israel needing a king and exploring the misery and emptiness a singular family might experience during these dark times (Ruth 1:1–6). There is more to this story than meets the eye, which is why we’re doing a blog on it! It is the work of a person standing in the mid-stream of Israelite life and thought, a person wishing to communicate to his audience things very close to the heart of the Old Testament.” “The Book of Ruth is an intricately woven, magnificently crafted story. Edward Campbell says it best in the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary, But there is so much more below the surface. If this is all you‘re looking for, it’s all you will find. You can read so many of the books of the Old Testament in search of a great children’s tale, suitable for bedtime stories. ![]()
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