1:1The story of Ruth takes place sometime during the period of the rule of the judges. These were dark days for Israel, when “the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). But during those dark and evil times, there were still some who followed God. Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of loyalty, friendship, and commitment— to God and to each other.
Life Application Study BibleRuthChapter 1
Ruth 1
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 397, 398, 399
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1Ruth 1
1Ruth showed great kindness to Naomi. In turn,Boaz showed kindness to Ruth—a despisedMoabite woman with no money. God showedhis kindness to Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz bybringing them together for his purposes.Ruth showed high moral character by beingloyal to Naomi, by her clean break from herformer land and customs, and by her hard workin the fields. Boaz showed integrity in his moralstandards, his honesty, and by followingthrough on his commitments.We see God’s care and protection over the livesof Naomi and Ruth. His supreme control overcircumstances brings them safety and security.He guides the minds and activities of people tofulfill his purposes.Ruth and Naomi came to Bethlehem as poorwidows, but they soon became prosperousthrough Ruth’s marriage to Boaz. Ruth becamethe great-grandmother of King David. Yetthe greatest blessing was not the money, themarriage, or the child; it was the quality of toveand respect between Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi.1. Ruth remains loyal to Naomi
Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab
In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. Soa man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. 3Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.
Naomi and Ruth Return
66Then Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. sBut on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. 10“No,” they said. 11We want to go with you to your people.” 14But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has raised his fist against me.” 14And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” +6But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if lallow anything but death to separate us!” 18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. 19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20"Don't call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,* for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lor has caused me to suffer* and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” 22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest. 2. Ruth gleans in Boaz’s field Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go outinto the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3So Ruth went out to gather grain
Life Application Notes 8 notes
1:1,2Moab was the land east of the Dead Sea. It was one of the nations that oppressed Israel during the period of the judges (Judges 3:1 2ff), so there was hostility between the two nations. The famine must have been quite severe in Israel for Elimelech to move his family there. They were called Ephrathites because Ephrath was an earlier name for Bethlehem. Even if Israel had already defeated Moab, there still would have been tensions between them.
1:4,5Friendly relations with the Moabites were discouraged (Deuteronomy 23:3-6) but probably not forbidden, since the Moabites lived outside the Promised Land. Marrying a Canaanite (and all those living within the borders of the Promised Land), however, was against God’s law (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Moabites were not allowed to worship at the Tabernacle because they had Not let the Israelites pass through their land during the exodus from Egypt. As God’s chosen nation, Israel should have set the standards of high moral living for the other nations. Ironically it was Ruth, a Moabitess, whom God used as an example of genuine spiritual character. This shows just how bleak life had become in Israel during those days.
1:11Naomi’s comment here (“sons who could grow up to be your husbands”) refers to /evirate marriage, the obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This iaw kept the widow from poverty and provided a way for the family name of the dead husband to continue. Naomi, however, had no other sons for Ruth or Orpah to marry, so she encouraged them to remain in their homeland and remarry. Orpah agreed, which was her right. But Ruth was willing to give up the possibility of security and children in order to care for Naomi.
1:16Ruth was a Moabitess, but that didn’t stop her from worshiping the true God, nor did it stop God from accepting her worship and blessing her greatly. The Jews were not the only people God loved. God chose the Jews to be the people through whom the rest of the world would come to know him. This was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born as a Jew. Through him, the entire world can come to know God. Acts 10:35 says that “in every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” God accepts all who worship him; he works through people regardless of their race, sex, or nationality. The book of Ruth is a perfect example of God’s impartiality. Although Ruth belonged to a race often despised by israel, she was blessed because of her faithfulness. She became a great-grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus. No one should feel disqualified to serve God because of race, sex, or national background. And God can use every circumstance to build his kingdom.
1:20,21Naomi had experienced severe hardships. She had left {srael married and secure; she returned widowed and poor. Naomi changed her name to express the bitterness and pain she felt. Naomi was not rejecting God by openly expressing her pain. However, it seems she lost sight of the tremendous resources she had in her relationship with Ruth and with God. When you face bitter times, God welcomes your honest prayers, but be careful not to overtook the love, strength, and resources that he provides in your present relationships. And don’t allow bitterness and disappointment to blind you to your opportunities.
1:22Bethlehem was about five miles southwest of Jerusalem. The town was surrounded by lush fields and olive groves. Its harvests were abundant. Ruth and Naomi’s return to Bethlehem was certainly part of God's plan because in this town David would be born (1 Samuel 16:1), and, as predicted by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2), Jesus Christ would also be born there. This move, then, was more than mere convenience for Ruth and Naomi. It led to the fulfillment of Scripture.
1:22Because Israel's climate is quite moderate, there are two harvests each year, in the spring and in the fall. The barley harvest took place in the spring, and it was during this time of hope and pienty that Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a farming community. and because it was the time of the harvest, there was plenty of leftover grain in the fields. This grain could be collected, or gleaned, and then made into food. (See the note on 2:2 for more information on gleaning.)
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 397
Just as Boaz showed his kindness by buying back land to guarantee Ruth and Naomi’s inheritance, so Christ showed his kindness by dying for us to guarantee our eternal life. God’s kindness should motivate us to love and honor him. When we have experienced God’s faithfulness and kindness, we should respond by showing integrity. Just as the values by which Ruth and Boaz lived were in sharp contrast to those of the culture portrayed in Judges, so our lives should stand out from the world around us. No matter how devastating our present situation may be, our hope is in God. His resources are infinite. We must believe that he can work in the life of any person— whether that person is a king or a stranger in a foreign land. Trust his protection. We tend to think of blessings in terms of prosperity rather than the high-quality relationships God makes possible for us. No matter what our economic situation, we can love and respect the people God has brought into our tives. In so doing, we give and receive blessings. Love is the greatest blessing.
Kindness
Integrity
Protection
Prosperity/Blessing
Study feature · page 398
SETTING FOR THE STORY Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons traveled from Bethlehem to Moab because of a famine. After her husband and sons died, Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth.
Personality profile · page 399
The stories of several people in the Bible are woven together so closely that they are almost inseparable. We know more about their relationship than we know about them as individuals. And in an age that worships individualism, their stories become helpful models of good relationships. Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of this blending of lives. Their cultures, family backgrounds, and ages were very different. As mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they probably had as many opportunities for tension as for tenderness. And yet they were bound to each other. They shared deep sorrow, great affection for each other, and an overriding commitment to the God of Israel. And yet, as much as they depended on each other, they also gave each other freedom in their commitment to one another. Naomi was willing to let Ruth return to her family. Ruth was willing to eave her homeland to go to Israet. Naomi even helped arrange Ruth’s marriage to Boaz although it would change their relationship. God was at the center of their intimate communication. Ruth came to know the God of {srael through Naomi. The older woman allowed Ruth to see, hear, and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship to God. How often do you feel that your thoughts and questions about God should be left out of a close relationship? How often do you share your unedited thoughts about God with your spouse or friends? Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to our relationships with others.
Strengths and accomplishments
• A relationship where the greatest bond was faith in God
• A relationship of strong mutual commitment
• A relationship in which each person tried to do what was best for the other
Lesson from their lives
• God's living presence in a relationship overcomes differences that might otherwise create division and disharmony
Vital statistics
• Where: Moab, Bethlehem
• Occupation: Wives, widows
• Relatives: Naomi’s husband: Elimelech. Ruth’s mother-in-law: Naomi. Naomi’s sons: Mahion, Kilion. Naomi’s other daughter-in- law: Orpah. Ruth’s second husband: Boaz. Ruth’s son: Obed.
Key verses
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!’” (Ruth 1:16, 17).
Their story is told in the book of Ruth. Ruth is also mentioned in Matthew 1:5.
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