Topical Bible: Women: Ruth

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Introduction:
Ruth is a central figure in the biblical Book of Ruth, which is part of the Ketuvim, or Writings, in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. Her account is a testament to loyalty, faith, and divine providence. Ruth, a Moabite woman, becomes an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, highlighting the inclusivity of God's plan.

Background:
Ruth was a Moabite, a member of a people often at odds with Israel. Her account begins during the time of the judges, a period marked by social and religious turmoil in Israel. Ruth's narrative unfolds against this backdrop, emphasizing themes of redemption and divine orchestration.

Key Events and Themes:

1. Famine and Migration:
The account begins with a famine in Bethlehem, prompting Elimelech and his wife Naomi, along with their two sons, to migrate to Moab. After Elimelech's death, his sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Tragically, the sons also die, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law widowed (Ruth 1:1-5).

2. Ruth's Loyalty:
Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem upon hearing that the Lord had provided food for His people. She urges Orpah and Ruth to remain in Moab. Orpah eventually returns, but Ruth's response is a profound declaration of loyalty: "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" (Ruth 1:16). This commitment marks Ruth's conversion to the faith of Israel and her unwavering devotion to Naomi.

3. Gleaning in the Fields:
Upon their return to Bethlehem, Ruth supports Naomi by gleaning in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz, a man of standing and integrity, notices Ruth's diligence and kindness to Naomi. He ensures her protection and provides for her needs, recognizing her virtuous character (Ruth 2:1-12).

4. The Kinsman-Redeemer:
Naomi instructs Ruth to seek Boaz's protection as a kinsman-redeemer, a role in which a close relative marries a widow to preserve the family line. Ruth approaches Boaz at the threshing floor, and he responds with honor and willingness to fulfill this duty, contingent upon the refusal of a closer relative (Ruth 3:9-13).

5. Marriage and Legacy:
Boaz successfully negotiates the right to redeem Ruth, marrying her and securing the family lineage. Their union is blessed with a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:13-17). This lineage is significant in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:5).

Significance:
Ruth's account is a powerful narrative of faith, loyalty, and divine providence. Her inclusion in the lineage of David and Jesus underscores the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries. Ruth's life exemplifies the virtues of steadfastness and faithfulness, serving as an enduring model for believers.

Nave's Topical Index

Ruth 1:4,14-22
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Story of Ruth, the Gleaner
... There they stayed ten years, and in that time Elimelech died. His two sons married
women of the country of Moab, one named Orpah, the other named Ruth. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of ruth the.htm

Ruth
... his two sons, and has gone over the border into Moab, among the heathen; how his
two sons have married heathen women, and the name of the one was Ruth, and the ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon x ruth.htm

Ruth the Gleaner.
... Ruth wore the dress of the village girls, of deep green and bright red, with a ... the
stony path which ran from the gate in the wall to the women's well, carrying ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/ruth the gleaner.htm

Ruth
... by stress of famine to Moab, where the sons marry women of the land. In course of
time, father and sons die, and Naomi resolves to return home. Ruth, one of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ruth.htm

Ruth, the Gleaner
... party halted, and one of the young women, weeping bitterly, kissed her
mother-in-law and turned to go back. But the other one, whose name was Ruth, clung ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/ruth the gleaner.htm

The Devotion of Ruth
... After they had been living in Moab for some time, Elimelech died, and Naomi was
left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, named Orpah and Ruth. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the devotion of ruth.htm

Nor, Because I Called Ruth Blessed, Anna More Blessed...
... men to have several wives living, it was not likewise lawful for holy women to have ...
Wherefore holy Ruth, not having seed such as at that time was necessary in ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 10 nor because i.htm

Ruth and Naomi.
... in a strange land. Her sons married two young women belonging to Moab,
whose names were Orpah and Ruth. After living there about ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/ruth and naomi.htm

Ruth and Naomi.
... fields, and as it was about the beginning of the barley harvest when the two women
came to Bethlehem, these fields presented a busy appearance. Ruth wished to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/ruth and naomi.htm

A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
... Christians to the members of their own families. If we had more elder women
like Naomi, we should have more younger women like Ruth. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a gentle heroine a gentile.htm