Introduction to the Book of Ruth [Theology 101]

by Andrew Kim PhD

Author and Context of Ruth

The author of the book is unknown, but we do have an idea of when the book was written. The book must have been written sometime after the beginning of David’s reign since Ruth 4:18–22 shows us the historical significance of Ruth.

Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmah, and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David. (Ruth 4:18–22)

Purpose of Ruth

So, the main purpose of this book is to show God’s heart for foreigners by including them as his people, as evidenced by the story of Ruth being a part of King David’s lineage.

Now, the book of Ruth opens with this statement: In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons (Ruth 1:1). The time of the judges is about 300 years and the events in Ruth’s life would have taken place about 100 years before King David’s birth.

Content of Ruth

The book opens with a famine, and we are introduced to a family. A man named Elimelech, with his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. They cross the Jordan to stay for a period in Moab, where they can get food. The two sons end up marrying Moabite women, they end up dying, along with their father. So, Naomi is left a widow with her two foreign daughters-in-law (Ruth 1:1–5).

Hearing reports from Bethlehem that the famine has ended, Naomi prepares to return. Both of her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, accompany her for part of the journey. Probably thinking of the problems, they might encounter as foreigners in Judah, Naomi strongly urges the girls to stay in their own land (1:6–22).

Both refused, but Naomi presents the facts. First, she is not pregnant, so the chance of a younger brother fulfilling the levirate responsibility will not happen. Second, Naomi has no prospects of remarriage and consequently no future sons for them to marry. Third, even if Naomi miraculous has sons, it was impossible for both to wait until to marry them (Ruth 1:11-13).

Orpah is persuaded and kisses her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth holds on to Naomi (Ruth 1:14) and vows to never leave her (Ruth 1:17).

Essentially, Ruth renounced her former life to follow the God of Israel. So, Naomi and Ruth stay together and return to Bethlehem. Returning to Bethlehem triggers Naomi’s grief since the last time she was there, she had her husband and two sons. In deep grief, Naomi tells her friends to call her “Mara,” which means bitter, because she is still grieving the loss of her husband and two sons. But the good news is that Naomi and Ruth are in Bethlehem during the beginning of barley harvest (Ruth 1:22).

This is when we are introduced to Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech (Ruth 2:1). Ruth volunteered to glean the fields by picking up the small amounts left behind. Gleaners were permitted to harvest the grain in the corners of the fields, which God commanded his people to do to leave food for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). Ruth happened to come to the field of Boaz.

When he visited this field, he noticed Ruth and asked about her (Ruth 2:5). His servant told him who she was. Boaz was attracted to her because of her loyalty to Naomi, and graciously allowed her to have full access to his resources.

She was given a favored position in reaping and was able to receive water that had been drawn for her by his servants (Ruth 2:9). Ruth falls before Boaz with gratitude and asked why she—as a foreigner—should receive such favor (Ruth 2:10). Boaz gave two reasons: her kindness to her mother-in-law, and her willingness to follow the God of Israel and leave her homeland (Ruth 2:12).

So, Ruth was given a special place in Boaz’s fields and at the end of the day she returned home to Naomi and told her what happened. Naomi informed Ruth that Boaz had the right of redemption. This is where Naomi advised Ruth to approach Boaz as kinsman-redeemer.

It seems that Naomi believed that Boaz was the nearest relative (Ruth 3:12), which means that according to God’s law, it would be the duty of Boaz to marry Ruth to produce offspring, since her husband died.

So, Ruth approaches Boaz with Naomi’s plan, and lies down on the threshing floor next to Boaz while he was asleep (Ruth 3:7). At midnight Boaz woke up and saw Ruth next to him (Ruth 3:8) but Boaz explains how he is not the nearest relative but promised that he would take care of her anyway (Ruth 3:11-12). Boaz tells Ruth to stay until the morning to see if God will redeem her and if not, then he will redeem her.

In the morning Boaz gave ruth six measure of barley (Ruth 3:15) and Ruth returned to Naomi to tell her what happened. Naomi tells Ruth to wait to see what Boaz will decide to do. Now, Boaz went to the place of business, namely the city gate. The city gate was where the public affairs of the city were discussed.

Boaz indicated that he wished to discuss a matter of business with the nearest kinsman and ten of the city elders acted as witnesses (Ruth 4:1-2). The first matter at hand was to deal with the issue of property.

Boaz asked the nearest kinsman if he was willing to acquire property for Naomi (Ruth 4:5). The nearest kinsman was unwilling to marry Ruth because this would cost him a lot of money since he would have to divide his own with any sons born to Ruth.

Therefore, the nearest kinsman relinquished his rights by taking off his sandal (Ruth 4:7), since the sandal was symbolic of a person’s land rights. So, Boaz took the part of being the kinsman-redeemer and married Ruth.

They eventually had a son, who, under Israel law, was considered Naomi’s child and heir, turning Naomi from being bitter to blessed (Ruth 4:14). This son was named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of King David (Ruth 4:17).

Themes of Ruth

First, the book of Ruth traces the lineage of Ruth to David. The completion of that line is in Matthew 1 where the lineage of David ultimately leads to Jesus.

Second, we see the beauty of God’s grace. A foreigner, even a Moabite, can be a part of Israel. linked with Israel’s blessing.

We also see God’s grace with the law of a kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman-redeemer must be a blood relative, can purchase land, and be willing to buy the inheritance, and marry the widow of the deceased kinsman. This concept was created to help widows, like Naomi and Ruth, who were vulnerable without a husband.

Finally, we see God’s grace evidenced in Ruth’s loyal love towards Naomi. Even the women of Bethlehem recognized Ruth’s loyal love by saying this to Naomi: He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (Ruth 4:15). During a time marked by corruption, we see God’s grace shine through the faithful love of Ruth, the righteousness of Boaz, and the mercy of God to allow foreigners to be a part of his people.

Dr. Andrew Kim received his B.A. in Religious Studies from U.C. Berkeley, M.Div and Th.M from The Master's Seminary, and his Ph.D in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Multinational Kingdom in Isaiah and the creator of Theology 101, a YouTube channel committed to teaching Christian theology in everyday language.