The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV
Page 131
Ruth covers about 11 or 12 years according to the following scenario: 1) 1:1–18, ten years in Moab (1:4); 2) 1:19—2:23, several months (mid-Apr. to mid-June) in Boaz’s field (1:22; 2:23); 3) 3:1–18, one day in Bethlehem and one night at the threshing floor; and 4) 4:1–22, about one year in Bethlehem.
Historical and Theological Themes
All 85 verses of Ruth have been accepted as canonical by the Jews. Along with Song of Solomon, Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations, Ruth stands with the OT books of the Megilloth or “five scrolls.” Rabbis read these books in the synagogue on 5 special occasions during the year—Ruth being read at Pentecost due to the harvest scenes of Ruth 2, 3.
Genealogically, Ruth looks back almost 900 years to events in the time of Jacob (4:11) and forward about 100 years to the coming reign of David (4:17, 22). While Joshua and Judges emphasize the legacy of the nation and their land of promise, Ruth focuses on the lineage of David back to the patriarchal era.
Ruth: The Proverbs 31 Wife
The “virtuous” wife of Proverbs 31:10 is personified by “virtuous” Ruth of whom the same Heb. word is used (3:11). With amazing parallel, they share at least 8 character traits (see below). One wonders (in concert with Jewish tradition) if King Lemuel’s mother might not have been Bathsheba, who orally passed the family heritage of Ruth’s spotless reputation along to David’s son Solomon. Lemuel, which means “devoted to God,” could have been a family name for Solomon (cf. Jedediah, 2 Sam. 12:25), who then could have penned Prov. 31:10–31 with Ruth in mind. Each woman was:
1. Devoted to her family (Ruth 1:15–18 // Prov. 31:10–12, 23)
2. Delighting in her work (Ruth 2:2 // Prov. 31:13)
3. Diligent in her labor (Ruth 2:7, 17, 23 // Prov. 31:14–18, 19–21, 24, 27)
4. Dedicated to godly speech (Ruth 2:10, 13 // Prov. 31:26)
5. Dependent on God (Ruth 2:12 // Prov. 31:25b, 30)
6. Dressed with care (Ruth 3:3 // Prov. 31:22, 25a)
7. Discreet with men (Ruth 3:6–13 // Prov. 31:11, 12, 23)
8. Delivering blessings (Ruth 4:14, 15 // Prov. 31:28, 29, 31)
At least 7 major theological themes emerge in Ruth. First, Ruth the Moabitess illustrates that God’s redemptive plan extended beyond the Jews to Gentiles (2:12). Second, Ruth demonstrates that women are co-heirs with men of God’s salvation grace (cf. Gal. 3:28). Third, Ruth portrays the virtuous woman of Prov. 31:10 (cf. 3:11). Fourth, Ruth describes God’s sovereign (1:6; 4:13) and providential care (2:3) of seemingly unimportant people at apparently insignificant times which later prove to be monumentally crucial to accomplishing God’s will. Fifth, Ruth along with Tamar (Gen. 38), Rahab (Josh. 2), and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11, 12) stand in the genealogy of the messianic line (4:17, 22; cf. Matt. 1:5). Sixth, Boaz, as a type of Christ, becomes Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer (4:1–12). Finally, David’s right (and thus Christ’s right) to the throne of Israel is traced back to Judah (4:18–22; cf. Gen. 49:8–12).
Interpretive Challenges
Ruth should be understood as a true historical account. The reliable facts surrounding Ruth, in addition to its complete compatibility with Judges plus 1 and 2 Samuel, confirm Ruth’s authenticity. However, some individual difficulties require careful attention. First, how could Ruth worship at the tabernacle then in Shiloh (1 Sam. 4:4), since Deuteronomy 23:3 expressly forbids Moabites from entering the assembly for 10 generations? Since the Jews entered the land ca. 1405 B.C. and Ruth was not born until ca. 1150 B.C., she then represented at least the 11th generation (probably later) if the time limitation ended at ten generations. If “ten generations” was an idiom meaning “forever” as Neh. 13:1 implies, then Ruth would be like the foreigner of Is. 56:1–8 who joined himself to the LORD (1:16), thus gaining entrance to the assembly.
Second, are there not immoral overtones to Boaz and Ruth spending the night together before marriage (3:3-18)? Ruth engaged in a common ancient Near Eastern custom by asking Boaz to take her for his wife, symbolically pictured by throwing a garment over the intended woman (3:9), just as Jehovah spread His garment over Israel (Ezek. 16:8). The text does not even hint at the slightest moral impropriety, noting that Ruth slept at his feet (3:14). Thus, Boaz became God’s answer to his own earlier prayer for Ruth (2:12).
Third, would not the levirate principle of Deut. 25:5, 6 lead to incest and/or polygamy if the nearest relative was already married? God would not design a good plan to involve the grossest of immoralities punishable by death. It is to be assumed that the implementation of Deut. 25:5, 6 could involve only the nearest relative who was eligible for marriage as qualified by other stipulations of the law.
Fourth, was not marriage to a Moabitess strictly forbidden by the law? The nations or people to whom marriage was prohibited were those possessing the land that Israel would enter (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:1-3; Josh. 23:12) which did not include Moab (cf. Deut. 7:1). Further, Boaz married Ruth, a devout proselyte to Jehovah (1:16, 17), not a pagan worshiper of Chemosh—Moab’s chief deity (cf. later problems in Ezra 9:1, 2 and Neh. 13:23-25).
Outline
I. Elimelech and Naomi’s Ruin in Moab (1:1-5)
II. Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem (1:6-22)
III. Boaz Receives Ruth in His Field (2:1-23)
IV. Ruth’s Romance with Boaz (3:1-18)
V. Boaz Redeems Ruth (4:1-12)
VI. God Rewards Boaz and Ruth with a Son (4:13-17)
VII. David’s Right to the Throne of Judah (4:18-22)
The Book of
RUTH
Ruth 1
Elimelech’s Family Goes to Moab
1Now it came to pass, in the days when athe judges 1ruled, that there was ba famine in the land. And a certain man of cBethlehem, Judah, went to 2dwell in the country of dMoab, he and his wife and his two sons.
2The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—eEphrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went fto the country of Moab and remained there.
3Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they 3dwelt there about ten years.
5Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
Naomi Returns with Ruth
6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had gvisited4 His people by hgiving them bread.
7Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, i“Go, return each to her mother’s house. jThe LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt kwith the dead and with me.
9“The LORD grant that you may find lrest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, mthat they may be your husbands?
12“Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,
13“would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that nthe hand of the LORD has gone out against me!”
14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth oclung to her.
15And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to pher people and to her gods; qreturn after your sister-in-law.”
16But Ruth said:
r“Entreat5 me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after yo
u;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
s Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
17Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
t The LORD do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”
18uWhen she saw that she 6was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
19Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that vall the city was excited because of them; and the women said, w“Is this Naomi?”
20But she said to them, “Do not call me 7Naomi; call me 8Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21“I went out full, xand the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and 9the Almighty has afflicted me?”
22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem yat the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 2
Ruth Meets Boaz
1There was a arelative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of bElimelech. His name was cBoaz.
2So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the dfield, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4Now behold, Boaz came from eBethlehem, and said to the reapers, f“The LORD be with you!” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”
5Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman gwho came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7“And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”
8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.
9“Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”
10So she hfell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found ifavor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, jall that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
12k“The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, lunder whose wings you have come for refuge.”
13Then she said, m“Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken 1kindly to your maidservant, nthough I am not like one of your maidservants.”
14Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and owas satisfied, and kept some back.
15And when she rose up to 2glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not 3reproach her.
16“Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
17So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of pbarley.
18Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her qwhat she had kept back after she had been satisfied.
19And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who rtook notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, s“Blessed be he of the LORD, who thas not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, uone of 4our close relatives.”
21Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”
22And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not 5meet you in any other field.”
23So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
Ruth 3
Ruth’s Redemption Assured
1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, ashall I not seek bsecurity1 for you, that it may be well with you?
2“Now Boaz, cwhose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3“Therefore wash yourself and danoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4“Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
5And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
6So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.
7And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and ehis heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.
9And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. fTake2 your maidservant under your wing, for you are ga 3close relative.”
10Then he said, h“Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than iat the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.
11“And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a jvirtuous woman.
12“Now it is true that I am a kclose relative; however, lthere is a relative closer than I.
13“Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will mperform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, nas the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”
14So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, o“Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15Also he said, “Bring the 4shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then 5she went into the city.
16When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, 6“Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her.
17And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”
18Then she said, p“Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
Ruth 4
Boaz Redeems Ruth
1Now Boaz went up to
the gate and sat down there; and behold, athe close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, 1friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.
2And he took ten men of bthe elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land cwhich belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4“And I thought to 2inform you, saying, d‘Buy it back ein the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if 3you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; ffor there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, gto 4perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”
6hAnd the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
7iNow this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
8Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.
9And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. Ruth: The Proverbs 31 Wife