Study notes
The judges led Israel from Joshua's death (around 1376 or 1200 BC) until Saul became king (around 1050 BC). The events in the Book of Ruth happened around 1100 BC.
Drought often caused famine in Israel's hill country.
Bethlehem was a small town in northern Judah's hill country.
Moab, southeast of Judah, sometimes had enough rain when Judah did not.
The story of Ruth took place when the 12 judges led in Israel. This period was described in the book of Judges. It was before the nation of Israel was led by kings.
The story of Ruth isn’t about leaders or kings. It’s about God’s work in an ordinary humble family. Naomi was an Israelite from Bethlehem. She and her family couldn’t grow enough food on their land. There wasn’t enough food anywhere in their area in Israel. So Naomi and her family decided to move to Moab.
Yet many sad things happened to Naomi. Her husband and two sons died in Moab. Naomi felt that God had made her life bitter. She returned to Bethlehem when there was enough food there. She returned feeling empty. This was how she described life without her husband and sons. But her daughter-in-law Ruth went with her.
Ruth left her own family, her country and the false gods that her people worshipped. In Israel, Ruth was considered an outsider because she was from Moab. Yet Ruth was fully committed to Naomi, to the people of Israel and to God.
Ephrathites belonged to the Ephrathah clan, which was based in Bethlehem, Judah (see Genesis 35:19; 1 Chronicles 4:4).
Kilion married Orpah, and Mahlon married Ruth (see Ruth 4:10).
Naomi was left (literally the woman was bereft): Naomi faced deep emotional pain. She also lacked financial support, and without heirs, she had no hope for her family's future.
The Hebrew verb for "giving" is also used in Ruth 4:13 as “enabled.” These two mentions of God's actions frame the story with similar phrases, known as an inclusio or literary “bookends.” God provides good things, like food and children, and he works behind the scenes in everyday life.
They had probably gone only a short distance when Naomi released Ruth and Orpah to return to their mothers’ homes.
Naomi speaks the first blessing in the book.
Ruth clung to her: The Hebrew verb here shows how strong Ruth’s love was for her mother-in-law. It is the same word used to describe a man being "joined to" his wife (Genesis 2:24) and to describe a person staying faithful to the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:4; 10:20; Joshua 22:5).
and her gods: Every nation believed in its own local god. Naomi thought Ruth would keep worshiping Moabite gods.
Ruth made a promise in the name of the Lord to show her strong commitment to Israel's God (see Ruth 2:11–12) and to Naomi.
Almighty translates the Hebrew word shadday, which shows God's strength and provision. Naomi's complaint was genuine, but God gave her exactly what she needed (see Ruth 4:14–17).
The barley harvest began between late March and mid-April on our calendar.
Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources