Summary of Ruth...

The book of Ruth is quite a contrast to the violence and horror taking place in the rest of the world around her. Rather than being part of the epic narrative of covenant, law and war that we have read to this point, Ruth focuses on the intimate and personal story of two woman living through these events.

The story starts with a family of Israelites. A couple, named Elimelech and Naomi, move to live in the neighbouring kingdom of Moab with their sons Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:1-2). Elimelech dies (Ruth 1:3). Naomi is looked after by her two sons, who eventually marry two local Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. However, the well-being of all three women is endangered when the two men die (Ruth 1:5). This leaves the three women to fend for themselves in a world where households without men were at a significant disadvantage both socially and economically. Naomi decides to return to Israel, where she hears that food is plentiful (Ruth 1:6). Orpah stays behind in Moab, while Ruth pledges to follow Naomi and adopt Israel’s God as her own (Ruth 1:7-18).

Chapters 2-3 have both women meeting Naomi’s relatives, who give them access to food in the country. At the advice of Naomi, Ruth seeks to secure marriage to Boaz, part of Elimilech’s extended family. By Chapter 4, the two have resolved to marry, and after negotiating and consulting with the community, the marriage is completed (Ruth 4:1)

The rest of the book (4:13-22) summarises the family they produce together. They have a son, Obed, the grandfather of David, Israel’s future king.

What it may have meant to its original audience...

For such a small book (only four chapters long) Ruth is full of significant themes and ideas. Firstly, it demonstrates the purpose of ‘levirate marriage’ laws (reflecting Deut 25:5-10), a practice that would see the nearest eligible kinsman marrying a deceased man’s widow. In the story of Ruth, this custom secures protection for Ruth and Naomi, through Ruth’s marriage to Boaz. Each woman is now formally reconnected with the Israelite social structure by having a male relative over their household. The law also ensures the continuance of a family dynasty, with children of the new relationship carrying on the name and family inheritance of the deceased male. This would have been important in the world of the Israelites, as there was no clear belief of an afterlife in this ancient world. One would only ‘live on’ through their descendants. With Ruth and Boaz genetically responsible for King David, a subtle point being made here is that faithful observance of the social laws in Deuteronomy will result in blessings for your offspring. This helps establishes the ‘Deuteronomistic’ expectation that good Israelites (including kings) will remain faithful to the covenant to receive God’s continued blessing.

For faithfulness is indeed a major focus of the text. Ruth is faithful to her husband’s memory and her mother-in-law Naomi, following her back to Israel and committing herself to Naomi’s God. Boaz is faithful to the laws relating to gleaning (Deut 24:19-24. See also Lev 19:9-10, Lev 23:22), which make provisions for the poor being able to take food from the leftovers of landowners. Boaz also faithfully follows the legal provisions for levirate marriage (although perhaps with some controversy involved… see the ‘questions’ below).

Another interesting lesson from the story is that non-Israelites and Israelites can live peacefully alongside each other. While differences between the cultures are noted, war and conflict are not part of this story. On the contrary, Naomi tries to send her daughters back to their people and gods! (Ruth 1:15). At the same time, however, emphasis is placed on Ruth’s allegiance to both Naomi’s wellbeing and her faith, as she promises in v16 (NRSV):

But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you
    or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
    where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
    and your God my God.

There is therefore more tolerance in the book of Ruth, but it nevertheless directs people towards faithfulness to God’s covenant in the whole of one’s religious and social dealings.

How Jesus might have read Ruth...

There isn’t any apparent direct engagement with the book of Ruth by Jesus himself. Rather, we can recognise that some of the book’s themes are indirectly addressed by Jesus. For example, in Luke 20:27-36 members of the Sadducees (who don’t believe in life after death) come and ask Jesus about the afterlife by posing a question about levirate marriage. His disciples take grain for eating on the Sabbath using the ‘gleaning’ laws under which Ruth and Naomi eat (Matt 12:1, Mark 2:23, Luke 6:1) which causes conflict with the Pharisees.

As far as Jesus is concerned, the most important element of Ruth is her appearance in Jesus’ family tree in the gospels, as noted in our ‘Judges’ section. The Gospel authors, then, see significance in Jesus’ heritage which they link back through the key stories of Israel’s journey, which also included significant gentile women.  Our section on Judges also noted the way that Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:22 challenges the historical, systematic intolerance to foreigners (and, arguably, women) and we can also look to Ruth as part of that story.

What Ruth might mean for our faith today...

Ruth provides an oasis of relative calm in the midst of a violent narrative. Its focus on faithfulness and devotion helps make some thoughtful observations about covenantal relationships with each other and God, without using destruction to prove its point.

At the same time it gives us hope that the calls to total genocide and cultural isolation read elsewhere are, in fact, hyperbolic exaggerations. It demonstrates that the Israelites could in fact love others, which fits with Jesus’ ultimate universal call to love.

In terms of our response to other faiths or political positions, Naomi’s reaction to Orpah and Ruth demonstrates a thoughtful compassion that looks more to the social welfare of her daughters-in-law. She releases both women back to their own gods and people, rather than needing to hold them to the social conventions of an Israelite world. The ability to control is sacrificed to a desire for compassion, something that again evokes the mission of Jesus in the world. Allowing them to make their own decisions in who they wish to ‘be’ doesn’t mean that Naomi compromises her own faith and values. It just means that she doesn’t find her own faith in suppressing the lives and desires of others—the very essence of grace.

Some important questions to ask about this book...