Book of Ruth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the ancient Hebrew religious text. For the 20th-century English-language novel, see The Book of Ruth (novel). For the 2009 film, see The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith.
Hebrew Bible
Tanach.jpg
Judaism portal
Christianity portal
v • d • e

The Book of Ruth (Hebrew: מגילת רות‎; Sephardic, Israeli Hebrew: [məɡiˈlat rut]; Ashkenazi Hebrew: [məˈɡɪləs rus]; "the Scroll of Ruth") is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It is a rather short book, in both Jewish and Christian scripture, consisting of only four chapters.

Contents

[edit] Title

The full title in Hebrew is named after a young woman of Moab, the great-grandmother of David and, according to the Christian tradition, an ancestress of Jesus:מגילת רות, Megillat Ruth, or "the scroll of Ruth", which places the book as one of the Five Megillot. Goswell argues that while Naomi is the central character of the book, Ruth is the main character, and so the book "can be considered aptly named."[1] The only other Biblical book bearing the name of a woman is Esther (except among the Catholics and Orthodox, who also include the Book of Judith in the canon).

[edit] Synopsis

During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem—Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion—emigrate to the nearby country of Moab. Elimelech dies, and the sons marry two Moabite women: Mahlon marries Ruth and Chilion marries Orpah.

The two sons of Naomi then die themselves. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She tells her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers, and remarry. Orpah reluctantly leaves; however, Ruth says, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:16–17 NKJV)

The two women return to Bethlehem. It is the time of the barley harvest, and in order to support her mother-in-law and herself, Ruth goes to the fields to glean. The field she goes to belongs to a man named Boaz, who is kind to her because he has heard of her loyalty to her mother-in-law. Ruth tells her mother-in-law of Boaz's kindness, and she gleans in his field through the remainder of the harvest season.

Boaz is a close relative of Naomi's husband's family. He is therefore obliged by the Levirate law to marry Mahlon's widow, Ruth, in order to carry on his family line. Naomi sends Ruth to the threshing floor at night and tells her to "uncover the feet" of the sleeping Boaz. Ruth does so, Boaz awakes, and Ruth reminds him that he is "the one with the right to redeem." Boaz states he is willing to "redeem" Ruth via marriage, but informs Ruth that there is another male relative who has the first right of redemption.

The next morning, Boaz discusses the issue with the other male relative before the town elders. The other male relative is unwilling to jeopardize the inheritance of his own estate by marrying Ruth, and so relinquishes his right of redemption, thus allowing Boaz to marry Ruth. They transfer the property and redeem it by taking off a shoe and handing over the shoe. (Ruth 4:7-18 NKJV)

Boaz and Ruth get married and have a son named Obed (who by Levirate customs is also considered a son or heir to Elimelech, and thus Naomi and Elimelech's legal son). In the genealogy which concludes the story, it is pointed out that Obed is the descendant of Perez the son of Judah, and the grandfather of David.

[edit] Analysis

[edit] Authorship

Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab by William Blake, 1795

Many of the books of the Old Testament do not identify their authors, and the Book of Ruth is one of these. There is, however, a historical tradition that alludes to a possibility. The Talmud refers to Samuel as the author, but scholars do not accept this tradition. Samuel died before David became king, and the way in which the author writes the genealogy in Ruth 4:18–22 supposes that the lineage is well known. Even the reference in Ruth 1:1 to the "days when the judges ruled..." indicates that the era had ended and that the audience was somewhat removed from the time. Furthermore, Ruth 4:7 states that the legal custom of taking off a shoe to seal the agreement is no longer in use. Only a generation exists between Samuel and Boaz; therefore, it is unlikely that the time span would require this explanation.

Some scholars suggest that the author of the text is a woman.[2] Two observations point in the direction of a woman author. First, the story centers on the life journey of two women in desperate straits in a male-dominated society and appears to be from the viewpoint of a woman. Second, Naomi and Ruth’s ingenuity and assertiveness propels the story line. However, female authorship is conjecture, supported by only circumstantial evidence.

[edit] Date

The Book of Ruth, according to many scholars, was originally part of the Book of Judges, but it was later separated from that book and made independent. The opening verses explicitly place the Book of Ruth in the time of the Judges and it concludes with the Davidic lineage. Therefore, it is likely that the author wrote the story after the time of King David, though it is unknown how long after. One possibility is around 900 BC, prior to David's reign. Scholars who choose this date link it to the importance of David’s lineage recorded at the end of Ruth. In Ruth 4:17 the author states that Ruth and Boaz’ child is named Obed and that Obed “…became the father of Jesse, the father of David.” The final verses trace the family line.

On the other hand, the message of the book shows acceptance of the Israelites marrying converts to Judaism, and this has been used to suggest that the book was written during the postexilic period, perhaps around 500 BC. Ezra (10:2ff) and Nehemiah (13:23ff) record the problem that arose from the Israelites marrying foreign women. Instead of the wives converting to Judaism the Israelites began to follow their wives' gods. As a result, God’s people fell out of relationship with YHWH. For this reason, Ezra condemned intermarriages and forced the Israelites to abandon their non-Jewish wives. According to this theory, the book was written in response to Ezra's reform and in defense of a marriage to a foreign wife when the wife converts to Judaism. Acceptance of marriages to foreigners who convert to Judaism is further enforced by making the connection to the Davidic line since David is commonly seen as Israel's greatest king. Scholars who prefer the 500 B.C. date do so in reference to this dilemma, and such writers contend that the Book of Ruth demonstrates the belief that a marriage to a foreigner is acceptable to God when the foreigner follows God.

Another possibility of who wrote the book of Ruth was Nathan the prophet. It is a theory that the book was written around the time where David became king, and he confided about his troubling Moabite heritage to the prophet.[citation needed]

In addition, while some prefer the later date of 500 B.C to explain the use of language in Ruth, other scholars suggest the linguistic style of the book reflects the work of editors following the 900 B.C. date. They argue that the language of Ruth is akin to an archaic style of Hebrew (J.M. Myers, The Linguistic and Literary Form of the Book of Ruth and Ronald M. Hals, The Theology of the Book of Ruth), and that the Aramaic infiltrations in the book of Ruth were inserted later (circa 500 B.C.).

[edit] Context

Scholars agree that Ruth is a narrative story, and they often use terms like 'novella' to describe it.[3] The plot of a novella is more central than historical data; however, that is not to say this style of writing ignores historical facts or for that matter theological precepts. This style of writing reflects the craftsmanship of the writer.

The mood of the story is fashioned from the start through the meanings hidden in the names of the participants. Elimelech, which means "my God is King,"[4] foreshadows the continuance of his line to King David, who is God’s anointed on earth. Naomi, which means "my gracious one" or "my delight,"[5] later asks to be called Mara, "the bitter one."[6] Naomi’s name change elicits the emotions that she is experiencing and the direction of the story. Even the names of the two sons, Mahlon ("sick")[7] and Chilion ("weakening" or "pining")[8] alerts the reader to their physical conditions. Orpah (meaning "mane" or "gazelle", from the root for "nape" or "back of the neck")[9] turns her back on Naomi and returns to her people; Ruth (meaning "friend")[10] pledges her loyalty to Naomi. Boaz ("fleetness"[11] or "strength is (in) him" or "he comes in strength") becomes the kinsman redeemer and Obed’s name appropriately means "servant."[12] Obed is the ancestor of King David, and Israel’s kings are servants of Yahweh. The use of names in the Book of Ruth deepens the story’s narrative strength and assists the reader in appreciating the text’s meaning.

The marriage of Boaz and Ruth was of a type known as a Levirate marriage. Redemption[13][14] is a feature of Levirate marriage, and it is a duty taught in Deuteronomy (25:5–10). This custom required a close relative to marry the widow of the deceased (the kinsman) in order to continue his family line. Interestingly, Ruth is not Elimelech’s widow and Boaz is not his brother. Therefore, some scholars refer to Boaz’ duty as “Levirate-like” or as a "kinsman-marriage."[15]

Moreover, the Israelites understanding of redemption included both that of people and of land. In Israel land had to stay in the family. The family could mortgage the land to ward off poverty; and the law of Leviticus 25:25ff required a kinsman to purchase it back into the family. The kinsman, who Boaz meets at the city gate, first says he will purchase the land, but upon hearing he must also take Ruth as his wife he withdraws his offer. His decision was primarily a financial decision since a child born to Ruth through the union would inherit Elimelech’s land, and he would not be reimbursed for the money he paid Naomi. Boaz becomes Ruth and Naomi’s "kinsman-redeemer." [16]

The Israelites' understanding of redemption is woven into their understanding of Yahweh. God stands by the oppressed and needy. He extends his love and mercy offering a new freedom and hope. God has a deep concern for the welfare of his people, materially, emotionally and spiritually. The redemption theme extends beyond this biblical book through the genealogy. First, in Ruth 4:13 God made her conceive. Second, through the genealogy it is shown that the son born to Naomi is more than just a gift from God to continue her lineage. The history of God’s rule through the David line connects the book’s theme in to the Bible’s main theme of redemptive history.

Hesed, sometimes translated as "loving kindness," also implies loyalty. The theme of hesed is woven throughout Ruth, beginning at 1:8 with Naomi blessing her two daughters-in-law as she urges them to return to their Moabite families. She says, “May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” Both Ruth and Boaz demonstrate hesed to their family members throughout the story. These are not acts of kindness with an expectation of measure for measure. Rather, they are acts of hesed that go beyond measure and demonstrate that a person can be required to go beyond the minimum expectations of the law and choose the unexpected. However, the importance of the law is evident within the Book of Ruth, and the story reflects a need to stay within legal boundaries. Boaz, in going beyond measure in acquiring the property (demonstrating hesed), redeems not only the land but both Naomi and Ruth as well. The two widows now have a secure and protected future.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld: "Ruth in Boaz's Field", 1828

[edit] Jewish and Christian perspectives

In many ways, most of what Christians and Jews would draw from the text would be the same. The Book of Ruth has a unique significance to Jews. In particular, the figure of Ruth is celebrated as a convert to Judaism who understood Jewish principles and took them to heart. This book is also held in esteem by Jews who fall under the category of Jews-by-choice, as evident in the considerable presence of Boaz in rabbinic literature. As well, the "Book of Ruth" is read during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, most likely due to the fact that the story takes place during the barley harvest and that Shavuot is the celebration of the end of such harvest.

For Christians the book has additional significance. The connection between Ruth and David is very important because Jesus of Nazareth was born of Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the lineage of David (see Chapter 3 in Luke and Chapter 1 in Matthew, respectively). Thus in Christian Biblical lineage, Ruth is a foremother of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). The line can be traced as:

Boaz, father of Obed
Obed, father of Jesse
Jesse, father of David
David, ancestor of Joseph
Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus

The genealogy of Jesus that we find at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew is a male lineage. Only four women from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) are included in this long lineage, one of whom is Ruth. Many Christians interpret Boaz and Ruth as typical of Jesus and the Church.[17]

Ruth's famous words, "For wherever you go, I will go ...," are used in Catholic and some Protestant marriage services, underscoring the similarity of marriage and religious conversion. Ruth is also commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on July 16. Ruth is also one of the Five Heroines of the Order of the Eastern Star.

[edit] Family tree of those mentioned

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Elimelech
 
 Naomi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boaz
 
 
 
 Ruth
 
 
 
 Mahlon
 
 
 
 Orpah
 
 
 
 Chilion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Obed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jesse
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 David
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[edit] Notes

 
Books of the
Kethuvim
 
Three poetic books
Psalms
Proverbs
Job
Five Megillot
Song of Songs
Ruth
Lamentations
Ecclesiastes
Esther
Other books
Daniel
Ezra – Nehemiah
Chronicles
v • d • e
  1. ^ Gregory Goswell, "What's in a Name? Book Titles in the Latter Prophets and Writings," Pacfica 21 (2008), 8.
  2. ^ Brenner, Athalya and Fontaine, Carole R. (1999). The Feminist Companion to the Bible. Sheffield Academic Press. p. 34. ISBN 9781850759782. http://books.google.com/books?id=2-q2JrzXqDAC&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=%22the+book+of+ruth%22+bible+%22female+author%22&source=web&ots=2xthqOZ0yS&sig=THR7Asc9IAFCw9VBh92Gi-GabA4. Retrieved December 30, 2007. 
  3. ^ Hubbard, Robert L. (1989). Book of Ruth. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 9780802825261. http://books.google.com/books?id=wJQvoHg91QkC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=%22the+book+of+ruth%22+bible+novella&source=web&ots=Vk8xt9VyYW&sig=hvqJT1B1i0p0Ur59QnpIb37QGPg. Retrieved December 30, 2007. 
  4. ^ Elimelech, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  5. ^ Naomi, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  6. ^ Mara, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  7. ^ Mahlon, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  8. ^ /lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H03630&t=kjv Chilion, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  9. ^ Orpah, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  10. ^ Ruth, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  11. ^ Boaz, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  12. ^ Obed, Blue Letter Bible Lexicon
  13. ^ Easton Dictionary
  14. ^ Easton Dictionary
  15. ^ LaSor et al.
  16. ^ "Kinsman Redeemer". Hope of Israel Baptist Mission. 2008. http://www.hopeofisrael.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=32. Retrieved December 30, 2007. 
  17. ^ Lessons from the Book of Ruth

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Book of Ruth
Jewish translations and study guides
Christian translations and study guides
Other links
Preceded by
Song of Songs		 Hebrew Bible Followed by
Lamentations
Preceded by
Judges		 Christian Old Testament Followed by
1–2 Samuel
v • d • e
Books of the Bible
Major divisions
Genesis · Exodus · Leviticus · Numbers · Deuteronomy · Joshua · Judges · Ruth · 1-2 Samuel · 1-2 Kings · 1-2 Chronicles · Ezra · Nehemiah · Esther · Job · Psalms · Proverbs · Ecclesiastes · Song · Isaiah · Jeremiah · Lamentations · Ezekiel · Daniel · Hosea · Joel · Amos · Obadiah · Jonah · Micah · Nahum · Habakkuk · Zephaniah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi
Catholic, Orthodox:
Orthodox:
Syriac Peshitta only:
Ethiopian Orthodox only:
Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy  • Titus  • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation
Canon
More divisions
Manuscripts
See also
Category · Portal · WikiProject
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages