Overview
Ruth is a Moabite woman whose story is told in the book bearing her name. Her loyalty to Naomi, commitment to the God of Israel, and marriage to Boaz place her within the family line leading to David.
Key Scripture
Ruth and Naomi
After the deaths of their husbands, Ruth chooses to remain with Naomi and return with her to Bethlehem. Her declaration of loyalty becomes one of the best-known expressions of covenantal commitment in Scripture.
Boaz and Redemption
Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s family. The narrative develops around kinship obligations, redemption, and marriage within the social customs of ancient Israel.
Genealogical Significance
Ruth and Boaz become the parents of Obed, who fathers Jesse, who fathers David. Matthew 1 also names Ruth within the genealogy of Jesus.
Research Notes
Methodology: Biblical. Customs surrounding gleaning, levirate-like obligations, land redemption, and the role of the kinsman-redeemer should be explained using the biblical legal and cultural background without forcing later customs back into the text.