The hebrew word is dabaq, meaning to cleave or adhereits the same verb used in genesis 2. In a narrow sense, the book of ruth aims to restore the name of naomis son, machlon, who has died childless. Now the two of them went until they came to bethlehem. Ruth by james van dine against the black cloth of judges, ruth sparkles like a white pearl of great price. The return to bethlehem 19 so naomi and ruth traveled until they came to bethlehem. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, jesus said, and all these things of daily necessity will be given to you as well matthew 6.
Introduction to ruth ruth 1 october 12 the book of ruth chronologically overlaps the book of judges. Significantly, the bitter waters of mara, encountered by israel during the wilderness wanderings, were again brought into memory by the use of this name exodus 15. Naomi and ruth both left moab and went until they came to bethlehem 1. Significantly, the bitter waters of mara, encountered by israel during the wilderness wanderings, were again brought into. In that verse, naomi chooses to call herself by a different name to reflect the circumstances of her life.
And it happened, when they had come to bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them. Ruth portrays a marriage between ruth, the young moabite woman after whom the book is named, and boaz, an upright and worthy man, who takes ruth and her widowed motherinlaw, naomi, into his home. And she said to them, call me not naomi, call me mara. Call me mara, because the almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. This is a summary on the biblical account of the lives of ruth and naomi.
Ruth honored naomis words of encouragement and gleaned until the end of the barley and wheat harvests ruth 2. Many people relocated to foreign lands to find food. Ruth takes place at the same time as the book of judges, which concludes with a profusion of unnamed characters. Though the story takes its name from the younger woman, the older is the dominant character. Jim well, the reason youve heard so many preachers speak of naomi as bitter is because of ruth 1. There was a great famine in israel during the time when judges ruled. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The etymology of her name is not certain, but it is possible that it means good, pleasant, lovely, winsome. When she saw that ruth was stedfastly minded to go with her which was the very thing she aimed at in all that she had said, to make her of a stedfast mind in going with her, when she saw that she had gained her point, she was well satisfied, and left off speaking to her, and you can find more about that here.
Ruth depicts the struggles of naomi and ruth for survival in a patriarchal environment. The book of ruth is regarded as one of the most beautifully written stories in the bible. Naomis plight shapes the narrative, and her plan brings it to resolution. May 20, 2014 the phrase, grieves me very much, is the word for bitter.
Ruth marries boaz, and they have a son, for whom naomi cares, and so the women of the town say. The first chapter of ruth is very important because our appraisal of ruth, naomi, and soon boaz in the first chapters of ruth will greatly shape our understanding of the rest of the book. The name naomi means sweet, pleasant, which gives us an idea of naomis basic character. Jan 02, 2020 the book of ruth is the story of naomi and ruth returning to bethlehem and how ruth married a man named boaz and bore a son, obed, who became the grandfather of david and the ancestor of jesus christ. Well, said ruth, whatever thy people keep i will keep, for they shall be my people. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. When naomi and ruth left moab and returned to bethlehem all of the city was stirred over naomis sole appearance 1. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. The book of ruth and the power of names my jewish learning. Then the women in town say, a son has been born to naomi 4. And, although not stated in the biblical text, talmudic tradition names the same author for boththe prophet samuel. Wait, why did ruth spend the last few weeks gleaning when naomi owned land. Feb 08, 2016 this is a summary on the biblical account of the lives of ruth and naomi.
The book of ruth is the story of naomi and ruth returning to bethlehem and how ruth married a man named boaz and bore a son, obed, who became the grandfather of david and the ancestor of jesus christ. Study guide for ruth 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. We can learn a lot from the relationship of ruth and naomi, and loyalty is among the lessons. Naomi said, we are commanded not to tarry all night with gentiles. Joshua and judges have mostly to do with israels relationship to the land. Ruth was the moabite daughterinlaw of a jewess named naomi.
The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to. The two did marry and he, ruth and naomi all experienced restoration they could not have dreamed of. Call me mara, she answered, for the almighty has made me very bitter. Perhaps funny is not the right word, because there really isnt anything funny about bitterness. But she responds in verse 20, do not call me naomi i. Book of ruth bible study ruth chapter 1 counting the cost. The book of ruth starts then, in the days of the judges 1, and in a time of famine 2. It reads but she said to them, do not call me naomi. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. Ruth focuses more on the seed promise of the abrahamic covenant with special emphasis on the line of the king.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. Naomi continues and says, the lord has testified against me. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. These two issues are addressed in the book of ruth. The book of ruth is one of two in the hebrew bible that bears a womans name the other is esther. The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to it.
In light of that, reread ruths vows to naomi in ruth 1. Gregory goswell argues that naomi is the central character of the book, whereas ruth is the main character. There are those who attempt to guild the lily as they read the book of ruth, desperately seeking some basis for making a pious israelite of naomi. When they entered bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, can this be naomi. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. Indeed, if there be a contrast, as it appears to me, complete and welldefined in this part of scripture, it is between the real and proper appendix of the book of judges judges 1721 and this book of ruth, which man and tradition tell us once made another supplement. Naomi, who has come back from the country of moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman elimelech 4. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. May god, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change. You can read more indepth bible verses from the scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the bible. It is only 4 brief chapters and is a very beautiful story.
Ruth overview john calvins commentaries on the bible. Significantly, the bitter waters of mara, encountered by israel during the wilderness wanderings, were again brought into memory by the use of this name exo. No matter your age or season of life, there is wisdom to learn from the lessons that unfold as we walk along with naomi, ruth, and boaz. But unlike the book of judges, ruth is not part of the second major division of the old testament, known as the prophets. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. Ruth 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. For a better understanding of the book the meaning of the hebrew names is especially informative. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. I went away full, and the lord has brought me back empty. Its broader goal, however, is to reestablish the importance of names in society.
The women of the city celebrate naomis joy, for naomi found a redeemer for her family name, and naomi takes the child and places it in her bosom. The child is named obed, who we discover is the father of jesse, the father of david ruth 4. In this way, the book can be seen to be naomi s story. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. Ruth has a baby, but naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse 4. She must have seen the hand that rocks the cradle a few too many times. So ruth and naomi return together to bethlehem of judah verse 19. Jan 31, 2018 the two did marry and he, ruth and naomi all experienced restoration they could not have dreamed of. Mahlon sickness chilion consumption boaz in him is strength naomi my pleasantness mara bitterness orpah her neck ruth beauty or satisfied 4. When they came to bethlehem all of the city was stirred 12 as the women quizzed over whether this was naomi. Naomi sweet and mara bitter were contrasting names that illustrated the disastrous changes that had come in the life of naomi. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. If you have never read the book of ruth, go do so now.
1440 156 986 909 666 1588 238 227 721 1242 880 62 1504 1060 407 1212 1199 1203 323 1552 1004 785 834 40 357 817 1280 260 980