Another Bible Commentary: Ruth

Ruth is set during the days of the Judges. It shows David’s family being better behaved than the rest of Israel. Jesus is our Boaz, our Kinsman Redeemer. It appears that Deuteronomy 23:3 meant dudes. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi is the opposite of Lot leaving Abe. 

1:1 A famine in the days of the Judges is not a surprise; they abandoned God. It is ironic they had to leave Bethlehem “The House of Bread” for a famine, though.     

1:2-5 This story will ultimately contrast with the tales of loss and immorality related to Bethlehem that we have read. The people’s names all have meanings: Elimelek “My God is King”, Naomi “Pleasant”, Mahlon and Kilion “Sickness and Spent”, Orpah “Back of the Neck” as in what you see when someone is leaving, etc.    

1:6 Some say they don’t see enough of God in this book to be worthwhile, but even in the wild days of the Judges we can see His kindness.

1:8 The word for kindness here also has meanings of faithfulness and loyalty, themes that keep coming up in Ruth.     

1:11-13 refer to Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).     

1:16 Ruth is a fine example for all saved Gentiles. She’s as loyal as Ittai (2 Samuel 15:21). During this period, most of Israel was worshiping any god they knew of except God. As a woman, her confession of faith plus a mikveh would have made her as Jewish as anyone according to some rabbis who understand Deuteronomy 23:3 to be about men.

1:20 as seen in Exodus 15:22-24.

2:5-10 See Matthew 1:5. Boaz is the son of a Canaanite whore, so he’s naturally sympathetic to Ruth’s plight. Helping a poor foreign widow checks several tzedakah boxes (Leviticus 19:9-10).     

2:11 is reminiscent of Rahab (Boaz’s mother) and Rebekah.  

2:14 The Bride of Christ traditionally celebrates Communion with bread and wine, so it’s a date meal here. 

2:17 An ephah was enough to feed a man for weeks. 

2:18 Ruth was generous and likely frugal. She was perhaps also thin.

2:20 Kindness keeps getting mentioned.  

Ruth 3 – Whatever is said about what goes on in this chapter, Ruth is more moral than her ancestors, Lot’s daughters.     

3:4,8 “Feet” in the Bible can be appendages at the ends of legs usually used for standing and walking, or can mean a euphemism for genitalia. Children are born from between them in Deuteronomy 28:57; washing feet is a euphemism for getting other parts wet in 2 Samuel 11:8, 11; feet mean private parts covered in Isaiah 6:2 and to be shaved in Isaiah 7:20 in the more literal translations, etc. They possibly discussed their future with the sign of God’s covenant with the Israelites between them (Genesis 17:10, Genesis 24:2). 

3:9 Covering with a garment was a marriage gesture (Ezekiel 16:8).

3:10 The “kindness” is also loyalty again.

4:1 Deuteronomy 25:10 explains why he remains nameless.

4:5 Boaz. the son of Canaanite prostitute Rahab, emphasized Ruth’s ethnicity. Perhaps he wanted to sway him (Ruth 3:13). However, if marrying a Moabite woman were scandalous, I think verse 11 would reflect that.

4:6 They were just coming out of a famine, so the man may have meant this.

4:7 The sandal-as-land-deed would make sense given Abraham establishing ownership by walking around (See Genesis 13:17 and Deuteronomy 11:24), but this also lines up with Deuteronomy 25:9-10.

4:11 They seem fine with marrying Moabite women.

4:12 references a similar case of quasi-Levirate marriage with a foreigner.

4:13 Here’s another appearance by God for those who say that this book lacks Him.

4:16 Obed (a short form of the name Obadiah) was raised by an Israelite, for anyone overly concerned about the Moabitess in the original audience.

4:18 “Perez” from tricky Tamar in Genesis 38.     

4:22 David will be seen as the end of the wild days (like Israel experienced in the days of the Judges) for a while.

Previous Post

Next Post