Ruth Chapter 1: Background and Context Overview
The Book of Ruth opens during a period of famine in Judah, prompting a family from Bethlehem-ephrathah to relocate to Moab [2, 6]. This family consisted of Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion [2, 6]. The move to Moab was a significant event, as Moab was a foreign land, and the subsequent events in Ruth's life highlight themes of displacement, loyalty, and divine providence [4].
The narrative of Ruth is set "in the days when the judges ruled" (Ruth 1:1), placing it historically during the chaotic period described in the Book of Judges [1]. While the exact date is uncertain, some scholars suggest it was around the time of Gideon, approximately 1250 B.C. [2]. The book itself was likely composed much later than the events it describes, as indicated by references within the text to customs that were no longer common (Ruth 4:7) and its clear intention to establish David's ancestry (Ruth 4:17) [1]. Tradition has sometimes attributed authorship to Samuel, and it is possible that the books of Judges, Ruth, Samuel, and Kings were originally part of a single larger work [1].
Chapter 1 details the initial hardships faced by Naomi's family in Moab. After about ten years, Elimelech and both of his sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died, leaving Naomi a widow and childless [2, 6]. Mahlon had married Ruth, and Chilion had married Orpah, both Moabitish women [2]. Upon hearing that the famine in Judah had ended, Naomi decided to return to her homeland [2, 6]. She set out with her two daughters-in-law, but along the way, she urged them to return to their own people and families in Moab [4, 6]. Orpah eventually did return, but Ruth famously declared her unwavering loyalty to Naomi, stating, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16) [4]. This declaration is often cross-referenced with other biblical passages emphasizing commitment and conversion, such as 1 Thessalonians 1:9 [3].
The return of Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem coincided with the beginning of the barley harvest [6]. This timing is crucial, as it sets the stage for Ruth's encounter with Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of Elimelech, in the fields [9, 11]. The subsequent chapters detail Ruth's gleaning in Boaz's fields (Ruth 2), Naomi's strategic advice to Ruth regarding Boaz (Ruth 3), and Boaz's role as a kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 4) [7, 8, 11]. The narrative culminates in Boaz marrying Ruth and their son, Obed, becoming the grandfather of David [5, 10].
The primary purpose of the Book of Ruth, particularly highlighted by its concluding genealogy, is to trace the lineage of David [1, 10]. This connection is significant because David is a key figure in Israelite history and the royal line from which the Messiah would eventually come [2]. The story of Ruth, a Moabitess, being incorporated into this lineage also serves as a theological point, illustrating God's inclusive plan and the potential for Gentiles to be part of God's people [9].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ruth, Book Of — contains the history of Ruth, as narrated in the preceding article. The main object of the writer is evidently to give an account of David's ancestors; and the book was avowedly composed long after the time of the heroine. See (Ruth 1:1; 4:7,17) Its date and author are quite uncertain. Tradition is in favor of Samuel. It is probable that the books of Judges, Ruth, Samuel and Kings originally formed but one work. The book of Ruth clearly forms part of the books of Samuel, supplying as it does the essential point of David's genealogy and early family his”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ruth — (a female friend) a Moabitish woman, the wife, first of Mahlon, second of Boaz, the ancestress of David and Christ, and one of the four women who are named by St. Matthew in the genealogy of Christ. A severe famine in the land of Judah induced Elimelech, a native of Bethlehem--ephratah, to emigrate into the land of Moab, with his wife Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. This was probably about the time of Gideon, B.C. 1250. At the end of ten years Naomi now left a widow and childless, having heard that there was plenty again in Judah, resolved to retur”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ruth.1.16 → 1Thess.1.9 (confidence: 11 votes)”
- Ruth (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ruth 1 (introduction): This chapter treats of a family that removed from the land of Canaan to the land of Moab on account of a famine, where the father of it and his two sons died, and each of them left a widow, Rut 1:1 the mother-in-law proposed to return to her own country, and set forward with her two daughters-in-law, whom, when they had gone a little way with her, she entreated to go back, and expostulated with them about it, Rut 1:6, upon which one of them did, but the other, Ruth, the subject of this book, resolved to go the journey with her, Rut 1:14 and they both came to”
- Ruth (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ruth 4 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 4 This chapter relates how an offer was made to the nearest kinsman of Ruth to redeem her, and the field her husband left, which he refused to do, Rut 4:1, upon which Boaz redeemed both, and married Ruth before the elders of the city as witnesses, and who congratulated him and her on that occasion, Rut 4:9, to whom a son was born, called Obed by the neighbours, Rut 4:13 and the chapter is concluded with the genealogy of David, who sprung from him, Rut 4:18.”
- Ruth (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ruth 1 (introduction): Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, flee from a famine in the land of Israel, and go to sojourn in Moab, Rut 1:1, Rut 1:2. Here his two sons marry; and, in the space of ten years, both their father and they die, Rut 1:3-6. Naomi sets out on her return to her own country, accompanied by her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth; whom she endeavors to persuade to return to their own people, Rut 1:7-13. Orpah returns, but Ruth accompanies her mother-in-law, Rut 1:14-18. They arrive at Beth-lehem in the time of the barley harvest, Rut ”
- Ruth (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ruth 3 (introduction): We found it very easy, in the former chapter, to applaud the decency of Ruth's behaviour, and to show what good use we may make of the account given us of it; but in this chapter we shall have much ado to vindicate it from the imputation of indecency, and to save it from having an ill use made of it; but the goodness of those times was such as saved what is recorded here from being ill done, and yet the badness of these times is such as that it will not justify any now in doing the like. Here is, I. The directions Naomi gave to her daughter-in-law how to”
- Ruth (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ruth 3 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 3 In this chapter we have a proposal of Naomi to Ruth, with advice and directions to get Boaz for her husband, Rut 2:1. Ruth's obedience to the instructions she gave her, Rut 2:5, the notice Boaz took of her, and the conversation that passed between them, Rut 2:8 the dismission of her in the morning to her mother-in-law with a gift, to whom she returned, and acquainted her with what had passed, Rut 2:14.”
- Ruth (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ruth 2 (introduction): There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as Ruth, a poor Moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbour's field, and the minute circumstances thereof. But all this was in order to her being grafted into the line of Christ and taken in among his ancestors, that she might be a figure of the espousals of the Gentile church to Christ, Isa 54:1. This makes the story remarkable; and many of the passages of it are instructive and very improvable. Here we hav”
- Ruth (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ruth 4:18: these are the generations of Pharez--that is, his descendants. This appendix shows that the special object contemplated by the inspired author of this little book was to preserve the memory of an interesting domestic episode, and to trace the genealogy of David. There was an interval of three hundred eighty years between Salmon and David. It is evident that whole generations are omitted; the leading personages only are named, and grandfathers are said, in Scripture language, to beget their grandchildren, without specifying the intermediate links. Ne”
- Ruth (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ruth 2 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 2 In this chapter we have an account of Ruth's gleaning corn in the fields of Boaz, a relation of Naomi, Rut 2:1, and of Boaz coming to his reapers, whom he saluted in a very kind manner; and observing a woman gleaning after them, inquired of them who she was, and they informed him, Rut 2:4, upon which he addressed himself to her, and gave her leave to glean in his field, and desired her to go nowhere else, and bid her eat and drink with his servants, Rut 2:8 and gave directions to his servants to let her glean, and to let fall some of”