This quiz, Ruth, looks at a family who move to Moab.
The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible. Set during the time of the Judges it tells the story of a foreign woman who is accepted into the people and the religion of the Israelites. The Book of Ruth is the first of only two books in the Bible to be named after women; the second being the Book of Esther.
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Before they died each of the two sons married Moabite women, but their wives became widows before long.
Ruth 1:3-5 "And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband" |
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The word Naomi means pleasant or sweet, but Naomi felt that she was no longer deserving of that name.
Ruth 1:19-21 "So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" |
Boaz was kind towards Ruth and had his workers leave extra corn for her. He also let her drink his water and eat his food.
Ruth 2:14-16 "And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not" |
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It was the responsibility of relatives to look after each other when husbands or fathers had died by marrying them themselves. But Boaz was not Naomi's closest relative and so he was not responsible. Still, he wished to help but felt he had to ask the closer relative's permission.
Ruth 3:12-13 "And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning" |
The closer relative relinquished all of his responsibilities in favour of Boaz.
Ruth 4:6 "And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it" |
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That was the custom of the time.
Ruth 4:7-8 "Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe" |
Ruth 4:17
"And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed..." Obed means servant or worker |
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Obed was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of King David, the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Ruth 4:17 "...and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David" |
The Hebrew word translates into English as 'friend' and is not related to the English word Ruth, which means compassion or mercy
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Ruth 1:1-2
"Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there"