Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(beauty). The Moabite wife of Mahlon and Boaz. The beautiful pastoral of Ruth, 8th of O. T. books, contains her life. It supplements Judges and prefaces Samuel, and traces the lineage of David. Time of writing and authorship are unknown.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This book is of great interest, giving, when Israel was nationally very low, a vivid picture of individual piety, as well as of courtesies in which in those days God-fearing men in various conditions in rustic life were not deficient. Ruth was a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, one of the sons of Elimelech and Naomi, who because of a famine in Israel had gone to sojourn in Moab. On the death of Elimelech and his sons, Naomi the widow returned to Bethlehem, accompanied by Ruth, who clave to her, declaring that Naomi’s God should be her God, and Naomi’s people should be her people.
In the time of barley harvest Ruth went to glean in the field of Boaz, a near kinsman of Elimelech and a rich man. Boaz observed and was gracious to her. She continued thus during the barley and wheat harvests. On the barley being winnowed, Boaz, after eating and drinking, lay down in a barn; and Ruth, instructed by Naomi, went and lay down at his feet. On his awaking, she declared that he was a near kinsman. He owned to this, but said there was one nearer than himself. On the circumstances being made known to the latter, and on his declining to redeem the inheritance, Boaz redeemed all that had belonged to Elimelech and his two sons, and took Ruth to be his wife. She bare a son named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth is mentioned in Matthew 1:5, and in her and in Rahab we have a Moabitess and a woman of Canaan in the genealogy of Christ. The genealogy reflects no honor on Israel after the flesh.
The Book of Ruth may be taken as having a prophetic force; Naomi may represent Israel separated by death from “God my king” (Elimelech), a widow and desolate among the Gentiles: Ruth, the remnant in which, on the ground of mercy, the nation will bear a son. Christ who as Israel’s kinsman has the right of redemption, will take their cause in hand and bring it to a glorious issue.
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ELIMELECH, [to whom] God [is] King.
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MAHLON, sick.
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NAOMI, my pleasantness.
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CHILION, a pining.
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ORPAH, a hind or fawn.
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MARA, bitterness.
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RUTH, beauty.
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BOAZ, in whom is strength.
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Bible Handbook:
1322 B.C. – 4 Chapters – 85 Verses
This is a beautiful book, and is evidently a typical one, sketching Israel’s past, present, and future history. Domestic life and primitive customs are simply and charmingly told — customs which exist to this day in all their ancient simplicity. The meaning of the names of the persons will greatly assist in the intelligent understanding of this broadly-marked type of the reception to grace and blessing of Israel in her coming future:
Elimelech figures Jehovah as the husband and King of Israel (Jer. 31:32; Psa. 89:18); Naomi representing the nation in marriage relationship with the Lord (Isa. 5:7; Jer. 31:20). But, on leaving the land of Israel, Elimelech dies; that is, Israel outside the land of Immanuel and amongst the Gentiles loses God as her husband and king, while the two sons — Mahlon and Chilion — sicken (Mic. 6:13) and pine away (Ezek. 24:23). Thus Israel outside Canaan is neither owned of God as wife or people, but sickens and dies, and is lost amongst the nations. Ruth, the future Jewish remnant, is a Gentile destitute of right or title, but she identifies herself with the desolate condition of the afflicted people (Mara), and Boaz, figure of Christ, in whom is strength, undertakes the cause of Ruth, the latter-day remnant, marries her, redeems the inheritance (the land of Israel), and raises up the lost memorial of Israel.
The principles of grace and redemption are here most clearly prefigured; and as Ruth is one of the four women mentioned in the Lord’s genealogy according to the flesh (Matt. 1), it must be a deeply interesting study to a spiritual mind to trace the providential chain of circumstances which could introduce a Moabitess amongst the Lord’s ancestry, whose origin was most disgraceful (Gen. 19), and who, by the Levitical Law, was forever debarred from entering the congregation of the Lord (Deut. 23:3). This book affords a wonderful illustration of what grace — divine and sovereign grace — can accomplish. While it is true that the events and incidents recorded took place during the times of the Judges, it is equally important to recognize the distinctness of the book from that of the Judges. If that book gives the dark side of Israel’s history, this unfolds in lovely detail the bright side of that same period.
The book of Ruth should be regarded as the link between the subjects presented in the preceding one (Judges) and those contained in the book which follows (1 Samuel). The predictions respecting Christ as of the royal tribe of Judah (Mic. 5:2; Gen. 49:10), and of the lineage of David (Jer. 23:5; Psa. 132:11), are marvellously linked in this interesting history. (Compare Ruth 5:18-22 with Matt. 1:3-6.) Is not this a striking illustration of that divine oracle, “The Scripture cannot be broken”? Boaz and Ruth are the leading characters in the book and history. Boaz, in whom is strength, points to Christ, in whom is treasured up the sure mercies of David, and who will take up the cause of Israel in the closing days. Ruth (beauty) figures the future Jewish remnant, who, because of the nation’s utter apostasy, will have no more claim upon the promises and glory than would a poor despised daughter of Moab. Hence Israel, having sinned away her every right to blessing, will be taken up on the simple ground of pure and sovereign grace. The re-gathering and blessing of all Israel will be on the ground of the unconditional promises made to the fathers.
General Divisions
Chapter 1 — The historical circumstances and situation. A famine in the land of Israel — sad fruit of their sin, undoubtedly, but “thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psa. 37:3); instead of which Elimelech, his wife, and two sons leave the chosen land and sojourn in the country of Moab, and contrary to the law (Deut. 7:3), marriages are contracted with the daughters thereof. Death in the land of Moab. Ruth’s touching devotedness to Naomi; she cleaves to the God and people of Israel.
Chapters 2-3 — Ruth, figure of latter-day Israel destitute of right or title; and Boaz, figure of Christ. Israel will yet be taught to confide in her Messiah and Bridegroom.
Chapter 4 — Relationship fully established, and the Redemption of Israel’s forfeited inheritance made good.
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