THE BOOK OF RUTH

Journey of faith
 BACKGROUND OF THE SELECTION

• Literature in Hebrew has been produced uninterruptedly from the early 12th
century BCE, and distinct from Jewish literature, which also exists in other
languages.
• From 1200 BCE to c. and 200,Hebrew was a spoken language in Palestine,first as
biblical dialect and one that gained literary status as the Pharisees.
• Hebrew literature is not synonymous with Jewish literature.Some Hebrew writing
was produced by the Samaritans and in the 17th century by Protestant enthusiasts.
• In the Bible it develops from a simple and earthy idiom to a language suitable for
the expansion of sophisticated religious thought without losing the poetic force and
rhythmic fullness that characterizes it.
 CHAPTER 1:ELIMELECH MOVES HIS FAMILY
TO MOAB
• In the days when the judges ruled in
Israel, a severe famine came upon the
land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah
left his home and went to live in the
country of Moab, taking his wife and two
sons with him. The man’s name was
Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their
two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They
were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the
land of Judah. And when they reached
Moab, they settled there.
• Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was
left with her two sons. The two sons
 NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN
• Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by
giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to
leave Moab to return to her homeland.With her two daughters-in-law she set
out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that
would lead them back to Judah.
• But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your
mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your
husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another
marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.
• “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”
• But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to
other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? No, my daughters, return
 NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN
• And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But
Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has
gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”
• But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I
will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God
will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the
Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” When
Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
• So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem,
the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
• “Don’t call me Naomi” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,* for the Almighty
has made life very bitter for me.I went away full, but the Lord has brought me
NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN TO
BETHLEHEM
CHAPTER 2:RUTH
WORKS IN BOAZ'S
FIELD
After Naomi and Ruth
arrive in Bethlehem they
needed food. ‘Let me go
into the barley fields to
pick up the leftover grain.’
The poor were allowed to
pick up grain that the
harvesters had lefround.
‘Go ahead, my daughter,’
Naomi replied.
 RUTH WORKS IN
BOAZ'S FIELD
Ruth went into the fields belonging
to Boaz. Boaz was a relative of
Noami’s dead husband Elimelek.
Later Boaz arrived and greeted
the harvesters. ‘The Lord be with
you.
’ The harvesters replied, ‘The Lord
bless you!’
RUTH WORKS IN
BOAZ'S FIELD
Boaz noticed Ruth
collecting grain with the
poor. ‘Who is that
woman?’ he asked the
man in charge of the
harvesting. ‘She is the
Moabite who returned
with Naomi,’ he answered.
‘She asked permission to
pick up grain and has
been working hard.’
RUTH WORKS IN
BOAZ'S FIELD
Boaz went across to Ruth. ‘Stay in these
fields with the women who work for me,’
Boaz told her. ‘I have told the men not to
lay a hand on you. When you get thirsty
help yourself to the water jars the men
have filled.’
Ruth bowed down before Boaz. ‘Why are
you treating a foreigner so kindly?’ she
asked.
‘I have been told how you have cared for
Naomi,’ Boaz answered. ‘May God, under
RUTH WORKS IN
BOAZ'S FIELD
At mealtime Boaz invited her to
eat with the other harvesters.
‘Have some bread and dip it in
the wine vinegar,’ he said. He
offered her roasted grain. Ruth
ate all she wanted.

When Ruth got up to continue

working Boaz gave secret orders
to his men. ‘Let her gather among
the sheaves without telling her off.
RUTH WORKS IN
BOAZ'S FIELD
Ruth threshed the barley she had
gathered and took it home to Naomi.
It was a large amount, about 30
pounds (13 kilograms). She also
brought Naomi the food leftover
from the meal she had with Boaz
and the harvesters.
‘Where did you gather grain today?’
Naomi asked. ‘Who is the man who
has been kind to you?’ ‘Boaz, Ruth
replied. ‘The Lord bless him,’ said
Naomi. ‘He is a close relative we
know as a guardian-redeemer. He
has an obligation to look after a
 CHAPTER 3:RUTH
AT THE THRESHING
FLOOR
One day Ruth’s mother in-law Naomi
said to her, ‘My daughter you must have
a future where you will be provided for.
Tonight Boaz will be winnowing barley.
Wash, put on perfume and dress in your
best clothes.’ Then she told Ruth what to
do next.

Ruth made her way down to the

threshing floor where Boaz was working
making sure she was not seen.
 RUTH AT THE
THRESHING FLOOR
During the night Boaz woke up to find
a woman asleep at his feet. ‘Who are
you?’ he asked. ‘I am your servant
Ruth,’ she replied. Spread the corner
of your garment over me as you are a
guardian-redeemer of my family.’ A
guardian redeemer was someone
obliged to look after a relative in need.
Boaz was related to Noami’s dead
husband Elimelek.

‘The Lord bless you.’ replied Boaz.

‘You have not run after younger men
 RUTH AT THE
THRESHING
FLOOR
Boaz went to the town gate where
business deals were done. When he
saw the guardian-redeemer who was
more closely related to Naomi’s
former husband, he asked him to sit
down with ten elders gathered as
witnesses.
‘Naomi is selling the land that
belonged to our relative Elimelek,’
Boaz explained. ‘You have the first
right to buy it but if you do not want to
then I will.’ –
‘I cannot buy the land without
causing problems with my own
 RUTH AT THE
THRESHING
FLOOR
It was the custom to seal a deal on
buying property by one party taking
off a sandal and giving it to the
other. ‘The guardian redeemer who
had first choice on the land took off
his sandal and gave it to Boaz.
Boaz made an announcement to
the elders and those gathered.
‘Today I have bought from Naomi
the property of Elimelek, and his
sons Mahlon and Kilion. I have also
acquired Ruth the Moabite as my
CHAPTER
4:BOAZ MARRIES
RUTH
So Boaz married Ruth and the
Lord blessed them with a son.
Women told Naomi, ‘Praise the
Lord. He has looked after you
in your old age. Ruth loves you
and is better to you than seven
sons.’ Ruth and Boaz’s son
was called Obed. Obed was
the father of Jesse whose
youngest son David became
King of Israel. A descendant of
David was Mary the mother of
Thank you!❤️