Ruth, The Book of

The eighth book of the OT, a beautifully crafted historical short story about how the loyal behavior of Ruth, a Moabite widow in a Jewish family from Bethlehem, brought back fullness of life to her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, aided by Naomi’s worthy relative Boaz.

Outline of Contents

Ruth

I. Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:1-22)

A. Ruth is married and widowed (Ruth 1:1-5)

B. Ruth returns with Naomi to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:6-22)

II. Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 2:1-4:22)

A. Ruth gleans in Boaz’s fields (Ruth 2:1-23)

B. Ruth and Boaz at the threshing floor (Ruth 3:1-18)

C. Boaz marries Ruth when her next of kin refuses to marry her (Ruth 4:1-12)

D. A son is born to Ruth and Boaz who will become grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13-22)

Opposite: Sarah, fragment of Gen 16 from the late-fourth-century Cotton Genesis.