Has anyone ever read the book of Ruth in the bible?

Question

I really wanna understand that story. Can you explain it to me..please...God Bless

Answer 1

It is quite simply an historical account. It is part of the trace of history that leads us to the revelation of God through his Son Jesus Christ. If you look in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1, you will see Jesus was a descendant of Ruth and Boaz, according to the flesh. There are also some significant spiritual lessons regarding the "Redeemer kinsman", which foreshadows the Lord Jesus Christ, who as our Redeemer kinsman bought us back from our slavery to sin and Satan. This is one reason why Jesus referred to Himself so often as the Son of Man, which is literally The Son of Adam, because He was fully identified with us as a member of our race so He had the right to redeem us.
This is why it says:


"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[a]the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Hebrews 2:14-18

Answer 2

The point of the story is to make the reader feel symathetic for Ruth and her backstory, and then to drop the proverbial bomb that Ruth was an ancestor of David.

See, when the book was written, lots of people believed that all foreigners were evil (because they thought their misfortunes were always punishment for something, and therefore the Babylonian exile must have been punishment, but they wanted to blame foreigners rather than their own ancestors). This book links a (fictional) foreigner to a character everyone already loved, King David.

So, the book was meant to shock people into reconsidering their xenophobia.

Answer 3

IT IS a heartwarming drama of loyalty between two women. It is an account of appreciation for Jehovah God and trust in his arrangement. It is a story that underscores Jehovah’s keen interest in the Messianic line of descent. It is a touching narrative of the joys and sorrows of a family. The Bible book of Ruth is all that and more.

The book of Ruth covers a period of about 11 years “in the days when the judges administered justice” in Israel. (Ruth 1:1) The events recorded must have occurred early in the period of the Judges, since the landowner Boaz, one of the characters in this real-life drama, was the son of Rahab of Joshua’s day. (Joshua 2:1, 2; Ruth 2:1; Matthew 1:5) The narrative was likely written by the prophet Samuel in 1090 B.C.E. This is the only book in the Bible that bears the name of a non-Israelite woman. The message contained in it “is alive and exerts power.”—Hebrews 4:12.

“WHERE YOU GO I SHALL GO”

(Ruth 1:1–2:23)

When Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem, they become the center of attention. Pointing to the older of the two, the women of the town keep asking: “Is this Naomi?” To this, Naomi says: “Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made it very bitter for me. I was full when I went, and it is empty-handed that Jehovah has made me return.”—Ruth 1:19-21.

When a famine in Israel causes her family to move from Bethlehem to the land of Moab, Naomi is “full” in that she has a husband and two sons. Some time after they settle in Moab, though, her husband, Elimelech, dies. Later, the two sons marry the Moabite women Orpah and Ruth. About ten years pass, and the two sons die childless, leaving the three women on their own. When the mother-in-law, Naomi, decides to return to Judah, the widows of her sons go with her. Along the way, Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to go back to Moab and find husbands from among their own people. Orpah acquiesces. However, Ruth sticks with Naomi, saying: “Where you go I shall go, and where you spend the night I shall spend the night. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.”—Ruth 1:16.

The two widows, Naomi and Ruth, reach Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest. Taking advantage of a provision made in God’s Law, Ruth begins gleaning in a field that happens to belong to a kinsman of Elimelech—an elderly Jew named Boaz. Ruth gains Boaz’ favor and continues gleaning in his field “until the harvest of the barley and the harvest of the wheat” come to an end.—Ruth 2:23.

Answer 4

The book of Ruth is about an ordinary family who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Elimelech moves his two sons and wife Naomi from Bethlehem, Judah to Moab during a time of famine. Their two sons marry Moabite women Orpah and Ruth (Hebrew: רוּת, Standard Rut Tiberian Rûṯ ; "Compassion"). Over a period of ten years, the men of the family die, leaving their three widows. Naomi resolves to return to her homeland and urges her two daughters-in-law to return to their Moabite families. Orpah listens to Naomi’s urgings, but Ruth pledges her undying devotion to her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16-17). Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem during the time of the barley harvest.

In order to provide food for the two women, Ruth receives permission to glean in the fields of Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman. Naomi sends Ruth to ask protection from Boaz, who is a close relative. Boaz is attracted to Ruth, but informs her that there is a closer kinsman who has the first right to redeem the estate of Elimelech. It is necessary for the closer kinsman to renounce his right before Boaz can proceed in the matter. Accordingly, Boaz meets with the closer kinsman and tells the kinsman of his right to redeem the estate and to marry Ruth. The kinsman does not want to marry Ruth, nor would he want to yield Elimelech's property back to a child born from the union. The closer kinsman takes off his shoe and hands it to Boaz which was the ritual way of showing that he waived his right to Elimelech’s property.

Boaz follows through on a plan to grant security (redemption) to the two women. Boaz marries Ruth and their child, Obed Ayala, is “born to Naomi” (Ruth 4:17) which indicates that Elimelech’s line is continued and Naomi is blessed by Obed’s birth. The genealogy that concludes the book of Ruth climaxes with the wonderful disclosure that Ruth of Moab is the great-grandmother of King David

Answer 5

Yes. I have. It's about acceptance of others.

Answer 6

This should explain it! http://www.alighttoshine.homestead.com/summary.html