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Ruth and Boaz
During the days of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem went to Moab with his wife and sons. He died there. His wife was named Naomi. The two sons took Moabite women for wives, and one of these women was named Ruth. The sons also died.
Naomi decided to return to Judah, and told her daughters-in-law that they should return to their homes. One of them did, but Ruth was determined not to leave Naomi: “where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried...” So Ruth to Judah with Naomi.
Naomi had a wealthy kinsman named Boaz. Ruth asked permission of Naomi to go to the fields and glean among the grains. She came upon a field belonging to Boaz, who asked who the woman was. When he found out, he asked her to stay in his field because he favored her. He had heard about her loyalty to Naomi, so he let her glean from his fields without hindrance.
At Naomi’s direction, Ruth found where Boaz slept. She went in and laid down at his feet. Boaz was impressed by her and told her that, as a close relative to Naomi, he would “redeem” her if no relative closer could. Boaz searched for the closest relative and told him that he could buy some land and redeem Ruth also, to raise up children. The relative could not do it, so Boaz was given the opportunity.
Boaz took Ruth to be his wife. They had a son named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of David. This Moabite woman who came back to Israel became a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Discussion
1. Where was Moab? Locate it on a map.
2. Who was Noami? Who was Ruth? What did Ruth say to Naomi to show her loyalty to her?
3. Who was Boaz? How did he come to know about Ruth?
4. What did it mean for Boaz to “redeem” Ruth? What law or principle was this according to?
5. Who were the descendants of Boaz and Ruth?