Ruth 1
12/10/2025
I have read this book from time to time over the years, but it has been a while since I read it last. I am reading it with more of an intent to learn what I can from it, and I am reading it in context with everything which has come before in the bible. I do know the basics of the story, but there is much I have forgotten, and I am sure I will see things in a new light having just come out of Judges.
This book is only 4 chapters long, so I will be going thru it fairly quickly. I am trying to avoid using Grok, now, and we will see how this goes. I do, however, have a John MacArthur Bible Commentary and a David Jeremiah Study Bible which I will use to help me understand what I am reading. I also just got a John MacArthur Study Guide which covers Joshua, Judges and Ruth in one book. It is layed out more like a Sunday School book, so Ruth is divided into two lessons; Chapters 1 & 2 in the first and 3 & 4 in the second. I think that once I finish reading Chapter 2, then I will go thru the study guide and see what I can glean from that. That may be a separate post here. I also got the 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel study guides. I plan to go thru them the same way.
The time-frame for this story takes place is during the time the Judges ruled over Israel (1370-1041 B.C.). However, there is nothing in this story to narrow the time down any tighter than that. The book of Judges makes no mention of a famine at any time. However, according to John MacArthur, it likely occurred during the time of Jair, 1126-1105 B.C. (Judges 10:3-5)
Interesting Trivia: "Moab originated when Lot fathered Moab by an incestuous union with his oldest daughter. (Gen. 19:37)" Moab is also where Israel ran into Balak, king of Moab and Balaam the prophet during their 40 year wandering in the wilderness. (Num. 22-25) Moab also oppressed Israel for eighteen years during the judges. (Judges 3:12-30)
This first chapter is basically just setting the stage for the story. Naomi is the main character in this chapter. Her husband takes her and their two sons from Bethlehem, Judah to dwell in Moab in order to ride out the famine which was in the land. Apparently, it was widespread enough that traveled to outside Israel looking for relief. While there, Elimelech, her husband dies. Her sons marry and soon, they too die. The story does not mention a cause of death for any of them.
Naomi hears that God is blessing Israel again and the famine is over, so she decides to go back to Bethlehem. Her two daughters-in-law go with her a ways, then Naomi insists they return home and remarry and live out their lives here in Moab. Eventually, Orpah does return, but Ruth insists on staying with Naomi. You can tell she really loves her mother-in-law. This is where Ruth gives that great, heart-felt speech to Naomi:
16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
Naomi relents, and lets her come with her. Once they are back in Bethlehem, she is recognized by the local women and they call her name, but Naomi says "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." Naomi means "pleasant" and Mara means "bitter". Naomi was hurting and kinda felt sorry for herself because of how her life has turned out.
The chapter ends saying they had returned to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. This tells me that the famine had lifted long enough for them to plant and grow the barley, and now they are ready to harvest. I assume it also indicates this should be the fall of the year. That is when most things are harvested. *** Grok Note - in ancient Israel, barley was typically harvested in spring (around April-May, shortly after Passover). This timing actually fits the story's themes of renewal and provision, as it coincides with the end of the rainy season and the start of the agricultural year.