The Book of Ruth Study Guide

9
And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have
bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of
Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife,
to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may
not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses
this day.”
11
And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The
LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built
the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May
your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring
which the LORD will give you from this young woman.”
~Ruth 4:9-12

It’s official! Boaz is careful to reiterate in front of the elders what was happening so
that there could be no question. He would buy all of the land that had been sold
and he would take Ruth as his wife and give her a child to continue the line of
Mahlon.

It is interesting that the elders make the request of God that Ruth be like Rachel
and Leah. Both were wives of Jacob. Leah was the first wife, though she was not
favored by her husband. Despite the fact that she felt unloved by him, she was
faithful and loved him all her life, bearing him six sons, including Judah of whom
Jesus was a descendant of. Rachel was favored by her husband and although her
actions were not always honorable (she stole from her father in a misguided
attempt to bring her husband a greater position) they were done in love for her
husband. She also bore Jacob two sons, one of which went on to save what would
become the tribes of Israel from starvation. The request to make Ruth like these
women was probably a request that she be fruitful and that she be devoted to her
husband. It is also interesting that while Ephrathah is the place where Rachel died
in child birth and that it is a part of Bethlehem, it also means fruitful.

It is also interesting that they chose the house of Perez as a blessing. Perez, the
son of Tamar (who also was a foreigner) was born to continue the line of his father
although is father died before having conceived a child.

Q 1) Based upon the statement of the elders, do you think that they have approved
of this action? Why or why not?

Q 2) What are your thoughts on the comparison of Ruth to Rachel and Leah?

Personal Reflection:
The elders of Bethlehem, and many others in the Bible, consider children to be a
blessing. At times, especially as a stay at home parent, it can be hard to remember
that. Read Psalm 127:3-5 record your thoughts. In the future when children seem
difficult, return to this verse as a reminder that they are a reward and not a trial.