Ruth

Core 1101
Dr. Josephine DeVito
 Introduction

 Famine comes to Bethlehem so Elimelich, his wife Naomi, &

2 sons: Mahlon & Chilion move to Moab
 Live there for 10 years, Elimelech dies
 The sons marry 2 Moabite wives, Orpah (Chilion) & Ruth (Mahlon)
 Both sons die, the women have to support themselves,
 What were the laws about women & property?
 Naomi, tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their families & she will go to Bethlehem
 Orpah, has a very strong mother & returns to her family
 What is Ruth’s decision?, Ruth 1
 Life in Bethlehem

 They move to Bethlehem, Ruth finds work in the fields, gleaning the
wheat after it is harvested, Ruth 1 & 2:
 What is gleaning?
 How is Naomi affected during this time?
 What does she change her name to & why?
 Ruth meets the wealthy landowner, Boaz
 Boaz inquires about Ruth, Ruth 2
 Naomi’s guidance to Ruth
(Ruth: 3 & 4)

 Who is Boaz to Naomi’s family?

 What does Naomi tell Ruth to do, according to the traditions?, Ruth 3
 How does Boaz respond to Ruth?
 Boaz asks the asks the elder relative his intention, What does he want?
 Who is the son Ruth & Boaz have, what is his significance?
 What is the significance in the Book of Ruth
for today?

 Employment, the importance of work to gain a good life

 Job discrimination
 Boaz demonstrated a high view of every human being, as an image of God
 Boaz respected his workers: gave them water, ate with them
 Boaz was more than willing to stand up for the vulnerable worker, whatever
the reaction of others might be, shows the earliest anti-sexual harassment
policy in the workplace
 Male workers were not to “bother” Ruth
 Ruth had equal access to water, to the lunch table with Boaz & the other workers
 Workers were not to reproach or rebuke Ruth
 Ruth’s work environment was secure & safe
 Themes in the Book of Ruth

 What were the qualities that made Boaz a good man?

 Boaz’s workers had a generous spirit
 Boaz’s good reputation in the community brought social harmony & glory to God
 Boaz was a man of means in a corrupt & faithless society
 What did the process of “Gleaning” mean?:
 The most important element of the story was of the law for protection of the poor
& vulnerable people
 Ruth was able to work the harvest & provide food for herself & Naomi, this
preserved her dignity
 Gave them independence & made them less vulnerable