(1) The story happened with the time of the Judges as the background. How would you describe this time, especially given the remark at the end of the entire book of the Judges?
(2) Can you remember other times of famine in Genesis and what were the results of the actions of the patriarchs under similar circumstances? (e.g. Gen. 12:10, 26:1 and 42:5)
(3) As Elimelech chooses to leave Bethlehem (the house of bread) for Moab (traditional enemy territory), how difficult a decision was it? What might be the things he had to take into consideration?
(4) Can you identify with their struggle? (If you are an immigrant, what was the reason for your move and what considerations did you have to take into account? Did you seek the will of God in the matter?)
(5) How long did they expect to stay in Moab and how long did they end up being there? What happened during this extended stay in Moab?
(6) While most scholars opine that the meanings of the sons’ names are really unknown, the name of Elimelech is “God is King”, and that of Naomi is “be pleasant and lovely”. Given the emphasis the Jews put in the meaning of their names, how did Naomi feel towards her God considering all the events of vv. 1-5? (See 1:20.) What kinds of questions would she be asking?
(7) What would you do, if you were Naomi?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Read 1:6. It appears that Naomi attributes everything to God, whether good or bad. Is it right for us to attribute everything to God’s doing? Why or why not?
(2) At her age and given her situation, was it right for Naomi to think of returning to Bethlehem?
(3) The three had already embarked on the journey. What caused Naomi to stop and think about her two daughters-in-law?
(4) How did the fact that the two girls had already accompanied Naomi on the journey and that they wept and refused to leave Naomi alone on this long and possibly dangerous journey say about them?
(5) From what Naomi said in vv. 11-13, do you get a sense of how Naomi took her situation and why she decided to urge the two girls to return to Moab?
(6) What does it say about Naomi as a mother-in-law and her relationship with the two daughters-in-law?
(7) Was Orpah wrong in her decision to leave Naomi?
(8) As the story unfolds, do you know of what Orpah had given up, especially as the wife of the older son of Naomi? (With naming Orpah before Ruth in 1:4, it is likely that Orpah married the older son.)
(9) Orpah decided to head back home, while Ruth decided to stick with Naomi. From what Naomi said of Orpah, and also from Ruth’s reply, can you tell what the main difference between Orpah and Ruth was? What do you find the most touching in Ruth’s reply?
(10) The in-law relationship is universally problematic. How can we learn from Ruth and Naomi?
(11) Can you blame Naomi for her reply to the women of the town? Why or why not?
(12) What did the women exclaim when they saw Naomi? What does this imply?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Look up Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22. Why does God set up such provisions? Do you think today’s farmers or crop producers would follow these instructions? Why or why not? Search yourself and see how you might have fallen short of the heart of God in these respects, even though you might not be a farmer.
(2) What kind of a situation did Naomi and Ruth find themselves in after their return to Bethlehem? What does Ruth’s action say about her and her decision to come with Naomi?
(3) How did the foreman refer to Ruth and what insight might it give you into Ruth being a young, foreign woman in a foreign land? How did she face her challenge?
(4) From how Boaz addressed and talked to Ruth in vv. 8-9, what likely was the age of Boaz and what do you learn about this man?
(5) How Jews in general in the OT times treated gentiles can hardly be disputed. How special was Boaz then in his treatment of Ruth?
(6) What do Boaz’s words in vv. 11-12 mean to you?
(7) What have they meant to Ruth?
(8) What has Ruth learned about the God of Israel in this encounter?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
According to the Gezer Calendar, the barley harvest began in late April or early May, the 8th month of the agricultural year. (R. Hubbard, Jr.)
(1) Read the invitation that Boaz gave Ruth. From the angle of the Redemption motif of this story, how symbolically important is this act of acceptance and inclusion by Boaz of Ruth?
(2) Why did Boaz go out of his way to help Ruth?
(3) The subject of v. 20 has an “impressive consensus” referring to Yahweh (which is my opinion as well). Compare what Naomi said here to what she said at the end of chapter one.
(4) What impact do you think Boaz’s acceptance of Ruth would have on his household servants?
(5) Naomi identifies Boaz as one of their “kinsman-redeemers”. On the many obligations of this person, look up Leviticus 25:25-30, 47-55. From this, what can you understand about “redemption”?
(6) Why did Naomi caution Ruth to stick to the workers of Boaz? What does it tell you about the time of the Judges and Ruth’s decision to glean?
(7) In this portion of narrative, what stands out to you?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) If you were an old widow without any means of ongoing support, what would be the things that would worry you the most? According to v.1, what was Naomi’s worry?
(2) Read Naomi’s prayer for Ruth in 1:8-9.
(3) If you were Ruth, would do you what Naomi told you to do in vv. 2-4? Why or why not?
(4) How did Boaz interpret Ruth’s action? Was it one of lewdness or of noble character? Why?
(5) From the way Boaz subsequently dealt with Ruth, what do you think of Boaz and why?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Preface to Ruth 4
(1) It appeared that Boaz took up the matter immediately as Naomi had predicted in 3:18. Why do you think Boaz chose to act upon it so quickly that “he will not rest until the matter is settled today"?
(2) If he was so keen to act upon it, why did he bother to go through the formality of approaching the other kinsman-redeemer, especially since it was the time of the Judges, and Boaz appeared to be wealthy and powerful?
(3) Why did that first-in-line kinsman redeemer appear to agree to the transaction so readily and yet backed off also so quickly? We do not how this “might endanger” his own estate. Can you think of any possible reasons for him to waive his rights (including Ruth’s background)? But more importantly, what was the difference in the motives of redemption between the two kinsmen?
(4) What did the elders think of Ruth and Boaz’s marriage to her?
(5) Consider the blessings pronounced by the elders. How prophetic were they?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Naomi once said, “The Lord has afflicted me” in 1:21. Was she right?
(2) Why does the Bible seem to emphasize that it was the Lord who “enabled” Ruth to conceive?
(3) Now the focus returns to Naomi: Why did the women say that the child was the kinsman-redeemer (or guardian-redeemer)? All in all, what did the birth of this child mean to Naomi, given her present and future?
(4) What can you learn from what Naomi has gone through? Can you come up with at least three things that you have learned from her?
(5) What do you think is the key to such a loving in-law relationship?
(6) How can you define love as exemplified by Ruth and Naomi?
(7) Read the last verses of the chapter carefully. Whose genealogy was it (look at Matt. 1 also)? Any surprises there?
(8) Reflect on the choices that Ruth and Orpah made. What can you learn from it?
(9) Can you sum up the main lessons you have learned from this book and how may you apply them to your life?