Brief Summary: The setting for the Book of Ruth begins in the pagan country of Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea, but then moves to Bethlehem. This true account takes place during the dismal days of failure and rebellion of the Israelites, called the period of the Judges. A famine forces Elimelekh and his wife, Na`omi, from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelekh dies and Na'omi is left with her two sons, who soon marry two Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Na'omi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Na'omi as they journey to Bethlehem. This story of love and devotion tells of Ruth’s eventual marriage to a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David and the ancestor of Yeshua. Obedience brings Ruth into the privileged lineage of Messiah.

Foreshadowings: A major theme of the Book of Ruth is that of the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz, a relative of Na'omi on her husband’s side, acted upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances (Lev. 25:47-49). This scenario is repeated by Messiah, who redeems us, the spiritually impoverished, from the slavery of sin. Our heavenly Father sent His own Son to the cross so that we might become children of God and brothers and sisters of Messiah. By being our Redeemer, He makes us His kinsmen.