Ruth – 15 Points for Bible Study

Meaning of the name Ruth: Friendship
Relevant Scriptures: Ruth 1:1-5, 11-19, 2:1-13, 3:1-13, 4:8-12

Ruth was married to one of Naomi’s sons.
Ruth was not an Israelite, she was from Moab.
Although Ruth’s husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law were dead, Ruth refused to return to her people at Naomi’s urging.
Ruth pledged to go where Naomi went, to stay where Naomi stayed, that Naomi’s people would be her people and Naomi’s God would be her God. Ruth went to Bethlehem with Naomi.
Boaz was a relative on Naomi’s husband side, from the clan of Elimelek.
Ruth went to the fields owned by Boaz to glean behind the harvesters.
Upon seeing Ruth, Boaz asked his overseer to whom did she belong?
Boaz offered Ruth his protection and advised her not to glean in another field. He also instructed his overseer not to reprimand her, to pull out stalks for her the bundles and to leave them where she would be able to find them.
Naomi advised Ruth that she needed to find a home for her where she would be provided for. She told Ruth that Boaz would be winnowing the barley on the threshing floor, to wash, put on perfume, her best clothes and go there but do not let him know she is there until after he finishes eating and drinking.
Naomi told Ruth to lay at Boaz feet and wait for him to tell her what to do. Ruth agrees to all that Naomi instructed her to do.
Boaz asked Ruth “Who are you”, she told him that she was his servant Ruth and to cover her with his garment since he was the guardian redeemer of the family.
Boaz was pleased that Ruth showed him kindness by choosing him instead of running after a younger man whether richer or poorer.
In order to make Ruth his wife Boaz had to ensure that the family’s other guardian redeemer who was more closely related did not want to redeem the property that belong to Naomi’s deceased husband.
Naomi and Ruth were considered part of the property that would also be acquired once the property had been redeemed by Boaz.
Ruth and Boaz was blessed with a son named Obed, who was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of David.

Sources:

The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1995. (All scriptures, Footnotes & Introduction to Ruth)
Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Group, Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan 1999