{"id":19827,"date":"2020-02-12T16:54:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T22:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?page_id=19827"},"modified":"2021-01-11T10:29:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T16:29:53","slug":"ruth-chapter-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruth: Chapter 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

Ruth: Chapter 1<\/h1>\n
\"\"

Ruth and Naomi Ruth 1:16<\/p><\/div>\n

1. During which historical period in Israel did this narrative occur?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026It came to pass in the days when the Judges ruled…<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:1), a period of about 450 years between the conquest and the kingdom (Acts 13:20).<\/p>\n

2. What was the moral climate in Israel at that time?<\/h4>\n

\u201cIn those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes<\/em>\u201d (Judges 21:25). It is written, \u201cThere is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death<\/em>\u201d (Proverbs 14:12), and again, \u201cTrust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding<\/em>\u201d (Proverbs 3:5). Those who rely on themselves instead of an objective moral standard will surely be brought to ruin. With this backdrop, the faithfulness and loyalty of the gentile Ruth are all the more remarkable.<\/p>\n

3. What event drove Elimelech’s household from Judah?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026There was a famine in the land…<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:1). Such had motivated others to temporarily depart the promised land on previous occasions (Genesis 12:10; 26:1).<\/p>\n

4. What country did they settle in?<\/h4>\n

\u201cAnd a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:1).<\/p>\n

5. Who were the Moabites?<\/h4>\n

The Moabites were the descendants of Moab who was simultaneously the son and grandson of Lot by incest with his daughter (Genesis 19:30-37). Lot was the nephew of Abram (Genesis 11:27). Therefore, the Moabites were kinsmen of the Israelites.<\/p>\n

6. What was God’s will concerning Israel’s relationship with the Moabites?<\/h4>\n

Although Israel was not to conquer Moab (Deuteronomy 2:9), as other nations were meant to be overthrown, neither were the Moabites to be accepted into the assembly of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Marriage with them was not explicitly forbidden (Deuteronomy 7:1-4), but it was definitively implied (I Kings 11:1-2; Ezra 9:1-2; Nehemiah 13:23-27).<\/p>\n

7. What became of the household of Elimelech in Moab?<\/h4>\n

Elimelech died (Ruth 1:3). His sons Mahlon and Chilion married Ruth and Orpah (Ruth 1:4), then they died, too. All this transpired within a decade of their arrival in the land (Ruth 1:4).<\/p>\n

8. Why did Naomi decide to return to Judah?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026She had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:6). Whenever there is bread, God has supplied it (Acts 14:17).<\/p>\n

9. Who accompanied her on the way?<\/h4>\n

Her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, joined Naomi on the way (Ruth 1:6-7). It may have been a customary courtesy to \u201cwalk her out\u201d, as it were. They may simply have been taking her to the border of Moab, from which she would return home alone.<\/p>\n

10. What did Naomi tell them and what did she do to them?<\/h4>\n

She instructed them to return to their mother\u2019s homes (Ruth 1:8). She extended blessings from Jehovah (Ruth 1:8), acknowledging the kindness with which they had treated her and their husbands (Ruth 1:8). She further extended Jehovah\u2019s blessings, suggesting they find rest with new husbands (Ruth 1:9). Widows should be encouraged to marry again (I Corinthians 7:39; I Timothy 5:14). Then, she kissed them (Ruth 1:9), to bid them farewell.<\/p>\n

11. How did they react and what did they say?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026They lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, \u2018Surely we will return with you to your people\u2019<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:9-10). Naomi was probably a very special woman to endear her daughters-in-law to her in this way.<\/p>\n

12. How did Naomi reason with them?<\/h4>\n

She explained that she had no other sons for them to marry, nor could she give birth to sons whom they could marry in the future (Ruth 1:11-13). The Law of Moses provided that a widow without sons marry her brother-in-law in order to produce an heir (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), but this did not appear to Naomi to be an option for her daughters-in-law. When potential disciples sought to follow Jesus, He dissuaded them with straightforward explanations of what following Him meant (Luke 9:57-62). Naomi did the same with her sons\u2019 widows. Prerequisite to every serious undertaking is to \u201ccount the cost\u201d (Luke 14:25-33).<\/p>\n

13. How did Orpah and Ruth each respond?<\/h4>\n

\u201cThen they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:14). Whereas Orpah relented by kissing her mother-in-law farewell, Ruth chose to cling to Naomi. Orpah chose her family and their false religion (Ruth 1:15), but Ruth would not leave her. Orpah\u2019s choice was not wise (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26).<\/p>\n

14. What did Ruth tell Naomi? Was her statement effective?<\/h4>\n
\"\"

Ruth Pleads to Go With Naomi Ruth 1:8-18<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cRuth said: \u2018Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For where you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.\u2019 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:16-18). Few words written anywhere compare to the beauty of this statement, expressing one woman\u2019s steadfast devotion to the mother of her late husband. So effective were her words that Naomi ceased trying to dissuade her. Notice that Ruth took her vow in the name of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:13). Although a Moabitess, she served the God of Abraham.<\/p>\n

15. How was Naomi received in Bethlehem?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026All the city was excited because of them<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:19). It is interesting to note that this woman was recognized by her neighbors ten years after her departure. Apparently, Elimelech’s family was a prominent family (Ruth 2:1).<\/p>\n

16. What did she tell the women of Bethlehem?<\/h4>\n

She declined to be called Naomi since the name meant \u201cpleasant\u201d and she was not pleased; she asked instead to be called Mara, which meant \u201cbitter\u201d because she felt the Almighty had been bitter toward her (Ruth 1:20), having afflicted her (Ruth 1:21). Naomi is not to be held in the wrong for this statement. Job acknowledged that God gives and takes, yet he was never guilty of slandering God (Job 1:21-22). Even a statement of praise for the Lord\u2019s generosity can mention the apparently negative aspects of His power (I Samuel 2:7).<\/p>\n

17. When did Naomi and Ruth arrive?<\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2026They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 1:22), which sets the stage for the rest of the story to unfold.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRuth\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ruth: Chapter 1 1. During which historical period in Israel did this narrative occur? \u201c\u2026It came to pass in the days when the Judges ruled…\u201d (Ruth 1:1), a period of about 450 years between the conquest and the kingdom (Acts 13:20). 2. What was the moral climate in Israel at that time? \u201cIn those days…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":19824,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19827","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19851,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ruth\/background-to-the-book-of-ruth\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":0},"title":"Background to the Book of Ruth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Background to the Book of Ruth Assignment: Read the entire Book of Ruth as a story. Understanding What You Read: List out the people mentioned in Ruth and what you know about them. What do you think is the purpose of this book? Why did God see fit to include\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19830,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":1},"title":"Ruth: Chapter 2","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth: Chapter 2 \u00a0 1. Who was Boaz? Boaz was \u201ca man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech\u201d (Ruth 2:1). Thus, he was suited to do the duty of a kinsman to Ruth, on behalf of her late husband. Boaz was the son of Rahab (Matthew 1:5), presumably\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19837,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":2},"title":"Ruth: Chapter 4","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth: Chapter 4 1. Where did Boaz go to conduct the transaction? \u201cNow Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there\u201d (Ruth 4:1). City gates were the customary places to do public business in those days, where the elders of the city would hold court (Deuteronomy 21:19). 2.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22407,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/survey-of-the-bible\/survey-of-the-bible-ruth\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":3},"title":"Survey of the Bible – Ruth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Survey of the Bible - Ruth by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ruth 1:15-18 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The book of Ruth takes place during the later years covered by the book of Judges - Ruth 1:1 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It serves as a contrast to the overall gloomy description of the decay of Israel - Judges\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19834,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":4},"title":"Ruth: Chapter 3","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth: Chapter 3 1. What would Naomi seek for Ruth? Whereas previously Naomi had desired and prayed that Ruth would find rest with a new husband (Ruth 1:9), presently Naomi would proactively seek out her daughter-in-law\u2019s security with a new husband. \u201cThen Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \u2018My daughter,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19824,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/","url_meta":{"origin":19827,"position":5},"title":"Ruth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth by Bryan M. Dockens Questions and answers for studying the book of Ruth. The questions can be separated from the answers to provide study questions for the lessons. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Bible Studies","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0016-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19827\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}