RUTH

CHAPTER 1: NAOMI AND RUTH

• In the time when the Judges ruled there was famine in the land and a man named Elimelech from Bethlehem in Judah migrated too the country of Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons. The two sons marry Moabite women.
• Eventually Elimelech and the two sons die and Naomi is left a widow, with her two daughters in law. Naomi and her daughters in law heard the famine had ended in Bethlehem and decide to migrate there.
• On the way back Naomi decides it is best if her daughters in law return to Moab and live with their people. One daughter Orpah complies and returns home, but her other daughter in law Ruth refuses to leave Naomi and travels to Bethlehem with her.

CHAPTER 2: RUTH MEETS BOAZ

• Ruth asks Naomi if she can go into the fields and gather any left over grain if she is permitted by the owner. Naomi gives her permission to do so.
• When she is gleaning in a field the owner named Boaz arrives and ask his servants who she is. The servants gave a good report about her and told Boaz they had given her permission to gather grain. Boaz then tells her to come back and work his field again.
• Boaz happens to be related to Naomi’s husband Elimelech.
• Boaz finds out Ruth had returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and had commended her for helping Naomi. Ruth found favor in his sight and Boaz treated her well.

CHAPTER 3: RUTH AND BOAZ

• Naomi tells Ruth she needs to find a home for her. So she instructs Ruth to go to to where Boaz sleeps and and sleep at his feet in order to try to gain his favor so he will marry her.
• Ruth does these things and gains Boaz’s favor, but Boaz tell her there is another man who has first rights to her based on how related he is to Elimelech, Ruth’s father in law. But Boaz promised that if the the other man is not willing to marry her, he will.

CHAPTER 4: BOAZ MARRIES RUTH

• Boaz goes and talks to the man who has first rights to Ruth, with several elders as witnesses. Boaz tells the man that he has first right to Elimelech and Naomi’s property if he wishes to purchase it. The man says he does.
• Boaz then reminds him he must marry Naomi as well to inherit the property in order to maintain the name of the deceased. At this the man changes his mind for he does not want to risk losing his own estate through descendants that did not share his name.
• The man tells Boaz that he can purchase the property. So Boaz purchases the property and announces he will marry Ruth in order maintain the name of the deceased.
• Boaz and Ruth have a son and name him Obed. Obed has a grandson and is named David.