Read: Ruth 1:1—22
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Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Read: Ruth 1:1—22 1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters- in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food. 7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 “May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 “Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” 14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Page 1 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Notes on the Author’s Intent: Orientation into the “Drama of Scripture” Who are the characters? _____________________________________ What is the historical context and time-period? ________________________ Where in the “redemptive drama” do we find this book? ____________________ What is the purpose of this book? _____________________________________ Unlocking the Author’s Intent for the Passage Step 1: Observation—Step 2: Interpretation —Step 3: Application (1) Find words that repeat (underlining) (2) Identify some “key” words (circling) (3) Find the relationships of words (symbols) (4) Look for possible cross-references elsewhere in Scripture [Look for repetition of words and “theologically pregnant” words] Page 2 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Observation: Who are the people involved? _________________________________________________ Where did it take place? _____________________________________________________ How did it happen? _________________________________________________________ Why are readers told this? ___________________________________________________ When did it all take place? ___________________________________________________ What is happening? ________________________________________________________ Ruth in the Redemptive Drama I. Place and Period of the Book in the Redemptive Drama A. Transition from Judges to a Monarchy (Ruth 1:1) a. “there was no king” —Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1 B. Augmentation of the theme: “will be a king” —Deuteronomy 17:17-20 C. “Elimelech” — “God is King” Ruth 1:1 D. Single Author Judges — 1 Samuel) Theme: “Monarch /King” of Israel and the backdrop of the spiritual state of the people of the land. II. Particularities within the Plot A. Fallen World (calamity / adversity) “famine” “death” “disobedience” – departing from Israel/Arriving Page 3 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Theme: Trust and obedience to the promises to remain in the covenant land of their possession. B. Divine Purpose ,means “to turn back ,בוש turn /return”— [the Hebrews word for ‘repent’ is“ or return,” which will occur serval times in this passage to return the land of promise / covenant. Universal Theme Application: 1. God always has a plan with adversity 2. Divine imperative of Obedience and Repentance is unchangeable 3. God’s goal regardless is to always to bring us back to Him Personal Study Questions: The Unfavorable Times 1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. A. During what time period does this event take place? [Judges 2:16-18; Judges 17:6]. What is the character of the period of the Judges? B. Evaluate the happenings in verse 1(famine) and then compare it with scriptures like Leviticus 26:18—19 (Jeremiah 14:1—&—7). Page 4 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Attempt to be spared from Suffering 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. C. Where is Bethlehem? Where is Judah? D. What does the word "Bethlehem" /and/ “Ephrathites” mean? E. What does the name — Elimelech mean? F. Do you see a problem with Elimelech’s decisions to flee Israel? 2 Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. G. Do you think Elimelech is wise when he flees Israel because the “grass might be greener on the other side” in Moab? Was this the right decision at the time? “Satan loves to fish in the troubled waters of a discontented heart.” ― Thomas Watson Page 5 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide Read: Genesis 26:1–2 (NASB95) — 1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.” Joshua 1:14 (NASB95) — 14 “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them.” Proverbs 2:21 (NASB95) — 21 For the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it. Psalm 37:3 (NASB95) — 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Jeremiah 43:4 “stay in the land of Judah.” Hosea 9:3 (NASB95) — 3 They will not remain in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat unclean food. H. Does the Divine Author want to establish a pattern for the covenant people of remain in the Promised land of Israel no matter what? I. What can we learn from Jeremiah 42:10-17? J What does it say in Isaiah 31:1 is the wrong focus? K. To Stay or not To Stay: What is the Right Answer to the Question Would Exiting Israel Entering Moab Would the Grass Be Greener on the other Side of the Jordan? Page 6 Ruth Chapter 1 Study Guide 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. 1 And they lived there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. L. Do you see in v. 2 and v. 3, the “Now . then” correlation? The Rabbis identify the Orpah mentioned in the Book of Ruth with the Raphah (or Harafah), 1the mother of the four warriors of Gath who appear in II Sam.