Ruth

Questions:

1. What were Moabites?  Is there a possibility Ruth was not Hebrew?  

2. Where is Moab in relation to Judah?

3. Why did Naomi have the girls come with her a short way, before demanding they turn back and return to the city?  Did she just suddenly realize they need not come?

4. What were the laws about a woman remarrying after her husband's death?

5. What is going on in Ruth's heart that causes her to stay with her mother Naomi?  Why is it different from Orpah's response?  Was Orpah's response poor, or simply what the Lord asked of her?  Am I to compare the two and look at the treatment of their mother-in-law in light of their decision?

6. Is there significance to the word choice in v. 14 "but Ruth CLUNG to her,"?

7. It seems as though Ruth did not previously believe solely in YWHW, so why was Naomi's son married to her?  How was this ok?

8. Aren't their laws that require taking care of widows?  Certainly women had few rights but it seems that they should have some way to gather grain other than the peasants... How does the Hebrew culture observe treatment of poor widows?

9. What does "glean" mean?

10. How was it looked upon for a man to not marry?  Did Boaz have any other wives?

11. What does it mean for Ruth that Boaz would ask her only to glean from his fields and to stay with his servant girls?  Was this an honor?  Why does she describe his showing favor to her with such awe.

12. How were foreigners treated that Ruth should feel so surprised by his actions?

13. What must everyone else in the story have thought of Boaz and his actions to bless Ruth?

14. In what way would Ruth have been harmed had she been in another man's field? Rape?

15.  What is this word "kinsman-redeemer?"

16. Was this act of laying at a man's uncovered feet (on the threshing floor) a common and understood act?  Why then should she hide until after he had eaten and drank? a sign of respect?  How did Boaz know what to do?

17.  Was it because he ate and drank that Boaz was "in good spirits," is this why Naomi asked her daughter to wait?

18.  Was Ruth so young?  why would Boaz bring up the fact that she COULD have run after younger men but she chose him as an act of her kindness? What was her first act of kindness... does he mean unto him? or unto Naomi?

19.  What if the closer kinsman redeemer wanted Ruth?  What would have been good about that? Is this purely a cultural thing they accepted or would it have been sad? 

20. Does it matter whether or not Ruth and Boaz loved each other or not?  How is their love expressed?

21. Why does Boaz take such a roundabout approach?  Did this man not know how awesome Ruth was and was merely afraid of having his name damaged by taking in a widow?

22.

OBSERVATIONS:

1. ummm the fact that Naomi calls herself Mara (meaning: bitter) shows that Ruth was super dedicated... my word her mother-in-law was probably one of the most frustrating people to be around.

2. the foreman really describes how dutifully Ruth works in the field picking grain.  He spends time describing it and the impression the reader is left with is that her hard work was a positive thing, as it is following this knowledge Boaz rewards her.

3. It seems that with the blessing of Boaz to Ruth and Ruth to Naomi unconditionally Naomi's voice in the chapters seems to soften.  Before she seemed to complain but now it seems she is concerned not about her own plight but of Ruth's.  She wants to help Ruth find a husband who will take care of her.

4. I love that Boaz tells Ruth that all the townsmen know Ruth is a woman of noble character.  How much could this say about her?  For every man in the town to know this about a "nobody," a widow... says a lot about her character. 

5.  Because of Ruth's character she was able to bless Naomi so much and give her "love that is better than that of seven sons, and who was able to give birth."

6. Ruth's actions as a woman after God's heart led her to birth Obed who was the father of Jesse who was father to David.

Basically,

There are a few things Ruth did that are the result of all these wonderful blessings.

She was dedicated to loving someone even though they were unlovable.  We don't really know why she did it other than she seemed to feel she must. 

She followed her mother in law even though it meant abandoning her people, her belief system, and her country.

She served her mother in law in what seems like a potentially dangerous situation.  Going out to glean the fields after men who seemingly had no respect for her and who she did not know.

She worked hard all day taking only one short break and when blessed was extremely grateful towards her benefactor.

She obeyed Naomi and did exactly what she asked of Ruth in regards to Boaz, something Boaz regarded highly.  We aren't sure whether or not Ruth really wanted Boaz for a husband but from her gratefulness she likely respected him.  She could have had a younger man, he seems to think but instead chose him.

Her noble character was known by all his fellow townsmen.

THIS amazes me... She seems to possess that gentle spirit that speaks much louder through its dutiful faithfulness then in loud brash words.