Keith Essex
Part XIV: Ruth

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 26: Introduction, Themes, and Purpose of Ruth; and
• Lecture 27: Interpretive Issues of Ruth.

14. Ruth [MSB, 360-1; ESVSB, 475-7; BTSB, 425-28; NIVSB, 409-12; HWSOT, 248-54; WOTA, 326-35; LDIOT, 144-50; DOTWPW, 672-87]
    1. Introduction [W&W, 300-1]
       1. Title: "Ruth" in Hebrew and LXX
       2. Date of Events:
          • the Period of the Judges (ca. 1350-1100 BC)
       3. Canonical Connection: Between Proverbs and Song of Songs (Prov 31:10; Ruth 3:11) [MSB, 366]
       4. The History of Interpretation [DTIB, 704-6; DOTWPW, 693-700; ACCSOT, vol. IV]
    2. Major Themes [see W&W, 305; NIDOTTE, 4:1153-7]
       1. The Sovereignty of God
          1. The Obstacles (Rth 1:1, 4, 11-13)
          2. The Actions of Yahweh (Rth 1:6; 4:13)
          3. The Answers to Prayer (Rth 1:8, 9; 2:12, 20; 3:10; 4:11-12, 14)
       2. The Providence of God in Human Affairs (Rth 2:3, 20)
       3. The Godly Individuals
          1. Naomi (Rth 1:9, 20-21; 2:20) [DOTWPW, 490-2]
          2. Ruth (Rth 1:16-17) [DOTWPW, 700-3]
          3. Boaz (Rth 2:4, 12; 3:13) [DOTWPW, 32-4]
       4. Redemption (Rth 2:20; 3:9, 12, 13; 4:1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14) [see NIDOTTE, 1:789-94]
       5. Loyalty (Rth 1:8; 2:20; 3:10)
       6. The Plan of God (Rth 4:22)
    3. Purpose:
       • Yahweh sovereignly, but in a hidden way, effected the birth of His King through the actions of His people ["The narrator's central theme – the providential hand of God in the preservation of Israel's royal line during the dark days of the judges" Block].
    4. The Literary Structure (W&W, 301-3; JETS 39:1 [March, 1996] 15-28)
       1. The Literary Pattern
          A

          Rth 1:1-5

          Introduction: Death in Moab
          "Naomi's husband died"
          "Naomi's two sons also died"
          The Lord is not mentioned

          Naomi Emptied

          B

          Rth 1:6-22

          Naomi Returned to Bethlehem
          Prayer: the Lord grant rest [husband]
          Hopelessness: No Sons
          The Lord gave food

          Naomi's daughters-in-law
          1 Departs
          1 Remains

          C

          Rth 2:1-23

          Ruth Requested Food
          Setting: Harvest Field
          Time Focus: One Day
          Outcome: Boaz Provided Food

          Ruth Leaves Naomi
          Ruth's Request
          Boaz's Response
          Ruth Returns to Naomi

          C1

          Rth 3:1-18

          Ruth Requested Marriage
          Setting: Threshing Floor
          Time Focus: One Night
          Outcome: Boaz Will Provide Rest

          Ruth Leaves Naomi
          Ruth's Request
          Boaz's Response
          Ruth Returns to Naomi

          B1

          Rth 4:1-12

          Boaz Negotiated at the Town Gate
          Answer: Ruth to be my Wife
          Hopefulness: Seed by this young woman
          The seed the Lord will give you

          Naomi's Kinsman
          1 Departs
          1 Remains

          A1

          Rth 4:13-17

          Conclusion: Birth in Bethlehem
          "She became his wife"
          "A son has been born to Naomi"
          The Lord gave her conception

          Naomi Filled

           

          Rth 4:18-22

          Epilogue: The Genealogy of Perez
          Perez (cf. Rth 4:12)
          Boaz [7th] (cf. Gen 5:21-24)
          David (cf. Rth 4:17)

          The Line Continued
       2. The Outline of the Book
          1. Introduction: The Crisis of Naomi in Moab (Rth 1:1-5)
          2. The Return of Naomi to Bethlehem (Rth 1:6-21)
          3. The Redeemer for Naomi Found by Ruth (Rth 2:1-23)
          4. The Request of Ruth for Naomi's Redemption (Rth 3:1-18)
          5. The Resolution for Naomi's Redemption by Boaz (Rth 4:1-12)
          6. Conclusion: The Reversal of Naomi's Crisis (Rth 4:13-17)
          7. The Postscript: The Genealogy of David (Rth 4:18-22)
    5. Bibliography
       1. Exegetical:
          • *Block, Ruth (ZECOT).
          • *Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC).
       2. English Interpretation:
          • *Block, Judges-Ruth (NAC).
          • *Hubbard, Ruth (NICOT).
       3. Expositional:
          • Atkinson, The Message of Ruth (BST).
          • Duguid, Esther & Ruth (REC).
    6. Selected Interpretive Problems [DOTWPW, 693-700]
       1. The Historicity of the Book [see DOTWPW, 492-6]
       2. The Night at the Threshing Floor (Rth 3:4, 7)
          1. Sexual Overtones Suggesting Impropriety (reasons)
             1. The Pattern of Tamar (Rth 4:12; cf. Gen. 38:14-20)
             2. The Terms "Uncover," "Feet," and "Lie down" (Rth 3:4, 7)
          2. Ruth's Character Called Virtuous (Rth 3:11) [Bush; Hubbard; Block]
       3. The Marriage of Boaz and Ruth [W&W, 304; DOTWPW, 378-83]
          1. A Levirate Marriage (Rth 4:8; cf. Deut. 25:5-10) [see NIDOTTE, 4:902-5] [Block; EBC1; BKC]
          2. A Non-leverite Marriage (reasons) [Bush; Hubbard]
             1. Boaz Was Not Mahlon's Brother
             2. Ruth Did Not Go to the City Gate
             3. Ruth Did Not Pull off the Shoe or Spit in the Face
             4. The Shoe Custom Was No Longer Known (Rth 4:8)
       4. No Moabite in the Assembly of Yahweh (cf. Deut. 23:3-6) [see NIDOTTE, 4:944-7]
          1. Ruth Was in the Eleventh Generation
          2. Ruth Was Considered a Worshipper of Yahweh (Rth 1:16-17; cf. 1:22; 2:2, 10, 21; 4:5, 10)
          3. Ruth Was an Exception Because of Her Devotion to Yahweh and Worthy Character [Hubbard]
          4. Ruth Received Yahweh's Grace
    7. Preaching Ruth

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.