Name
The book of “Ruth” gets its name from Ruth, one of the central characters of the book. She was a Moabite woman who is seen in the lineage of David and Jesus. Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named for women (the other is Esther).
Author
There is no author identified in the book of Ruth itself. However, the Talmud identifies the author as Samuel. Given the time frame of the book, it is quite possible that Samuel was the author.
Genre
Narrative History
Literary Form
Historical Narrative
Time Frame
Based on the genealogies recorded at the end of the book, most scholars agree that the book of Ruth was likely written during the reign of King David (1011-971 B.C.). However, the events of the story of Ruth and Naomi probably took place around 1140 B.C.
Emphasis
The book of Ruth emphasizes the faithfulness of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi, and to Naomi’s God. God’s grace, God’s providence, faithful love, and the role of the kinsman-redeemer are all in view.
The main themes include:
- Loyalty
- Faith
- Grace
Outline
The book of Ruth is often described as having four scenes:
Scene 1: Life in Moab.
Scene 2: The fields of Bethlehem.
Scene 3: Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer.
Scene 4: Life and love in the city of Bethlehem.
