2. What evidence can you find in the text to indicate the time in which
this story took place?
3. Read Judges 21:16-25 and then Ruth 1:1-5. What observations can you
make on the basis of this reading?
4. In Ruth 1:1-5, the author sets the stage for the entire story.
a. Ruth 1:1, 2, form the background for the entire book. Make a list of
the pieces of information the author provides in these verses.
b. In a Bible Dictionary or Bible helps section, look up the word
"Ephrathite" and "Ephraimite." What is the difference between the two?
c. In 1:3, the author tells us that Elimelech died. How well would this
family be able to sustain itself without Elimelech at the head of it?
d. In 1:4, 5, the author gives us several pieces of information:
(1). Why does the author identify the fact that Mahlon and Chilion had
married Moabite women?
(2). What does it add to our understanding when the text says that they
lived in Moab about ten years when Mahlon and Chilion died?
(3). In 1:5, the author indicated that Mahlon and Chilion died, and
then indicated that Naomi "was left without her two sons and her husband." What
is the significance of this awkward repetition?
5. In Ruth 1:6-14, the author describes Naomi's return from Moab to
Bethlehem.
a. In 1:6, the author indicated that Naomi heard that "the Lord
had come to the aid of his people."
(1). What does the author tell us in this quote?
(2). There was food available in Moab. Why would Naomi decide to return
to Bethlehem at this time?
b. In 1:7, 8, the text clearly states that the women started on the
trip before Naomi suggested that Ruth and Orpah go back to their families.
(1). Why would Naomi not suggest this before they started the journey?
(2). Naomi urged Orpah and Ruth to return to their "mother's
tent." Why would she do that?
(3). In 1:8-10, there are hints about the relationship between Naomi
and her daughters-in-law.
(a). What are the hints?
(b).What do these hints tell you?
c. In 1:11, Naomi again urges Orpah and Ruth to return to their
original families.
(1). What questions does she ask the two women?
(2). What did she say to Orpah and Ruth through these questions?
d. In 1:12, 13, Naomi a third time urges Orpah and Ruth to go home.
(1). What reasons does Naomi give?
(2). Why was it harder for Naomi than it was for Orpah and Ruth?
(3). In 1:13, Naomi said, "It is more bitter for me than for
you."
(a). Describe the emotional tone Naomi employed in this statement.
(b). How does Naomi explain this statement?
e. In 1:14, Orpah and Ruth responded to Naomi's third attempt to urge
them to return.
(1). How did Orpah respond?
(2). What does this response mean?
(3). How did Ruth respond?
(4). What does this response mean?
6. In 1:15-18, the author described Ruth's response to Naomi's entreaty
to go home, as Orpah had done.
a. In 1:15, Naomi made her final plea for Ruth to return home.
(1). Put yourself in Naomi's position as she urged Ruth, for the third
time, to return to her family.
(2). How would you feel as you urged Ruth to leave?
(3). How did Naomi describe Orpah's actions?
(4). What did these actions mean?
b. In 1:16, 17, Ruth responded to Naomi's more urgent appeal.
(1). Put yourself in Ruth's position as she responded to Naomi's fourth
plea.
(a). What would your emotions be?
(b). What hint is there of the relationship between Ruth and Naomi?
(2). Ruth made six affirmations in her response to Naomi's plea.
(a). What are these affirmations?
(b). What does Ruth mean by these affirmations?
(3). Ruth concluded her six affirmations with an oath.
(a). What was the oath?
(b). What does the oath mean?
(c). Why was the oath necessary?
c. In 1:18, the author described Naomi's response to Ruth's
affirmations and oath.
(1). What was Naomi's response?
(2). What was the basis of Naomi's response?
(3). What action did Naomi take?
7. The author described the arrival of Ruth and Naomi in Bethlehem in
1:19 -22
a. Read 1:19 several times. Think of yourself as one of the women who
met Naomi and Ruth when they arrived at Bethlehem.
(1). What would you feel when you saw Naomi?
(2). What would you feel when you saw Ruth?
(3). What would you think when you said, "Can this be
Naomi?"
b. In 1:20, Naomi responded to her family and former neighbors
greeting.
(1). How did Naomi feel?
(2). Put Naomi's reply into your own words. Try to include an
understanding of her emotions as she responded.
(3). Explain what she meant when she said, "The Almighty has made
my life very bitter."
c. In 1:21, Naomi gives further explanation of her feelings about her
condition. She said, "I went away full, but the Lord brought me back empty."
(1). To whom does she ascribe responsibility for the abundance with
which she left Bethlehem?
(2). To whom does Naomi ascribe responsibility for the impoverished
condition in which she returned to Bethlehem?
(3). How do you understand Naomi's view of her life?
(4). Why does Naomi repeat her questions, "Why call me
Naomi?"
(5). What does "The Almighty has brought misfortune upon me"
add to Naomi's previous statement, "The Lord has afflicted me"?
d. In 1:22, there is a summary statement about the arrival of Naomi and
Ruth in Bethlehem. Read this verse very carefully.
(1). Compare the picture of the arrival of Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem,
as reported in 1:22, with the report in 1:19. What observations can you make?
(2). Notice the way the author speaks of Ruth - "...Accompanied by
Ruth, the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law." What purpose is served by these additional
identifications?
(3). The author indicated that Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem
"as the barley harvest was beginning." What information does this provide for
us?
8. Review chapter one and record everything that it tells you about
God.
9. Review the chapter again.
a. What does it tell you about Ruth?
b. What does it tell you about Naomi?
10. What does this say about the way you want to live your life from
this point forward?