UNROLL
Evening at harvest below Bethlehem: terraced barley fields, some reaped with sheaves standing in rows, some still gold; at the edge of a reaped field a lone gleaner in a cream head covering, seen from behind with a bundle of stalks in her arms, looks up toward the small town on its ridge, where the first lamps glow.

The Book of

Ruth Intro

In the dark days of the judges, a quiet story of loyal love, and the family of a king.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min4 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

Famine, a move to Moab, and three graves.

Naomi comes home empty, with Ruth beside her.

In Boaz’s field, kindness beyond the law.

At the gate, a redeemer pays the price.

A baby on Naomi’s lap, and David’s name.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

The writer

Unnamed; Jewish tradition says Samuel

  • The book names no writer; Jewish tradition names the prophet Samuel.Jewish tradition
  • It ends with David’s name, so it was written after he was known.Ruth 4:22
  • It explains a custom of ‘former times’, looking back on it.Ruth 4:7
  • The story falls in the days of the judges, three generations before David.Ruth 1:1

How it’s built

Four scenes

Famine andfunerals1:1–5 · the frameopensOn the road1 · Moab to BethlehemIn the field2 · Boaz’s kindnessAt thethreshingfloor3 · a request atnightAt the gate4 · redeemedA birth and afamily4:13–22 · the framecloses

Whiteboard

Four scenes, each mostly conversation, framed by loss at the start and new life at the end, with a family line that reaches to David.

Big themes

Four threads to follow

Where it happens

JudahMoabDead SeaJordan RiverBethlehem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Bethlehem and Moab

From Bethlehem in Judah to the high plateau of Moab and back, around the Dead Sea. Everything after chapter 1 happens in and around Bethlehem.

Meet the cast

Three people to know

Watch for

I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.

Ruth 1:21

Start reading

Question

Quick question

The book ends with a baby, and a name Israel would never forget.

Who was Ruth’s great-grandson?

or swipe left