Commentary on the Book of Ruth

By

Rev. Dr Jeffry David Camm

Contents
History Of The Book of Ruth ............................................................................ 2
Chapter One: Elimelech Driven by Famine into Moab, Dies There .......................... 3
Chapter Two: Ruth Gleans in Boaz’s Field, Is Shown Great Favour ........................ 5
Chapter Three: Naomi’s Instruction; Ruth Lies at the Boaz’s Feet. ......................... 6
Chapter Four: Next Kinsman Declines: Boaz Marries Ruth .................................... 8
Conclusion: .................................................................................................. 9

HISTORY OF THE BOOK OF RUTH

Thanks to these two reference libraries, we have these wonderful diagrams, to explain

2
how the book of Ruth fits into the chronological picture of the complete Old
Testament.
CHAPTER ONE: ELIMELECH DRIVEN BY FAMINE INTO MOAB, DIES THERE
1. Now it came to pass in the days that athe judges bruled Israel, that there was ca
famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the
land of Moab; he, his wife, and his two sons. [So, for all-of the time of the Judges,
the God of Israel had been protecting the nation of Israel, but had allowed a famine
to come upon them as punishment. This family heard that over the border in the
land of Moab, (the heathens), there was food. The provisions were more plentiful
there, so they moved. Elimelech made this decision to move to Moab, based upon
purely secular motives, not spiritual motives. He turned his back on the God of
Israel, and moved to a land which worshipped other gods.]
2. And the name of the man was Elimelech (which means in Hebrew ~ “my God is
king”) and his wife Noami (which means ~ “pleasant”) and the names of their two
sons were Mahlon (which means ~ sick, or sickly) and Chilion (which means ~
“complete”) of the tribe of Ephraim, they were Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah
(the descendants of Caleb, who, with Joshua, were the only 2 princes who gave a
favourable report of the promised land.) And they came into the country of Moab
and dcontinued there. [So, we have a man, whose name says my God is King, who
takes his “pleasant” wife, and his “sickly” son, to “complete” his rejection and truth
of His God by moving into a land which worshipped other gods. In today’s society
we have the same problem, people move from place to place, for economic
reasons, not because God tells them to move, and then they wonder later why
they are having so a many problems. When you step outside of God’s plan for your
life, don’t expect blessings!]
3. And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband died. (That was God’s punishment from turning
his back on His God.) Now she is left with her two sons. [Noami now has to rely
on her two sons for nourishment and protection.]
4. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; The name of one was Orpah
(which means “stiff-necked”) and the name of the other was Ruth (which means
“friend, or compassionate friend”). And they lived in Moab after the death of
Elimelech about 10 years. [So, the second major sin was that Naomi allowed her
sons to take daughters of the women of Moab as wives, (which God said in Ezra
9:12 was forbidden.)]
5. And Mahlon and Chilion both died (as punishment for their sins), and Naomi was
left without her husband and her two sons.
6. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country
of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had evisited His
people in giving them bread. [Without any protection and without any form of
employment, Naomi decides to return to Israel, because she has heard that the
LORD has visited the land and they have good harvests. Again, the decision to
return to Israel is made on worldly values ~ food in Israel.]
7. *** Therefore, she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two
daughter-in-law with her: and they went on the way unto the land of Judah.
8. And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to your mother’s
house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead (your dead
husbands) and with me. [Naomi wanted them to have a better life than she could
now give them, so she told them to leave, & go back to their family homes, with
God’s blessing.]
9. The LORD grant you that you may frest, each one of you in the house of her
husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices, and wept. [They

a c e
Judges 2:18 Judges: 6:4-6 Exodus 3:16
b d f
[h]~ judged [h]~ were See 3:1
3
 would have to go back and live in their mother’s house, on the dowry, paid as the
bride price, at the betrothal ceremony.]
10. And they said unto her: “Surely, we will return with you, unto your people.” [Here
they are determined to go with Naomi and live in the land of Israel among her
people, but we see in the next verses that Naomi reasons with them, about their
customs.]
11. And Naomi said, “Turn again, my daughters: Why will you go with me? Are there
yet any more sons in my womb, athat they may be your husbands? [As per God’s
instructions; if a husband dies without any children, then it was the responsibility
of one of the unmarried sons, to marry her and the first-born son, was to take the
name of her previous husband, so that his lineage could continue. Here Naomi is
explaining this custom, and this is further expounded in the following two verses.]
12. “Turn again, my daughters, go your way: for I am too old to have another husband.
If I should say, I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight, and should
also bear sons:
13. “Would you wait until they are fully grown? Would you stay from them from having
husbands? No, my daughters; for bit grieves me much for your sakes that the hand
of the LORD is gone out against me.” [Naomi explains the real situation, according
the Jewish custom. Would you wait another 20 years to have another husband?]
14. And they lifted up their voices, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-
law (and left); but Ruth clave (clung) unto her.
15. And she said, “Behold thy sister-in-law (the stiff-necked one) is gone back unto
her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.” [At this time,
Naomi is looking for the best possible worldly solution for her daughters-in-law,
she has not trusted in her God to provide, for those who diligently seek Him.]
16. And Ruth said, “cIntreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after
thee: for wherever you go, I will go: and wherever you lodge, I will lodge: dYour
people shall be my people, and your God will be my God:
17. “Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and
more also, if anything but death part you and me.” [This is one of the greatest
confessions of loyalty and trust, in the Old Testament, made as an oath before
God. It must have got His attention!]
18. e
When she saw that she fwas steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left
speaking with her. (About this issue).
19. So, they two went, until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they
came to Bethlehem, that all-of the city was moved about them, and they said, “Is
this Naomi?”
20. And she said unto them, “Call me not gNaomi, call me hMara: for ithe Almighty has
dealt very bitterly with me.
21. “I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty: why then call
me Naomi (pleasant), seeing that the LORD has testified against me, and the LORD
has afflicted (punished) me?” [She left the land of Israel, wealthy, with a husband
and two sons, and comes back destitute, with a daughter-in-law, after the Lord
has afflicted her.]
22. So, Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law; and the came
to Bethlehem, in the beginning of the of the barley harvest. [This is in the month
of Nisan, the month of the Passover, a time to rededicate one’s life to God.]

a c f h
Genesis 38:11; [h]~ Be not against [h]~ was [h]~ that is “bitter”
Deuteronomy 25:5 me strengthened herself i
Job 27:2
b d g
[h]~ I have much 2:11.12 [h]~ that is
bitterness e
Compare with Acts “pleasant”; Compare
21:14 with 2 Samuel 1:26
4
CHAPTER TWO: RUTH GLEANS IN BOAZ’S FIELD, IS SHOWN GREAT FAVOUR
1. And Naomi had a akinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family
of Elimelech: and his name was bBoaz.
2. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “let me now go to the field, and cglean ears
of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” And she said, “Go my daughter.”
[Here was a refugee, coming into a new land, ready to start work, to support her
mother-in-law, not going to get government handouts! See how much our world
has changed!]
3. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her dhap
was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of
Elimelech.
4. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, “eThe LORD
be with you.” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you.” [Here was the owner
of the field, giving a blessing to his workers, upon arrival at one of his fields. There
are very few, (if any) who does that today in my country. What about in your
country? Even in the way he addresses his workers, God comes first.]
5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, “Whose damsel is
this?” [It was the custom in Israel, to leave some grain on the ground, so that the
widows, and poor people, could come and pick up food for themselves, without
any embarrassment.]
6. And the servant that was set over the workers answered and said, “It is the
Moabitish damsel fthat came back with Naomi, out of the country of Moab.
7. “And she said, ‘I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers, among the
sheaves: so, she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, that
she tarried a little in the house’.” [Even though it was the custom, she asked
permission first, before entering onto someone else’s field to glean the left overs.
This was a clear indication of her character.]
8. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, “Hear thou not my daughter? Go not to glean in another
field, neither go from hence, but abide her fast by my maidens:
9. “Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go you after them: have I
not charged the young men that they shall not touch you? And when you are
thirsty, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.”
[Here Naomi recognised that she was being singled out for favour and protection,
even to the extent that she was allowed to drink from the same water vessel as
the local people. Normally it was forbidden, for a stranger to drink from the same
vessel; A separate cup would normally have been provided, or you were required
to draw your own water.]
10. Then she gfell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him.
“Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that you should take knowledge of me,
seeing I am a stranger?”
11. Then Boaz answered and said unto her, “It has been fully shown to me, all that
you have done unto your mother-in-law, since the death of your husband: and
how you have left your father and mother, and the land of your birth, and have
come unto a people that you did not know before.
12. “hThe Lord recompense (reward) your work, and a full reward be given thee of the
LORD God of Israel, iunder whose wings you have come to trust. [The news of
Naomi’s return as a widow, without her husband and her two sons, was well known
now all over Bethlehem. It was also known that one of her daughters-in-law had
accompanied her back to Israel, leaving her own family and relatives, to help look

a d f h
3:2; Proverbs 7:4 [h]~ perchance, 1:10,22 Compare 1 Samuel
b
In Matthew 1:5, happened g
see also 1 Samuel 24:19
e i
called Booz. Compare Psalm 25:23,41 Psalm 17:8; 36:7;
c
Deuteronomy 24:19 129:7,8 57:1; 63:7
5
 after her mother-in-law, in a land she did not know. This was seen as an
honourable act by all-of the people.]
13. Then Ruth said, “aLet me find favour in thy sight, my lord: for that you have
comforted me, for that you have spoken bfriendly also unto thine handmaid,
c
though I not be like unto one of thine handmaidens.”
14. And Boaz said unto her, “At mealtime, you come here, and eat of the bread, and
dip the morsel in dthe vinegar.” And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached
her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed and left.
15. And when she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying,
“Let her glean even among the sheaves, and ereproach her not.
16. “And let fall also some of the handfuls on purpose for her, and leave them, that
she may glean them, and rebuke her not.”
17. So, she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned: and
it was about an fephah of barley.
18. And she took it up and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she
had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her gthat she had reserved, after
she had sufficed.
19. “Where have your gleaned today? And where wroughtest you? [Where did you
work today?] Blessed be he that did htake knowledge of you.” And she showed her
mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom
I worked today is Boaz.”
20. And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, “iBlessed be he of the LORD, who has
not left off His kindness jto the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her,
“The man is near of kin unto us, kone of our next kinsmen.
21. And Ruth the Moabitess said, “He said unto me also, ‘You shall keep fast by my
young men, until they have ended all-of my harvest.”
22. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you
go out with his maidens, that they lmeet thee not in any other field.”
23. So, she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of the barley
harvest, and of the wheat harvest: and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

CHAPTER THREE: NAOMI’S INSTRUCTION; RUTH LIES AT THE BOAZ’S FEET.

1. Then Naomi, her mother-in-law said unto her, “My daughter, shall I not seek mrest
for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2. “And now, is not Boaz of our nkindred, owith whose maidens you were with? Behold,
he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.
3. *** “Therefore, wash pand anoint thyself, and put your raiment upon thee, and go
down to the floor: but do not make yourself known to him, until he has finished
eating and drinking.
4. “And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he laid
down, and you shall go in, and quncover his feet, and then lay down: and he will
tell you what you shall do.
5. And Ruth answered Naomi and said unto her, “All that you have told me, I will do.”
[As per culture at this time, this is in effect a proposal of marriage, by Ruth to
Boaz, a near kinsman. But also, by the law of Moses, the “nearest kinsman” had
the responsibility to marry her. So, Ruth’s action was the signal for Boaz to get

a f k p
Or, I find; compare 1 Exodus 16:36 [h]~ Or, one that 2 Samuel 14:2
Samuel 1:18 g
See verse 14 the right to redeem; q
[h]~ lift up the
b
[h]~ to the heart h 3:9,12; 4:6,14; clothes that are on
See verse 10
c Compare Leviticus
See also 1 Samuel i
See also Genesis 25:25
25:41 14:19; Judges 17:2; l
d [h]~ fall upon thee.
Numbers 6:3; Psalm Ruth 3:10; 2 Samuel m
69:21 2:5; Psalm 115:15; 1:9
n
e
[h]~ shame her not; Compare Job 29:13 2:1
j o
See also Judges 18:7 1:8 2:8
6
 the ball rolling. She was saying, ‘my time of mourning is over, I want to get married
and have the protection and security of a husband in my life.’]
6. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law
told her. [This fulfilled the scripture: Obedience is better than sacrifice.]
7. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and ahis heart was merry, he went to lie
down at the end of a heap of corn: and Ruth came softly, and uncovered his feet,
and laid down.
8. And it came to pass at midnight, (the beginning of a new day) that the man was
afraid, and bturned himself: and behold a woman lay at his feet.
9. And he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth thine handmaid:
c
spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for you are da near kinsman.”
10. And he said, “eBlessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for you have shown
more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you did not
follow after young men, be they poor or rich.
11. “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that you require: for all-of
the fcity knows that you are ga virtuous woman. [By custom, all business was
transacted before the elders at the gate of the city, and everyone knew that Ruth
was a virtuous woman. Up until now Ruth has been referred to as a handmaiden,
but now he has changed their relationship, by now calling her ~ daughter.]
12. “And now it is true that I am a near kinsman: however, hthere is a kinsman nearer
than I.
13. [CP] Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto
thee the part of a kinsman, well: let him do the kinsman’s part: but [IF] he will
not do the part of a kinsman unto thee, [THEN] will I do the part of the kinsman
to thee, as the LORD lives: lie down until the morning. [Here Boaz makes an oath
to Ruth before God, that He will, follow the Law of Moses in this matter, by first
giving the closest kinsman the opportunity to follow the law, but if he refuses, then
Boaz will take on that responsibility himself as the next nearest kinsman.]
14. And she lay at his feet until morning: and she rose up early before one could know
another. And he said, “Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.”
15. Also, he said, “Bring the iveil that you have upon thee, and hold it.” And when she
held it, he measured out six measures of barley, and laid it upon her: and she
went into the city.
16. And when she came in to her mother-in-law, she said, “Who are you, my
daughter?” And Ruth told her all that the man had done to her.
17. And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me; for he said, ‘go not
empty unto thy mother-in-law’.”
18. Then she said, “Sit still my daughter, until you know how this matter will fall: for
the man will not be in rest, until he has finished (and resolved) this thing this day.
[Boaz has made and oath before God to Ruth, that he would resolves this kinsman
matter today before the elders at the city gates, so he must honour his word first
to God, to whom he had made the oath and the Ruth, his kinswoman; but we will
have to wait until the next chapter, to find out the outcome.]

a c d g
Judges 19:6 Ezekiel 16:8; [h]~ One that has Proverbs 12:4; 31:10
b
Or, took hold on compare with the right to redeem h
4:1
Deuteronomy 22:30 e
2:20 i
[h]~ sheet, or apron
f
[h]~ gate
7
CHAPTER FOUR: NEXT KINSMAN DECLINES: BOAZ MARRIES RUTH
1. Then went Boaz up to athe gate and, and sat down there, and, behold, bthe
(nearest) kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by: unto whom he said, “Ho, such a
one! Turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down.
2. And Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit you down here.” And
they sat down. [Now, as per custom, Boaz has now established that he has
something very important to discuss with his “near kinsman”, and he has called
the Elders of the city as witnesses of this conversation.]
3. And he said unto the kinsman, “Naomi, that is come again out of the country of
Moab, sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
4. “And cI thought to advertise thee, saying, ‘dBuy it, ebefore the inhabitants, and
before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it; redeem it: But if you will not
redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it, besides
you: And I am after you. And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5. Then said Boaz, “On the day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy
it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the
dead upon his inheritance.” [Boaz is reminding the “near kinsman”, before the
elders of Judah, of the laws of Moses about inheritance, concerning a “near
kinsman’s” responsibility, to provide and heir, to continue the genealogy of the
dead husband’s widow. As the closet male relative, the near kinsman must be
given first choice to redeem the widow.]
6. f
And the kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own
inheritance: redeem now my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it.” [The kinsman
now acknowledges his responsibility about inheritance; states that he cannot
redeem it, and then transfers that right and responsibility to Boaz, so he can
redeem it, if he chooses.]
7. g
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning the redeeming and
concerning hchanging, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and
gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. [So, recapping what
has just taken place. Boaz informs the nearest kinsman, in the presence of 10
elders of Israel, that there is a piece of land for sale, the inheritance of Elimelech
and his 2 sons, and of Naomi, the widow of Elimelech. This inheritance is also
shared with Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon. He can redeem it as the
nearest kinsman, but in doing so, he must also take on the responsibility of the
nearest kinsman, and marry the widow, and the first-born son, will take on the
name of her deceased husband, so that his genealogy continues. The nearest
kinsman declines the offer, and transfer the right of inheritance to Boaz, the next
in line as the next “nearest kinsman”.]
8. *** Therefore, the kinsman said unto Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So, to confirm
his decision and the transaction in front of the elder witnesses, he takes off his
shoe.
9. And Boaz said unto the elders and unto the people; “You are witnesses this day,
that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was iChilion’s and Mahlon’s,
of the hand of Naomi. [Now if Orpah had returned with Naomi to Israel, then Boaz
would have been responsible to marry both of them. By not returning, she missed
out on her inheritance in Israel.]
10. “Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my
wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the
dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: you
are witnesses this day.”

a c e h
Compare Joshua 20:4 [h]~ And I said I will Genesis 23:18 Compare Leviticus
b
3:12 reveal in thine ear; 1 f
3:12.13 27:10:13
Samuel 20:2 g i
1:2,4
d
Deuteronomy 25:7,9
Leviticus 25:25
11. And all-of the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses.
The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachael and like
Leah, which two did abuild the house of Israel: and bdo you worthily in cEphratah,
and dbe famous in Bethlehem:
12. “And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, ewhom Tamar bare unto Judah, of
f
the seed which the LORD shall give you of this young woman. [Little did they know
that they were making a very strong prophetic statement. From this line would
come the Messiah, born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah, to proclaim the Name of the
Almighty, with signs and wonders in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem, and in other
places throughout Israel.]
13. So, Boaz gtook Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, hthe
LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14. And ithe woman said unto Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD which has not jleft you
this day without a kkinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15. “And he shall be unto you a restorer of your life, and la nourisher of myour old age:
for the daughter-in-law, which loves you, which is nbetter to you than seven sons,
hath born him.”
16. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
17. oAnd the women her neighbours gave it a name saying, “There is a son pborn to
Naomi; and they called his name qObed (which means ~ servant of God): he is the
father of Jesse, the father of David.
18. Now these are the generations of Pharez: rPharez begat Hezron,
19. And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20. And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21. And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22. And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. [And God promised that from the
root of Jesse, the Messiah would come. So, Ruth, a Gentile, is in the line of the
Messiah, by giving birth to Obed. Never try to put God in a box, because His ways
are higher than our ways, and His thoughts greater than our thoughts. Just pray
that you receive the mind of Christ, so that you are always receptive to hear the
Holy Spirit’s direction for your life.]

CONCLUSION:
So, here we have a four-chapter book, written more than 3,000 years ago, that changes
the whole history of the nation of Israel. However, we must remember that God
Almighty knows the end from the beginning, and this was all part of His plan, made
before the foundations of the world. It also shows that God is not a respecter of persons.
He can choose anyone to do His work ~ if we are hearing His call, and we are prepared
to be obedient to His instructions.

a f k q
Deuteronomy 25:9 See Also 1 Samuel [h]~ Or, Redeemer [h]~ means ~
b
[h]~ get thee riches, 2:20 l
[h]~ to nourish servant of God
g r
or power 3:11 m
[h]~ thy grey hairs 1 Chronicles 2:4-15;
c
Genesis 35:19 h
Genesis 33:5 n Matthew 1:3-6
1 Samuel 1:8
d i
[h]~ Proclaim thy Luke 1:58 o
Luke 1:59
name j
[h]~ caused to cease p
e
Genesis 50:23
Genesis 38:29; unto thee
Matthew 1:3
9