Ruth: Surely There is a Future

By E.John Hamlin

The book of Ruth, set in the period of the judges, is a beautiful story of the love, covenant loyalty, and daring initiative of two impoverished widows. Together with a generous open-hearted man, they demonstrate the truth of Proverbs 23:18 that applies to individuals, families, communities, and nations: "Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." In this excellent commentary E. John Hamlin approaches the book of Ruth as literature, as history, as part of the canon, and as truth-telling story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Release date: Dec 12, 1995
• ISBN: 9781467468152

Book preview

THE REMNANT

Ruth 1:1–5

WHEN THE JUDGES RULED

Unlike stories that begin with once upon a time in a far off land …, the story of Ruth is specific as to time: the chaotic and violent period of the judges, that is, after the death of Joshua, the successor to Moses (Judg. 1:1), and before the appearance of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:20), who anointed David as the future king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:13). The force of these seven introductory words, In the days when the judges ruled …, is this: when violence against women, vengeance, idolatry, death, and disintegration were widespread as in the days of the judges, God’s hidden hand was at work preparing a future for the survivor, her family, and her people, and, from a NT perspective, for all peoples of the earth.

FOCUS ON BETHLEHEM

The central importance of Bethlehem in the story of Ruth is shown by the Narrator’s careful choice of words. As the story begins, the family leaves Bethlehem for Moab. Then Naomi, with Ruth by her side, returns to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19), the home of Boaz (2:4). At the end of the story, the wishes of the people of Bethlehem are that the son to be born to Ruth the Moabite will bring fame (a name) to Bethlehem (4:11). This in turn points to the birth of David in Bethlehem (4:17).

Bethlehem in Judah

The main action of the story takes place in the historical city of Bethlehem in Judah (Ruth 1:1, 2). Readers will note that the last two episodes of idolatry and violence in the book of Judges both begin in Bethlehem in Judah (Judg. 17:7, 9; 19:1, 18). Against that background, the Narrator seems to suggest that the story of Ruth, beginning and ending in Bethlehem in Judah, marks a new era of covenant faithfulness and loyalty. Readers of the NT will also note that this exact phrase does not occur again in the OT, but that the phrase Bethlehem of Judea is once again the place where a new beginning is made with the birth of Jesus (Matt. 2:1,