BIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE: RUTH - Making good choices    BIBLE HEROINES: RUTH - The value of common sense

               RUTH

       LOVE IS IN THE AIR.....

  PEOPLE IN THE STORY

  FAMOUS QUOTES

  BIBLE REFERENCE

  EXTRA WEBSITES

  ACTIVITIES/QUESTIONS

RUTH BECOMES A YOUNG WIDOW

Ruth was a Moabite woman, and therefore from the nation that was one of Israel's traditional enemies. She was an outsider. But she married an Israelite and joined his family while they were living in Moab.

Her husband died, as did her brother-in-law, also a Moabite, and her father-in-law. When this happened, her mother-in-law Naomi decided she had no alternative but to return to her homeland, and to the village her family came from - Bethlehem. Fond as she was of her daughters-in-law, she prepared to say good-bye to both of them.

One of them however, Ruth, showed unexpected loyalty and insisted on staying with her. 'Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.' The two women returned to Bethlehem together, in time for the harvest.

The two women were more or less destitute, but resourceful. Ruth decided she would help glean the barley in the fields, to feed herself and Naomi and to get a store of grain for winter. Gleaning was a form of charity for the disadvantaged in ancient Israel. The poor could walk behind the harvesters, picking up what was left. This is what Ruth did.

BOAZ FALLS IN LOVE WITH RUTH

Ruth went to the field of Boaz, a rich relative of Naomi’s. Boaz was, as it happens, an ideal match for any young woman. He was single, childless, well respected and rich. He was also a relative of Naomi’s through her husband’s family, so he had a legal obligation to help Naomi.  

It was not long before Boaz came to the field to see how the harvest was going, and saw Ruth. It was love at first sight. He fell over himself to help her, going to elaborate lengths to get extra grain for Ruth, to protect her from young men who might hassle her, and to see that she was well fed. No doubt the workers noticed, and some of them reported back to Naomi.

'Lying beside Boaz, Ruth suggested that because he was a relative of her dead husband, he should ‘cover her with his blanket’, a euphemism for marriage.  Boaz happily agreed....'
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Naomi devised a plan to prod Boaz into marrying Ruth. She knew men, and she gave Ruth specific instructions on everything she must do. Ruth had the good sense to listen. She perfumed herself, dressed in her most becoming clothes, and waited at the threshing floor until Boaz had eaten a good meal - a man with a full stomach was easier to handle. 

ON THE THRESHING FLOOR

When Boaz finally lay down to sleep, Ruth approached him where he lay on the threshing floor - someone always slept there at night until the grain was removed, to guard against thieves. 

Lying beside Boaz, Ruth suggested that because he was  a relative of her dead husband, should ‘cover her with his blanket’, a euphemism for marriage.  Boaz happily agreed, but pointed out to her that there was another man who had that right, a closer relative even than himself. 

Ruth stayed beside Boaz until morning, stealing away before first light to return to Naomi, who pounced on her and demanded to know how things had gone. Was Ruth to be married or single? The two women waited impatiently to see how events would unfold.

But the outcome was never really in doubt. Ruth and Boaz were married, and she had a son, Obed - who was the grandfather of King David. Naomi, who had lost her husband and two sons, now had a grandson, whom she 'laid in her bosom', becoming his nurse. And they lived happily ever after.

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BIBLE REFERENCE
Book of Ruth 1-4

PEOPLE IN THE STORY
Ruth: a young foreign widow who married a wealthy Israelite. She bore a son Obed, who was the grandfather of King David and an ancestor of Jesus of Nazareth.
Naomi, her shrewd mother-in-law who advised her how to get a second husband, and was rewarded by the birth of a grandson.
Boaz, the wealthy Israelite who married Ruth and became the father of Obed.

FAMOUS QUOTES
'Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.' (Ruth 1:16-17)

  EXTRA SITES - stories, pictures, reconstructions                         

Two women's loyalty to each other - BIBLE WOMEN: RUTH AND NAOMI

Only a young woman, but Ruth makes good choices - BIBLE TOP TEN: YOUNG PEOPLE: RUTH 

Gleaning, and the sort of work that women did - BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY: WORK 

Paintings, sculptures, artwork on Ruth, Naomi and Boaz - BIBLE ART: RUTH

Ruth as one of the great heroines of the Bible - BIBLE TOP TEN: HEROINES: RUTH

Choosing a husband, and marrying him - BIBLE WOMEN: MAJOR EVENTS 

Clothes she wore, houses she lived in - BIBLE WOMEN: CLOTHING AND HOUSING 

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ACTIVITIES AND FOCUS QUESTIONS


Debate: An arranged marriage or a marriage for love?
Topic: 'that arranged marriages have a better chance of success than marriages for love’
·     Divide into two groups, one to argue for the statement, one to argue against.
·     Brainstorm points for your argument, and points the other side may raise.
·     Choose the speakers for each group.
·     Nominate a chairperson to regulate the debate.
·     Find out the rules for debating; make sure everyone knows these rules.
·     Choose/invite a panel of judges.
·     Hold the debate.
·     Listen to feedback from the panel.
·     Have a debriefing session where members of the team speak about the experience, with appropriate feedback and opinions.

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Acting the Part
Imagine that you are one of the people mentioned in the story of Ruth, then try answering the questions:
  *   A women of Bethlehem who greets Naomi and Ruth on their return. 
What is your reaction to the return of Naomi, whom you have not seen for years? 
How has she changed? 
What do you think of the new woman, a Moabite, whom Naomi has brought with her? 
Now describe the scene, and what you think about it.

  *  One of the workers in the field. 
What is your opinion of your employer Boaz? 
What do you see going on between Boaz and the newly arrived foreign woman, Ruth? 
What do you think about it? 
Now describe the scene, and your reaction.

  *  One of the elders at the city gates. You are aware of rumors about Boaz and Ruth, and you have known Boaz and Naomi for many years. 
What do you think about recent events concerning these three? 
What are your opinions about the people involved? 
Now describe the scene, and your reaction.

The 'Interesting Websites'  immediately above this section may help with background information.

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Women in films
Identify recent films that highlight the creativity of relationships between women, either in a family situation, for example mother/daughter, sisters, grandmother/granddaughter, or between friends.
What methods did the film use to present the relationship? 
Has the relationship been favorable, unfavorable or both? 
Explain your point of view.

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Focus Questions for the story of Ruth
1. What were the most interesting moments in Ruth's story? 
2. In the story, who speaks and who listens? Who acts? Who gets what they want? 3. If you were in the story, which person would you want to be friends with? Which person would you want to avoid?
4. What is God's interaction with the main characters? What does this tell you about the narrator's image of God? Do you agree with this image? Is it yours?
5. What is happening on either side of the story, in the chapters before and after it? Is this important?
6. The narrator/editor has chosen to tell some things and leave other things out. What has been left out of the story that you would like to know?
7. Are the elements of the story still present in the world? How is the story relevant to modern life, especially your own?  

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In-depth study of one person's story
Choose one of the people whose stories are told on this site and develop a PowerPoint presentation about them.
The presentation must be at least 10 slides long and should include 
 *  a supporting image/picture/painting of each person 
 *  a map of Israel showing the cities and areas where the story took place.  
You may call up other websites to support your ideas.

In your presentation (approximately 10 minutes), answer the following questions:

1. What are the main events of the person's life? Tell the story.

2. What were their main qualities? What made them stand out from the crowd?

3. What obstacles did they face? Did they overcome them, or go with the flow? Explain.

4. How did they use their abilities to do God’s work?  

5. Which part of their story appeals to you most? Why?

You must include three short quotations from the Bible texts to illustrate the points you are making. 

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Bible Stories: People of the Old Testament - Bible Study Resource: Ruth, Naomi and Boaz