Bible Study Highlights: Ruth
You’ll quickly see that the book of Ruth is more than just a love story. It’s a story about friendship, which is the meaning of the name “Ruth.” This story takes place in the city of Bethlehem. In this first chapter, however, a famine prompts a move away to Moab. Moab is quite the distance away, 300 miles from Bethlehem, and these Moabite people are the descendants from the incestuous union of Lot and his daughters in Genesis 19:37. In fact, intermarriage with foreigners (such as the Moabites) was strictly forbidden (Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3).
Additionally, this book takes place during the time of the judges. After Joshua’s death, people began to follow other gods and do what was right in their own eyes. Yet, despite their disobedience, the Lord raised up judges to call the people back to God. But when a judge died, people would again stray from God. The book of Ruth takes place in these turbulent, violent, and rebellious times.
The following are four, 60-minute InterVarsity-style Bible Study Guides you can lead your small group through.
Ruth 1:1-22 From Bethlehem to Moab
