The Bible Says That!? - Ruth: Ordinary vs. Extraordinary
Click Play below to listen as you read along
Intro
Take the time to read the book of Ruth—it's only 4 chapters long and will only take 10-15 minutes to read. You can read as you listen along if you'd like!
What are you opinions on the book of Ruth?
Have you read it before? What do you think hearing the whole thing all at once does for the story? What perspectives or thoughts do you think about when asked "What is Ruth all about?"
Purpose of the Book of Ruth
What do you think is the main purpose of the book of Ruth?
Who do you think are just regular characters vs who has shown extraordinary characteristics.
Ordinary
How are the following characters simply ordinary?
Mochlon and Chilion—(Husbands to Ruth and Orpah) whose names translate from Hebrew into English as “sicky” and “weaky”
The first husband of Naomi-- He dies before the story even really begins
Orpah—she leaves to return home rather than staying with Naomi
"Mr. so and so"—Chooses not to redeem Naomi.
Extraordinary
How are each of the remaining characters extraordinary?
Ruth—clings to Naomi, listens to Naomi and Boaz, tries to get the redeemer
Naomi—helps Ruth
Boaz—acts as a Kinsman Redeemer, Kindness to Ruth and Naomi
What are your thoughts about the event at the threshing floor?
Why did Ruth go in and lay at his feet, what is the intended end result, what does the feet thing mean? Covering vs un covering
Why was Boaz so quick to help her,
It's important to understand that Ruth and Naomi are very desperate during this situation.
Both of their husbands are dead. They are forced to glean scraps from fields to survive. They will do what they have to do in order to survive.
In other places in the Old Testament, Moabite women are described as being “loose” and their marriages with Israel are always negatively depicted. Usually, they lead Israel astray by worshiping other gods.
I want you to take a minute as you listen to consider the following possibility about the story of Ruth.
Looking at 3:4,7,8, and 14, what translation would we get if we translated the phrases dealing with laying down at his feet or uncovering his feet the same way? I ask this because in the Hebrew text, the Hebrew uses the exact same word in all for verses regarding the whole feet thing.
“Uncover his feet” vs “uncover at his feet”
3:4,7—“(uncover) his feet”-- מַרְגְּלֹתָיו (pronounced "Mar-ga-loh-tive")
3:8, 14—‘(laid down) at his feet.” -- מַרְגְּלֹתָיו (pronounced "Mar-ga-loh-tive")
In vv. 4 and 7, the English leaves out the word "at" rather than including it. Why is this? Why doesn't the English translate it as "She uncovered at his feet?"
If you were to translate them the same you would end up with "she uncovered at his feet." Why is this significant? What does this change within the story? How does this translation help us understand the strangeness of this passage? Does it help us better understand Boaz's actions? Does it make sense in light of what we know about Ruth and Naomi's situation?
The question is “Why do our English versions say Laid down at rather than uncovered at his feet?”
This is seen as a potentially scandalous or embarrassing detail about one of the matriarchs of David and Jesus.
Why do you think Ruth did this?
It is possible that this is a marriage proposition by Ruth to Boaz. Boaz quickly goes into town to fix the issue with the other kinsman redeemer in order to resolve the issue.
Boaz confronts Mr so and so and asks him if he wants to redeem the land, and he says yes. But if he redeems the land, he also gets Ruth and must marry her and bring up children
So perhaps that is why Mr. So and So says no—because he doesn’t want Ruth or her children Leverite law—when a husband dies, the brother must impregnate the woman for an heir
However, the translation may go that Boaz will get Ruth when so and so gets the land. It's possible that Boaz constructs the plan where he gets Ruth no matter what. Basically,
Boaz tells Mr. so and so that so and so will put up the money, but Boaz will marry and the sons will inherit the land. Mr. So and so will front the cash but as soon as Boaz has kids, the land goes back to the kids of Boaz and Ruth. Thus so and so does not take the deal because he knows he will lose the land and the money he paid for the land.
What are your impressions of this story having read it through and discussed it?
What are your opinions on the ordinary vs extraordinary?
Having learned this how has this changed your opinions on Ruth?
Is it worse cause of the possible nakedness and looseness of Moabites? Or is it better because of the Ordinary vs extraordinary/ faithfulness to God and Boaz?
How will this impact your understanding of this story moving forward?