Ruth

A friend, a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab. On the death of Elimelech and Mahlon, Naomi came with Ruth, her daughter-in-law, who refused to leave her, to Bethlehem, the old home from which Elimelech had migrated. There she had a rich relative, Boaz, to whom Ruth was eventually married. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David. Thus Ruth, a Gentile, is among the maternal progenitors of our Lord (Matt. 1:5). The story of “the gleaner Ruth illustrates the friendly relations between the good Boaz and his reapers, the Jewish land system, the method of transferring property from one person to another, the working of the Mosaic law for the relief of distressed and ruined families; but, above all, handing down the unselfishness, the brave love, the unshaken trustfulness of her who, though not of the chosen race, was, like the Canaanitess Tamar (Gen. 38:29; Matt. 1:3) and the Canaanitess Rahab (Matt. 1:5), privileged to become the ancestress of David, and so of ‘great David’s greater Son’” (Ruth 4:18-22).

(a female friend) a Moabitish woman, the wife, first of Mahlon, second of Boaz, the ancestress of David and Christ, and one of the four women who are named by St. Matthew in the genealogy of Christ. A severe famine in the land of Judah induced Elimelech, a native of Bethlehem—ephratah, to emigrate into the land of Moab, with his wife Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. This was probably about the time of Gideon, B.C. 1250. At the end of ten years Naomi now left a widow and childless, having heard that there was plenty again in Judah, resolved to return to Bethlehem, and her daughter-in-law Ruth returned with her. They arrived at Bethlehem just at the beginning of barley harvest, and Ruth, going out to glean, chanced to go into the field of wheat, a wealthy man and a near kinsman of her father-in-law, Elimelech. Upon learning who the stranger was, Boaz treated her with the utmost kindness and respect, and sent her home laden with corn which she had gleaned. Encouraged by this incident, Naomi instructed Ruth to claim at the hand of Boaz that he should perform the part of her husband’s near kinsman, by purchasing the inheritance of Elimelech and taking her to be his wife. With all due solemnity, Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, amidst the blessings and congratulations of their neighbors. Their son, Obed, was ’the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

RUTH (a friend, or, according to others, beauty), a Moabitish woman, Ruth 1:4, who married a son of Naomi and showed her strong attachment to her mother-in-law by leaving her own country and following her mother-in-law into Judaea. Her kindness was abundantly rewarded, as she soon found favor in the eyes of a kinsman, who afterward married her, through which event she became the ancestor of the royal family of David.

RUTH, THE BOOK OF, so called, not from the author, but from the chief person, Ruth the Moabitess, is properly inserted between Judges and Samuel, as it is an appendix to the former and an introduction to the latter. The history relates to the time of the Judges, Ruth 1:1, perhaps during the judicature of Gideon, about b.c. 1241 or later, and forms a bright contrast to the dark and chaotic state of society at that time. It is a beautiful episode of domestic life, showing how domestic virtues may be practised and domestic happiness enjoyed even in periods of revolution and anarchy. By the urgency of famine, Elimelech was obliged to emigrate with his family from Canaan to Moab where he died, leaving a widow, Naomi or Noami, and two sons, who married women of Moab by the names of Orpah and Ruth. On the death of the sons the widowed mother resolved to return to her country, and thereby she put the filial affection of her daughters-in-law to a severe test. But Ruth accompanied her with a devotion that was prepared for every sacrifice: "Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I shall lodge," etc. Ruth 1:16-17. They arrived at Bethlehem in extreme poverty, and Ruth went out to glean after the reapers in the harvest-field of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of her deceased father-in-law. Attracted by her personal appearance and filial devotion, he encouraged her return from day to day, and, after redeeming the patrimony of Elimelech, married her. From this union sprang Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, and through him our Saviour according to the flesh. Matt 1:6. The age and authorship of this book cannot be definitely ascertained, but it cannot have been written before the time of David, since he is mentioned as the last in the genealogy. Ruth 4:18-22. It has been variously ascribed to Samuel, Hezekiah, and Ezra. The practical lessons of the book are manifold and impressive - the sure reward of filial devotion and trust in God; the true use of the calamities of life; the overruling providence of God in the private affairs of a humble family as well as in the palace of princes and the public events of nations. It also shows that God had children outside of Canaan and the Jewish theocracy, and the incorporation of Ruth into the Church of the O.T. may be regarded as an intimation of the future call of the Gentiles to the gospel salvation.

drunk; satisfied

RUTH, THE BOOK OF, so called, not from the author, but from the chief person, Ruth the Moabitess, is properly inserted between Judges and Samuel, as it is an appendix to the former and an introduction to the latter. The history relates to the time of the Judges, Ruth 1:1, perhaps during the judicature of Gideon, about b.c. 1241 or later, and forms a bright contrast to the dark and chaotic state of society at that time. It is a beautiful episode of domestic life, showing how domestic virtues may be practised and domestic happiness enjoyed even in periods of revolution and anarchy. By the urgency of famine, Elimelech was obliged to emigrate with his family from Canaan to Moab where he died, leaving a widow, Naomi or Noami, and two sons, who married women of Moab by the names of Orpah and Ruth. On the death of the sons the widowed mother resolved to return to her country, and thereby she put the filial affection of her daughters-in-law to a severe test. But Ruth accompanied her with a devotion that was prepared for every sacrifice: "Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I shall lodge," etc. Ruth 1:16-17. They arrived at Bethlehem in extreme poverty, and Ruth went out to glean after the reapers in the harvest-field of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of her deceased father-in-law. Attracted by her personal appearance and filial devotion, he encouraged her return from day to day, and, after redeeming the patrimony of Elimelech, married her. From this union sprang Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, and through him our Saviour according to the flesh. Matt 1:6. The age and authorship of this book cannot be definitely ascertained, but it cannot have been written before the time of David, since he is mentioned as the last in the genealogy. Ruth 4:18-22. It has been variously ascribed to Samuel, Hezekiah, and Ezra. The practical lessons of the book are manifold and impressive - the sure reward of filial devotion and trust in God; the true use of the calamities of life; the overruling providence of God in the private affairs of a humble family as well as in the palace of princes and the public events of nations. It also shows that God had children outside of Canaan and the Jewish theocracy, and the incorporation of Ruth into the Church of the O.T. may be regarded as an intimation of the future call of the Gentiles to the gospel salvation.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness. [Poetic] "They weep for ruth." Chaucer. "Have ruth of the poor." Piers Plowman. To stir up gentle ruth, Both for her noble blood, and for her tender youth. Spenser.

2. That which causes pity or compassion; misery; distress; a pitiful. [Obs.] It had been hard this ruth for to see. Chaucer. With wretched miseries and woeful ruth. Spenser.