Chapter 1: 1-5
"Ruth's Relationships"
J. Deering, AncientPath.net

Visualized Text and Questions Only
(Answers are in the Master Study section)

THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB)  (conjunctions & prepositions (and other important words) underlined, words not in original text in italics)  (alternate text in purple)

(1:1a)
Now

    it came about

        in the days when the judges governed (or, judged),

            that there was a famine in the land.

(1:1b)

And

    a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah

        went to sojourn in the land of Moab
            with his (Lit., he, and ...) wife and his two sons.

(1:2)

And

    the name of the man was Elimelech (Name: "my God is King"),
and

    the name of his wife, Naomi (Name: "pleasant, lovely");
and

    the names of his two sons were Mahlon (Name: "puny") and Chilion (Name: "pining"),

Ephrathites (a designation for inhabitants of Bethlehem) of Bethlehem in Judah.

Now

    They entered the land of Moab and

    remained there.

Questions about Ruth 1:1-2

1. What are Judges (in the context of The Book of Judges in the Bible)?

2. How many Judges were there?

3. Why were there Judges in Israel?

4. When was this?

5. What was the problem with Israel during "these days?"

6. What was the spiritual condition of Israel then?

7. What is a famine?

8 . What can be the cause of famine?

9 . What are the effects of a famine?

10. Where was Elimelech from (what town)?

11 . Where was Elimelech from (what tribe)?

12 . Find Bethlehem on a Bible map.

13. Where did Elimelech go?

14. Find the country of Moab on a Bible map.

15. Who were the Moabites (what family did they come from)?

16. Who did Elimelech bring with him to Moab?

17. What does the name Elimelech mean?

18. What was his wife's name?

19. What does the name Naomi mean?

20. What were his son's names?

21. What does the name Mahlon mean?

22. What does the name Chilion mean?

23. What can you say about names in Bible times?

24. What is an Ephratite?

25. Why specifically an Ephratite from Bethlehem?

26. What Biblical characters and events concern Bethlehem.

27. Where was the land of Judah?

28. What Biblical characters and events concern Judah?

29. Spend some time considering the importance of Judah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.

30. What does it mean that they "entered the land of Moab?"

31. What does it mean that they "remained" there?

(1:3)
Then

    Elimelech,
        Naomi's husband,

        died;

and

            she was left with her two sons.

God moves against them for their stiff necks and their sin – Just has He does for the Nation of Israel. Consider this: God’s People Dying of Famine … In The Promised Land.  Naomi looses her husband and then her two sons. She is left alone, even the inheritance that would have been hers from Elimelech – if she lived in this country – was lost, as inheritance was only allowed through the men. Thus everything she had was to be forfeit upon her return to her people of Israel.

And so the Nation as God moves to purify His people. Many lives are lost when God moves against sin and His inheritance remains intact to those who believe and are obedient in their faith.

Questions and Answers about Ruth 1:3

1. The word "then" is often used as a transitional word. What has occurred here that requires this word?

2. Who died?

3. What is his relationship to the story, so far?

4. What is the implication of a Jewish husband’s death on the family status?

5. Where would the inheritance continue with the death of the husband?

6. Who was left with two sons?

7. Who were the two sons?

(1:4a)

And

    they took for themselves Moabite women as wives

        the name of the one was Orpah and
        the name of the other Ruth.

While there they continue their waywardness from God by allowing their sons Mahlon and Chilion to take Moabite women as their wives. The Moabites were not among the list of nations forbidden for marriage to an Israelite, but they were on the list of those who would not be considered to become members of the Nation of Israel, even if proselytized, until after the tenth generation.

Questions and Answers about Ruth 1:4a

1. What did the sons choose to do "for themselves?"

2. What is the implication of the fact that the text says "for themselves?"

3. What is the relationship to this action and "The Times of The Judges?"

4. Did the sons marry "in the faith?"

5. What faith or religion did Moabites practice?

6. Do you think the sons expected to return to Israel?

7. How do you think Naomi felt about their dating and marriage?

8. What were the girl's names?

9. What does the name Orpah mean?

10. What does the name Ruth mean?

(1:4b)
And
    they lived there about ten years.

As is often the case the plans of mice and men often go astray. Elimelech’s family settles in to the land of Moab and no longer become sojourners. They have forsaken Judah and their God. While they are still members of the tribe of Judah they have left the fellowship of their God and are now living amongst the pagans and idolaters of the land of Moab. The famine in Judah, brought about as a chastisement from God for these very acts of the Nation goes on and on – for at least 10 years.

Questions and Answers about Ruth 1:4b

1. How long did they live together in Moab?

2. What is Naomi’s place at this time in the story?

(1:5)
Then

    both (Lit., both of them) Mahlon and Chilion also died;

        and

            the woman was bereft of

                her two children and

                her husband.

We begin this verse with the word “then.” The context indicates a word of “results.” The result of their waywardness (as also the waywardness of the nation of Judah) is the death of many of the rebellious.

Not only is Naomi’s husband dead but also the husbands of her daughter-in-laws (her sons).

Questions and Answers about Ruth 1:5

1. The word "then" is often used as a transitional word. What has occurred here that requires this word?

2. Who dies?

3. Did either Mahlon or Chilion have any off-spring?

4. What is the implication of a Jewish husband’s death on the family status?

5. Where would the inheritance continue with the death of the husbands?

6. Who does it say that was "bereft?"

7. Why is Naomi the center of the story and not the two wives who just lost their husbands?

8. Can you draw some parallels between the story of Naomi and the condition of the Nation of Israel at that time?

9. What can Naomi do to regain her husband’s property and land now that there are no living male descendants and Elimelech's (Nahlon's and Chilion's) property has effectively returned to his family?

The Book of Ruth, Bible Study, J. Deering, AncientPath.net, study materials are a ministry of AncientPath.net, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them.  No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of AncientPath.net. ©2008 AncientPath.net, All rights reserved.

2012-11-20