Beginning of the Davidic Line

Ruth 1-4

Before we move on to the next book of the Tanakh, Samuel 1, lets have a quick stop off in the book of Ruth. Its a very short book, only four chapters, but it is actually a very important book for a few reasons. However, before we get into the content of the book let's have a look at the book itself.

In the Jewish Tanakh the Book of Ruth is included in the final category of collected scriptures known as the Ketuvim or the Writings. This collection of scripture is attributed to the Holy Spirit of Yahweh and can be further classified so as to have eleven books total in this division of the Tanakh. Chronicles I and II are considered one book. This is the case with the two prophets Ezra and Nehemiah. In Jewish tradition these are combined to form one book. The Ketuvim can be broken into three distinct sub-divisions. The Poetic Books (Psalms, Proverbs, and Job), Hamesh Megillot The Five Scrolls (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther), and finally the last three that have no official grouping (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles).

Tradition says that the book of Ruth was written either by Samuel or King David himself. However, since the book mentions David the author could not have been Samuel. Also, since the story takes place during the story of the Judges it was thought that the Deuteronomist had a hand at authoring this story, but there is very little evidence to support this idea. The writing styles of this book are what make it so difficult to place. There is a mixture of very old, archaeic Hebrew and a more modern Hebrew as well as some Aramaic.

The older Hebrew suggests that the story was written as far back as the first millenium B.C.E. However, with the addition of the modern Hebrew and Aramaic some scholars believe that the book may have been written as early as 500 B.C.E with archaic Hebrew added to the text to give it an older feeling. Sadly, neither of these theories helps identify an author.

Now, to the importance of the story itself. In the Christian Tradition the order of the Tanakh was altered so as to give a more linear telling of the story. Even though the Book of Ruth comes near the end of the Old Testament the setting of the story is during the time of the Judges. The major theme of the Book of Ruth is the fact that birth is not the only way to become a follower of Yahweh. Ruth, a Moabite, marries into the House of Israel. After her husbands death she is given the chance to return to her culture, but she decides to go with her mother-in-law back to Israel. Through a series of events she is married to a relative of her deceased husband, Boaz. Ruth and Boaz are also the great-grandparents of Israel's greatest king, David. Yes! The very same David that threw a rock and defeated Goliath. David, and therefore Ruth, is one of the ancestors of the New Testament's, Jesus.




But that's another story...