Ruth 1:1-18

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "This book is called Ruth, who is the main person spoken of in this writing. In which also the state of the Church is set forth figuratively, being subject to many afflictions and yet eventually God gives good and joyful offspring, teaching us to abide with patience till God delivers us out of troubles."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Those that take upon them a profession of religion only to oblige their friends, or for the sake of company, will be converts of small value. If they did come with her, she would have them make it their deliberate choice, and sit down first and count the cost, as it concerns those to do who make a profession of religion. And more desire "rest in the house of a husband," or some wordly settlement or earthly satisfaction, than the rest to which Christ invites our souls; therefore when tried they will depart from Christ, though perhaps with some sorrow."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "For her condition was so mean at this time, that Ruth, when she came to her mother's city, was forced to glean for a living. It is with me, that God has a controversy. This language becomes us, when we are under affliction; tho' many others share in the trouble, yet we are to hear the voice of the rod, as if it spake only to us. But did not she wish to bring them to the worship of the God of Israel? Undoubtedly she did. But she would have them first consider upon what terms, lest having set their hand to the plow, they should look back."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "That Naomi should dissuade her daughters-in-law so strongly from accompanying her to the land of Israel may appear strange. But it was the wisest and most prudent course for her to adopt: first, because they might be influenced by hopes which could not be realized; second, because they might be led, under temporary excitement, to take a step they might afterwards regret; and, third, because the sincerity and strength of their conversion to the true religion, which she had taught them, would be thoroughly tested."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Ruth 1:1-17, Rudy Rasmus, The African American Lectionary, 2009.
    • "Thank God for family and family loyalty. Although we have come through much in this country that has destroyed and weakened our families, we are still here and still celebrating the blessing of family."
  • "Wherever You Go," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, i.UCC.org, 2009.
    • "How is your church striving to keep promises purely out of love and faithfulness, in spite of societal pressure and conventional wisdom about a safer, more reasonable course?"
  • "Ruth: Resident Alien with a Face," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Immigration," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008.
  • Megillat RUTH: Hesed and Hutzpah, A Literary Approach, study guide by Noam Zion, Tichon Program, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem, 2005.
  • "Immigration," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches, 2006.
  • Ruth 1:1-18, Pentecost 22, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "One can think of people in our society, congregation and world who have gone beyond the requirements to care for and show loving kindness to those who have been rejected or ostracised by society."
  • Ruth 1:1-18, Pentecost 22B, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
  • "And She Blessed Them Both," Kimberly Knight, Day1, 2009.
    • "I hear in my own life a call to love those who chose to stay behind in a theology of literalism and punitiive justice AS WELL AS those who are determined to journey with me into a life with the God of love, radical hospitality and social justice."
  • "The Only Thing To Do," Martin B. Copenhaver, The Christian Century, 1994.
    • "God does not leave when the going gets tough, when we are as destitute as an ancient Near Eastern widow. God is not committed to us because it is in God's interest, or for any other good reason."
• Articles & Background:
  • "The Determination of Social Identity in the Story of Ruth," Victor H. Matthews, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2006.
    • "...the issue raised here is the manner in which displaced individuals are able to integrate of reintegrate themselves into a local community. The process, as exemplified in the story of Ruth and Naomi, demonstrates the movement from a liminal social condition to a liminal spatial placement to a defined social condition within an established social space."
  • "Ruth: Resident Alien with a Face," Michael S. Moore, Christian Ethics, Baylor University, 2008.
    • "The biblical story of Ruth challenges our easy assumptions about immigrants today, especially when we put to it two simple questions: 'What challenges does Ruth the immigrant face as she accompanies her mother-in-law Naomi to Judah?' and 'How does God help her meet these challenges?'"
  • "Friendship in the Bible," Benedict Janecko, Spiritual Life, 2002.
    • "In our culture today, there is much talk about 'love' but relatively little about friendship."
  • "Joan Chittister: The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible," Donna Freitas, Publishers Weekly, 2006.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Bankson, Marjory Zoet, "Seasons of Friendship," The Living Pulpit, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Baylis, Charles P., "Naomi in the Book of Ruth in Light of the Mosaic Covenant," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bovell, Carlos, "Symmetry, Ruth and Canon," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brenner, Athalya, "Naomi and Ruth," Vetus Testamentum, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Britt, Brian, "Unexpected Attachments: A Literary Approach to the Term HSD in the Hebrew Bible," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Copenhaver, Martin B., "The Only Thing To Do," The Christian Century, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fewell, Dann Nolan, and David M. Gunn, "'A Son Is Born to Naomi!': Literary Allusions and Interpretation in the Book of Ruth," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1988.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Howell, James C., "Ruth 1:1-18," Interpretation, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Korzenik, Emily Faust, "The Child in Judaism and in Jewish Life," The Living Pulpit, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Maluleke, Tinyiko Sam, and Sarojini Nadar, "The Agency of the Oppressed Discourse: Consciousness, Liberation and Survival in Theological Perspective," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Manor, Dale W., "A Brief History of Levirate Marriage as it Relates to the Bible," Restoration Quarterly, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Martin, Michael W., "Betrothal Journey Narratives," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Schmitt, David R., "Homiletical Helps on the LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 318)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Mark S., "'Your People Shall Be My People': Family and Covenant in Ruth 1:16-17," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Walkup, Robert H., "But Ruth Clung to Her: A Sermon on Ruth 1:1-18," Journal of Family Ministry, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Weisberg, Dvora E., "The Widow of Our Discontent: Levirate Marriage in the Bible and Ancient Israel," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ziegler, Yael, "'So Shall God Do...' Variations of an Oath Formula and Its Literary Meaning," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "The Word We Don't Mention," Samuel Wells, Faith and Leadership, 2009.
  • Ruth 1:1-18, Jim Mueller, November 5, 2006, All Saints Day, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "The Story of Ruth: Moments of Loss and Faith," Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2001.
  • "Running on Empty, Arriving on Full," the Rev. Sid Burgess, Day 1, 2000.
• With Children:
  • "Ruth," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Life's Not Fair! The Story of Ruth," Jennifer Edwards, The Children's Chapel.
  • "Ruth Chooses to Stay with Naomi," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Ruth, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Abraham Journeyed to a New Country, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, BUNESSAN 5.5.5.4 D (“Morning Has Broken”), A hymn for the church’s ministry with immigrants.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Ruth
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Love
  • Covenant
  • Justice/Injustice
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Ruth