Ruth and the family of David
About this date: Judges-period story setting, not a dated event or a date of composition.
Ruth's loyalty, incorporation into Israel, and family line lead toward David; the book's composition date is distinct from its setting.
Historical context
Ruth sets a family story of famine, migration, bereavement, and return within the judges period. Gleaning and kinship obligations shape the movement from vulnerability toward a renewed household.
Key points
- Ruth's loyalty joins the stories of a Moabite woman and a Judean widow.
- Harvest work becomes the setting for protection and provision.
- The concluding genealogy links Obed with Jesse and David.
People
- Ruth
- Naomi
- Boaz
- Obed
Scripture
- Ruth 1–4 — Ruth stays with Naomi, meets Boaz, and enters the family line that leads to David.
Sources and further reading
- Ruth 1–4 (King James Version)
Migration, harvest, kinship, and the closing genealogy. - USCCB introduction to Ruth
Literary and historical introduction; retained from the original record.