The book of Ruth takes place during a famine, while the Judges ruled Israel.

Naomi’s husband Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabites: Orapah and Ruth. After 10 years in Moab, both of Naomi’s sons died. Naomi went back to Judah after hearing that God was providing bread to the children of Israel.

Naomi instructed her daughter-in-laws to go back home to their mother’s house. They didn’t want to leave Naomi. Orapah left while Ruth clung to Naomi and vowed to stay with her along with her God until her death. “Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.”

Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi’s, had plenty of grain. Ruth asked Naomi if she could go and work in his fields. While she worked, Boaz asked his reapers who she was and they informed him, “the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.” Boaz told her to glean in his field. He commanded the young men not to touch her and she can drink from their vessels.

Ruth asked Boaz why he took notice of her and he said it was reported to him what she did for her mother-in-law and how she left her land and people. Boaz spoke to the reapers and had them let grain purposely fall for her to glean.

Ruth took the grain back to Naomi and told her about Boaz. Naomi instructed Ruth that Boaz was winnowing barley tonight and to put on her best clothes, and when he lies down after eating and drinking to lie at his feet. Ruth did this and asked Boaz to take her under his wing. Boaz told Ruth he would find a close relative for her and he sent her away with plenty of grain for Naomi. According to Jewish law in Deuteronomy 25:5: If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family.Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

Naomi was selling Elimelech’s land. The relative Boaz referred to told Boaz that he could not redeem her inheritance because it would affect his own and he suggested that Boaz redeem it. Boaz bought the land and took Ruth to be his wife. She bore a son and Naomi became a nurse to him. Despite loosing her husband and sons, Naomi had Ruth who loved her as the women of Israel said, “better than seven sons.” Naomi also now had a grandchild who Boaz and Ruth named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of David.