UNDERSTANDING RUTH | VITAL STATISTICS

0. Introduction

a) The Bible Book Introductions are divided into 4 parts (Overview, Vital Statistics, Blueprint, Mega-themes) for easy-to-understand.

1. Vital Statistics

@1. Purpose:

a) To show how three people remained strong in character and true to God even when society around them was collapsing.

@2. Author:

a) Unknown. Some think it was Samuel, but internal evidence suggests, that it was written after Samuel's death. 

@3. Date Written:

a) Sometime after the period of the judges (1375-1050 B.C.)

@4. Setting:

a) A dark time in Israel's history when people lived to please themselves, not God (Judges 17:6). 

@5. Key Verse:

a) ¹⁶ But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God. (Ruth 1:16 NKJV)

@6. Key People:

a) Ruth, Naomi, Boaz. 

@7. Key Places:

a) Moab, Bethlehem.