Book of Ruth
Fascinating Facts!

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Outline of the Book of Ruth
Questions and Answers on Ruth
The book of Ruth is tied with several other writings for being the fourth shortest King James Biblical book in terms of chapters. It is the seventeenth shortest book in terms of the verses it contains.

Bethlehem, the place Boaz and Ruth lived, is also referenced as Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2), Ephrath (Genesis 35:19, 48:7) or Ephratah (Ruth 4:11) in the Bible.

[Where is Bethlehem Located?]

The books of Ruth and Esther are the only two in the entirety of the Bible named after women.

A Special Distinction

[Jesus' Genealogy in Matthew]

Ruth holds the distinction of being one of four gentile (non-Jewish) women in Jesus' lineage through Joseph (Matthew 1:5). The other gentiles in Matthew's genealogy are Tamar (1:3), Rachab (Rahab the harlot, 1:5) and Bathsheba (1:6).

Her listing is even more unique when one recognizes that absent from Matthew's genealogy are several other Biblically important women. These include Sarah (Abraham's wife), Rebekah (Isaac's wife) and Leah (through whom Jacob had Judah).

Ruth's name means "friend"or "friendship"(Strong's Concordance #H7327, #G4503).

Leaving Moab Alone

Ruth was from the nation of Moab which was located east of the Dead Sea. Since Moab's father was Lot, whose uncle was the patriarch Abraham, the Lord commanded the ancient Israelites to not take their land as they approached the Promised Land.

[Why is it called the Promised Land?]

And the Lord said to me (Moses), 'Do not besiege Moab, nor fight with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.' (Deuteronomy 2:9, HBFV).

The famine mentioed in Ruth is one of at least sixteen recorded in the Bible (Genesis 12, 26, 41, Ruth 1, 2Samuel 21, 1Kings 18, 2Kings 4, 6, 8, 25, Nehemiah 5, Jeremiah 14, Joel 1, Acts 11, Matthew 24 and Revelation 6).

Outline of the Book of Ruth

Questions and Answers on Ruth

Recommended Articles
Women in the Bible!
Chart of Jesus' Lineage Through Joseph
Who Was Childless in the Bible?
Do Men Have Fewer Ribs than Women?
How Should Women Pray?
Where Is the Dead Sea Located?

Outlines of Bible Books
Genesis  -  Exodus  -  Leviticus
Numbers  -  Deuteronomy  -  Joshua
Judges  -  Ruth  -  1Samuel
2Samuel  -  1Kings  -  2Kings
1Chronicles  -  2Chronicles  -  Ezra
Nehemiah  -  Esther  -  Job
Psalms  -  Proverbs  -  Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon  -  Isaiah  -  Jeremiah
Lamentations  -  Ezekiel  -  Daniel
Hosea  -  Joel  -  Amos
Obadiah  -  Jonah  -  Micah
Nahum  -  Habakkuk  -  Zephaniah
Haggai  -  Zechariah  -  Malachi
Matthew  -  Mark  -  Luke
John  -  Acts  -  Romans
1Corinthians  -  2Corinthians
Galatians  -  Ephesians  -  Philippians
Colossians
1Thessalonians  -  2Thessalonians
1Timothy  -  2Timothy
Titus  -  Philemon  -  Hebrews
James  -  1Peter  -  2Peter
1John  -  2John  -  3John
Jude  -  Revelation

Series References

Antiquities of the Jews
by Josephus
Bible Background
Commentary
Bible Knowledge
Commentary
Bible Reader's
Companion
Biblical Basis for
Modern Science
CIA Factbook
Complete Book
of Bible Lists
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Foxe's Book
of Martyrs
Holman Concise
Bible Commentary
Holy Bible,
a Faithful Version
Who's Who
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Wiersbe Expository
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Wikipedia
Willmington's Guide
to Bible Knowledge
Willmington's Guide to
People in the Bible
WORDsearch
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