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SURVEY OF BIBLE HISTORY
(THE JUDGES TO THE KINGS)
Introduction to Ruth & Boaz

Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1998
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Lesson 19

Ruth 1:1 & Judges 10:1-5

X. THE STORY OF RUTH & BOAZ.

A. The time of Ruth and Boaz comes as a result of deducting from certain stated times:

1. We know from Ruth 1:1 that the events recorded in the book of Ruth occurred "in the days when the Judges ruled. 11 Which judge was ruling at the time is not stated, but we know the events occurred at a time when "There was a famine in the land" of Israel, Ruth 1:1. We know too that famines during that era occurred only as a direct result of sin by God's people, the Israelites. They were living under a covenant with God in which He promised rain and agricultural prosperity as long as they lived righteously, Deut. 28:1-14 , and droughts, curses, and famines whenever they lived sinfully, Deut. 28:15-68. The fact that Ruth 7 says there was a famine in the land tells us that as the story begins, there was deep sin in the land and they were experiencing the chastening of God as a direct result thereof. During the ten years Naomi, one of the central figures of Ruth, was out of the country, the scene in Bethlehem-judah changed from famine to prosperity, Ruth 1:6. This says repentance and a spiritual revival had occurred.

2. We also know from I Kings 6:1 that the period of time from the Exodus to the 4th year of King Solomon's reign was 480 years. Furthermore, Acts 13:21 says the time of the judges was "about the space of 450 years, until Samuel the prophet." We must conclude that God reckoned the time of the judges to begin with the Exodus since from that point to the end of Samuel is about 450 years. Adding to those 450 years a period of forty years for the reign of King Saul, we have 490 years.

3. Ruth 4:18-22 lists a genealogical table ending with the birth of King David, whom we know from I Sam, 16 was born to Jesse during the judgeship of Samuel. From this same passage we can see that David was a young boy, apparently early teens, while Saul was a young King.

4. All of this information is important in determining just where the story of Ruth and Boaz occurs during the era of the judges. By taking a reverse look at the genealogical table in Ruth 4:18 we can estimate the events of Ruth and Boaz occurred about 120 years before the birth of King David. David was the eighth son of Jesse. Estimating Jesse to have been forty years old when David was born, and Obed (Jesse's father) to have been forty years old at Jesse's birth, and Boaz (Obed's father) to have been forty years old at Obed's birth, we have a total of 120 years. (These are estimates; but considering life-spans and the age of fathers when children are normally born, and allowing for the evidence which seems to say these sons were born in the older years of their fathers, I Sam. 17:12 these estimates do not seem far from accurate.)

Counting 120 years backward from King David's birth would take us through approximately ten years of Saul's reign (Study II Sam. 5:4), approximately twenty years of judgeship by Samuel before Saul reigned, forty years for the Philistine oppression (including the years of Samson), through the eight year judgeship of Abdon, through the ten year judgeship of Elon, through the seven year judgeship of Ibzan, through the six year judgeship of Jephthah, through the eighteen year oppression by the Ammonites, and somewhere into the time of Jair (22 years) or Tola (23 years), depending on how old the fathers of Ruth 4:18-22 were when the sons were born.

5. Though the dating of Ruth is not exact, we know by considering this story at this point, we are chronologically very near the time of its occurrence.

B. In order to better understand the story of Ruth and Boaz, let us look at the two judges, the judgeship of one in which time Ruth and Boaz apparently lived:

1. The judges are Tola and Jair, neither of which is discussed with any great detail in the scriptures. Because of the lack of detail given to them, they are considered minor judges.

2. At the death of Abimelech, "There arose to defend Israel Told the son of Puah" Judges 10:1. Only Judges 10:1-2 mention him. He was a man of Issachar, though he lived at a place called Shamir in Mount Ephraim. This is the same place where both Eleazer the son of Aaron was buried, Josh. 24:33, Joshua was buried, Judges 2:9- and where Samuel was born, I Sam. 1:1. Though the exact location of Shamir is uncertain, Mount Ephraim is about fifteen miles west of Shiloh and five miles southeast of Eben-ezer where God through Samuel defeated the Philistines in I Sam. 7:9-12.

The name Tola means "worm.' We do not know specifically what the sins of Israel were at this time, nor who or what type enemies she had. They could have been external enemies like the Midianites or internal enemies like Abimelech. And they could have been domestic enemies like pestilence, drought, and famine. In view of the story of Ruth, it is my personal opinion that this is the kind of trouble Israel was in under Tola.

The message of Tola seems to be that God can use even "a worm" to deliver and lead. This, of course, is because God is the real deliverer; not the man. And, God can use any tool He chooses, however feeble. As young David put it in I Sam. 17:47 The Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands ."In Hosea 1:7, God wrote, "But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. " And HE said in Zech. 4:6 "no not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts." No wonder King David wrote, "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies and hast put them to shame that hated us," Psa. 44:6-7.

Oh, what hope that message is to each of us. Whoever we are, and however weak we may be, God can use us to do great works in His service. Although, He seldom does so until we recognize ourselves for what we really are: weak, unworthy, just "worms." Jesus said, "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant," Matt. 20:27. Strangely, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty'' Matt. 1:27. That is how it still is. If you want God to make a Tola out of you, humble yourself as just a worm before Him.

3. Following Tola, God raised up Jair to judge Israel for 22 years, Judges 10:3-5 He was of the half tribe of Manasseh from east of the upper Jordan and Sea of Galilee. This was the area of Gilead. The thirty sons each with an "ass-colt" indicates wealth and distinction. There were no horses in Israel at that time; thus, the thirty ass-colts marked prestige.

Again, the sins and enemies of Israel at the time are unknown. And again, my suspicion is that they were internal, setting the stage for Ruth and Boaz' story.

Jair, meaning "he enlightens" died and was "buried in Camon." Ruins have been identified with this place about one mile northwest of the modern village of Qumin

4. The combined judgeships of those two minor judges combine for 45 years of relative peace for Israel from any major outside or internal dominating, oppressing person or nation, thus a very likely time for the story of Ruth and Boaz.

 

QUESTIONS ON "INTRODUCTION TO RUTH & BOAZ"

Ruth 1:1 & Judges 10:1-5

1. How may one go about establishing the time of the story of Ruth & Boaz?

2. How exact may one become on the date of the story of Ruth & Boaz?

3. How are we sure the story occurred during the era of the judges?

4. What does "the famine" in Judah at the time say about the spiritual condition of the people?

5. How was "rain" and the sins of Israel connected at that time?

6. What happened in Bethlehem-judah between Ruth 1:1 and Ruth 1:6?

7. How many years elapsed between the Exodus and the 4th year of Solomon's reign?

8. How long does Acts 13:21 say the period of the Judges lasted?

9. How important is the genealogical table in Ruth 4:18-22 in locating the time of Ruth?

10. In verse se judgeship was King David born.

11. How do we conclude that the story of Ruth & Boaz occurred approximately 120 years before the birth of King David?

12. Why are Tola and Jair called Minor judges?

13. Name notable events that have occurred on Mt. Ephraim.

14. Where is mount Ephraim located?

15. What is the meaning of the name Tola?

16. What is the spiritual lesson of Tola's name in light of his deeds?

17. What does the lesson of Tola say to you?

18. where was Jair's judgeship headquartered?

20. How compatible are the conditions in the judgeship of Tola and Jair to conditions in the story of Ruth and Boaz?

 "It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"