Based on the timeframe covered and the paltry length, an argument could be made that Ruth ought to be simply another few chapters in the book of Judges. Ruth lived in the time when the Judges ruled the Israeli tribes, the book is thought to be mostly historical, and it is exceptionally short (so short that I almost decided to go right into the next book after finishing it, but I decided to reread Rhythm of War, instead). However, it is so radically different in tone and content from Judges that the story stands much better on its own than it would if it were associated with the previous book.
There are no armies, conquests, or vengeful deities in Ruth. In fact, Jehovah barely appears at all, in contrast to all the previous books, where He fills a prominent role and is often depicted directly interfering with events and speaking with His chosen individuals. Ruth also is not an Israelite – at least, not by birth. She married into an Israelite family, but her husband died, and the assumption seems to be that she would return to her own people at that point. Instead, she follows her mother-in-law back to Naomi’s homeland in a show of familial devotion, where she…remarries to her uncle? The relationship is not exactly clear, though it is clear enough to probably make a modern reader a bit uncomfortable. Then again, compared to many of the relationships and events in previous books, this is downright acceptable.
Some commentary suggests that Ruth is highlighted because her behavior is a contradistinction to that of the other peoples in her region of the world, who were often at odds with the Israelites (sometimes for good reasons, sometimes because tribal conflicts were simply common at the time). The more significant piece may be that her son, adopted by her mother-in-law after his birth, is considered the father of the line of great Israeli kings, and even featured in Jesus’ lineage.
What was most interesting to me is the scale of Ruth. It focuses on individuals and intimate relationships, specifically women, in contrast to the immediately preceding books, and with a very different feel from the family relationships explored in earlier books. It’s refreshing in that way after the dark path Judges treads, and will perhaps feel more familiar to readers who spend most of their time in the New Testament. Ruth comes across as the kind of person you might like to know, something which cannot be said for most of the Biblical figures encountered before her.
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