The book of Ruth tells the story of a young Moabite woman who, out of love and loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, leaves her land and her people to begin a new life in Bethlehem. Through her faithfulness and humble labor in the fields, Ruth finds favor with Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, and her story of grace and love becomes a key link in the ancestral line of King David. It is an intimate and powerful account of kindness, divine providence, and redemption.
The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges of Israel, roughly between the 12th and 11th centuries BC. Although the text does not identify its author, Jewish tradition attributes its writing to the prophet Samuel. It is one of only two books of the Hebrew Bible named after a woman, along with Esther. An interesting fact is that Ruth, a Moabite foreigner, becomes the great-grandmother of King David, placing her directly in the genealogy of Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew. The central concept of the book revolves around the Hebrew word "hesed," meaning loyal love or unfailing kindness.