Day 93

Ruth—The Mother of Kings

Ruth 2:10–4:22

I’ve heard you left Moab to come here with Naomi,” Boaz said to Ruth. “You have come under the Lord’s wings. May he reward you.” Boaz gave Ruth food for her lunch and spoke to the harvesters. “Be kind to her. Leave plenty of grain for her gleanings.”

That night Ruth showed Naomi all her gleanings. She told Naomi of the kind rich man. “He is a relative of mine,” Naomi told her. “Stay in his field until the harvest ends.” So Ruth continued to glean the fields of Boaz.

The harvest ended. Boaz held a feast on his threshing floor. After the feast Ruth went to Boaz. Naomi had told her that this was the thing to do. Ruth respectfully spoke. “You are a part of my husband’s family. His father was Elimelech. Please be kind to me and to Naomi for their sake.” Israel’s law said that Boaz could take Ruth into his family.

Boaz soon fell in love with Ruth, and they were married. They named their son Obed. Their grandson was Jesse, the father of David, the king of Israel.

This is how Ruth, the widow of Moab, became the mother of Israel’s kings.

Questions: How did God reward Ruth? Who was Boaz and Ruth’s great-grandson?