Ruth: Deep Dive Two

INTERPRETING OLD TESTAMENT NARRATIVE | NATHAN ROSS

When it comes to the Old Testament the modern believer probably has plenty of mixed feelings, and that’s alright. The Old Testament presents a unique challenge to us, particularly in interpretation. Firstly, the Old Testament has a vastly different cultural setting and background to what we currently experience, and that must be recognised. Secondly, there is a plethora of genres available to the reader. Including poetry, prophecy, law, wisdom, narrative and more. This last genre of narrative makes up the far majority of the Old Testament and is our current concern because the book of Ruth falls under this category. Ruth is a recount of historical events and circumstances and needs to be treated as such. This deep dive will explore the various ‘lenses’ or ‘scopes’ that Old Testament narrative can be viewed in and interpreted through.

This method explores Old Testament narrative from the perspective of three major lenses. It firstly looks at the singular narrative, that is the smallest narrative possible without any extra biblical or contextual influence. This looks solely at the plot, characters, relationships, setting, language, and other narrative details. Then secondly, taking a step back, or zooming out, the narrative is viewed from a historical perspective. This explores aspects of context, geography, politics and in the case of Old Testament narrative Mosaic law. Lastly, we take another step back and view the narrative in the larger plan of God. This is typically the lens modern readers most commonly apply. It considers the whole tenure of scripture and understands the narrative as part what God is achieving through the cosmic history, typically in relation to the person of Christ. In summary, historical narrative can be interpreted through the lenses (1) singular narrative, (2) historical perspective, and (3) the plan of God. Such an interpretive process is useful to recognise that all Old Testament historical narrative incorporate each lens and to isolate one at a time can reveal more about the story than what initially meets the eye. For the remainder of this deep dive such interpretive process will be applied to the book of Ruth.

Let’s begin by exploring the singular narrative of Ruth. When we explore the book from this perspective we isolate to the smallest narrative as best as possible. Note that this technique can be difficult for our exegesis because we very easily jump into a wider biblical application, but it is important at times to practice restraint and understand that recording a historical event can be the main intention of the author. Isolating the narrative as so, we experience a story that originates with the character Naomi who meets unfortunate circumstances of losing her husband and sons, being left with her two daughters-in-law – Ruth and Orpah. Orpah then choosing to return to her home while Ruth refuses and stays with Naomi (Chapter 1). The remaining three chapters (2-4) now revolve around the character Ruth and her future. In the coming chapters we are introduced to the character Boaz. In summary, Boaz, a relative of Ruth, becomes what is called a ‘kinsman-redeemer’ for Ruth. That is, he has the right, to buy Naomi’s land and take Ruth as his wife. In this way he provides safety, belonging, and future hope to the despairing Ruth and Naomi. This may only be a summary of the narrative, but from viewing the singular narrative there are a couple of lessons to be taken away. Firstly, there is an implicit character comparison between Ruth and Orpah. Ruth is the character who we as the readers are encouraged to behave like, because of her ‘screen-time’ for lack of better words. That Ruth exhibits a positive attribute of fierce loyalty that is worth imitating. Secondly, the narrative has a hopeful tone. That even though throughout the story Naomi and Ruth are beset with disaster it ends on a positive note. There is a redemption for both Naomi and Ruth. Despair and hopelessness are never the end.

This takes us into the second ‘lens’ of a historical perspective. Verses 1 and 2 give the largest guide to the historical nature of the narrative. That this account is set “in the days when the judges ruled” and when “there was a famine in the land.” This information paired with the genealogy in chapter 4 means we can position the book of Ruth roughly somewhere between 1300 and 1100 BC. There are many more historical aspects available but for the sake of time there is one found in 2:2 that is particularly useful to explore. This verse says, “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone is whose eyes I find favour.” This verse is a direct reference to part of the Mosaic Law that was in play in the culture at the time. Let’s jump back to Leviticus 19:9-10 that states, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings [that is the leftovers] after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave for the poor and for the sojourner; I am the Lord your God.” The Mosaic law is so often ridiculed or ridden off by modern readers but in Ruth we see firsthand its usefulness in society. For further study also have a look at the law of ‘kinsman redeemer.’ At the heart of the Mosaic law is a concern for the wholeness of the society and this includes a concern for the poor and marginalized. Something to be taken note of by our modern theocracy – the Church.

Lastly, we can view the narrative of Ruth from the widest lens of the overarching plan of God. This is probably the easiest perspective for us. When we understand the person and character of Christ, we can see his nature throughout this story. From such a perspective we can overlap the story of Ruth with our own personal story. We each were lost, in despair, and in need of redeeming, just as Ruth was. And similarly, just as Ruth was in a need of a Boaz for redeeming, so are we. Although our kinsman redeemer we find in the person of Christ. We have Christ to redeem us from our current situation. To take away our present concerns and worries, replacing them with hope for the future. That Christ can take any situation, even one as desperate as Ruth’s and redeem it. Just have a look at that final genealogy. Ruth went from a position of despair to becoming the lineage for the future king of Israel! There is always hope.

Hopefully, it is evident the several layers at work in historical narrative found in the Old Testament. Furthermore, hopefully you feel not only more equipped to take on such narratives with confidence in your interpretation and exegesis but to also be excited to uncover more about the character of our God and the history of our people.

Nathan Ross works has a Bachelor of Theology and works at C3 College. As one of our key New Testament writers, Nathan teaches the book of Ephesians and Romans at C3 College and is a self confessed history nerd.

Ruth: Deep Dive Two

INTERPRETING OLD TESTAMENT NARRATIVE | NATHAN ROSS

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