 | This article is missing information about scholarly perspectives on whether the contents are a historical account or fictional. (August 2024) |
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The Book of Ruth (Hebrew: מְגִלַּת רוּת, Megillath Ruth, "the Scroll of Ruth", one of the Five Megillot) is included in the third division, or the Writings (Ketuvim), of the Hebrew Bible. In most Christian canons it is treated as one of the historical books and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel.[1]
The book, written in Hebrew during the Persian period (c. 550-330 BCE),[2] tells of the Moabite woman Ruth, who accepts Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, as her God and accepts the Israelite people as her own. It differs in legal matters from the Pentateuch and shows the difficulty of confirming widespread Torah-observance in the Persian period.[3]
The book is held in esteem by Jewish converts, as is evidenced by the considerable presence of Boaz in rabbinic literature. It also functions liturgically, as it is read during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot ("Weeks").[4]
- ^ Coogan 2008, p. 8.
- ^ Grabbe 2004, p. 105.
- ^ Grabbe, Lester L. (2004). The History of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Volume 1: Yehud, the Persian Province of Judah. Continuum. p. 105. ISBN 9780567089984.”The book of Ruth also illustrates the complexity of trying to use legal sections of the Old Testament (such as the 'Covenant Code' [Exod. 20-24] and Deuteronomy) as evidence of actual practice, since the book of Ruth differs on several issues from the Pentateuch. For example, the ceremony relating to inheritance where a widow is concerned has some interesting differences from Deut. 25.5-10 ($8.3).”
- ^ Atteridge 2006, p. 383.