The Rabbis have always divided the TANAKH or the Hebrew Bible into the following 3 parts:
TORAH (the Law)
NEVI’IM (the Prophets)
KETUVIM (the Writings)
Later on, they selected and grouped the following 5 books together for worship purposes in the Synagogue.
The Song of Solomon
Ruth
Lamentations
Ecclesiastes
Esther
This set of 5 books is called MEGILLOT and literally means “scrolls”.
Portions from each of these books are read aloud in the Synagogue depending on the time of year and which Biblical event or feast is being celebrated.
For example, Esther is read during Purim.
So here’s a question for you.
Do you know during which observance Ruth is read?
The answer is during SHAVUOT or “Pentecost” as the gentiles call it.
Alrighty, let’s get our bearings and summarize the key points we’ve gone over the past couple of days.
FIRST, Ruth was written sometime between 900 and 600 B.C. (after King Solomon’s reign but before the Babylonian exile).
SECOND, this book takes place during the time of Judges…I would say around the time of Gideon (Steven, I’m aware you differ with me on this).
THIRD, depending on where Ruth is located in your Bibles, you can instantly know whether it was translated from the Greek (the Septuagint) or the original Hebrew text (the Tanakh).
FOURTH, the name ELIMELECH (Ruth’s father-in-law) is a name that is in Aramaic form.
FINALLY, the word Ruth itself means “friendship” and I would say that is the overall theme woven throughout this whole book…
Honestly, I’m so glad to be in Ruth.
It’s such a breath of fresh air after the wild and wacky chaos we experienced going through Judges.
So see ya all next time.
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