Ruth

• DatesSet in the days of the judges; written no earlier than David’s time (debated)
• GenreHistory
• AuthorshipAnonymous; Jewish tradition names Samuel
• TimelineConquest & Judges
• Key textsRuth 1; Ruth 2; Ruth 4
• Read the textRuth in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 2

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  The story is set “in the days when the judges ruled” and ends with a genealogy to David.Ruth 1:1; Ruth 4:17–22

• Debated

  Because the genealogy reaches David, the book was written in or after his time. Some scholars date it to the monarchy, others to after the exile, arguing that it responds to the debate over marriage to foreigners in Ezra and Nehemiah.Ezra 9–10

• Christian conclusion

  Ruth, a foreigner, appears in the genealogy of Jesus.Matt 1:5