Ruth’s Literary Low Points and High Points

A number of interpreters of the book of Ruth have rightly noted that although it is named after Ruth, Naomi is the main character. It is Naomi whose life is emptied and then filled. This can be seen in part in the following table.

Naomi Emptied and Filled: Ruth’s Literary Low Points and High Points (Modified from Boyd Luter & Barry C. Davis, God Behind the Seen, pp. 80-81)
Ruth 1:1-5	Point of Comparison	Ruth 4:13-17
Famine in Bethlehem	Initial Circumstances	Wedding in Bethlehem
Marriages and then deaths	Family Events	Back in the land: land reestablished
Blessing of children withheld	Blessing	Blessing of Children bestowed
No help in sight	Possibility of Help	Redeemers: Boaz and Obed
Widow of deceased son	Status of Ruth/Significance to Ruth	Better than seven sons
Emptiness/grief from loss of family	Naomi’s Emotions	Joy at Obed’s birth
Introductory “bookend”	Literary Function	Concluding “bookend”