Ruth, Session 1, Background

BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

We begin our study of Ruth.  Here is the audio of the discussion of the background of Ruth.  This cultural, linguistic and historical background helps us understand what Ruth is about and why Ruth is important.  Enjoy.

The first Ruth session.

[audio:https://skipmoen.com/audio/ruth-background.mp3]

(To listen, hit the Play button above, or right-click here, select “Save as…” and download the file to your computer.)

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Rodney

Skip/Patrick – the link to session 1 isn’t working. Session 2 is OK.

Skip Moen, Ph.D.

Sorry. Fixed!

Rodney

Thankyou. 🙂

daniel

Shalom skip, todah rabah, looking forth to all the explanation and better understanding of ruth, daniel , george south africa

Rodney

Skip,

One comment about a statement that was made here in the discussion about Yitro (Jethro). Someone stated that he was a Moabite priest, but this is incorrect – he was priest of Midian – a Midianite. Midian was the 4th son of Abraham and Keturah (born after the death of Sarah).

Gen 25:1-4 KJV – “[1] Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah. [2] And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. [3] And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. [4] And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.”

Midian was killed in the field of Moab by a descendant of Esau (Gen 36). Jethro was one of his descendants (and thus a direct descendant of Abraham).

Exd 2:16 KJV – “[16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew [water], and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.”

Exd 3:1 KJV – “[1] Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.”

Exodus 18 talks a lot more about Jethro and Moses.

The Midianites show up some time later in Numbers 22-25, when they were stirred up by the Moabites, specifically Balak, the Moabite king (the story of Balaam). So, yes, there is a connection between Midian and Moab but Jethro was not a Moabite.

Skip Moen, Ph.D.

Thanks, Rodney. You are always helping us with the details.