The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born… Matthew 1:1a, 5b & 16 ESV1
Read Ruth 1:1-18, 2:1-23, 3:1-18, 4:1-13
Ruth, Jesus’ 28th Great Grandmother, was a foreigner, a Moabite maiden, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, an Israelite woman. The book of Ruth tells us that Naomi moved with her husband, Elimelech, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to Moab to flee famine in Israel. During their time in Moab, Elimelech died. Then both of the young men married Moabite women. Shortly afterward becoming husbands, Mahlon and Chilion also died. This left Naomi alone in a foreign land, with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, and with no man to provide for and protect them. Imagine the mourning in that household!