Book of Ruth Quiz

1. During what period of Israel's history does the book of Ruth take place?

1. During the Exodus, while Israel wandered in the wilderness
2. During the reign of King David in Jerusalem
3. During the return from Babylonian exile
4. During the time of the judges, when there was a famine in Bethlehem

2. A man from Bethlehem took his family to Moab to escape the famine. What was his name, and what were the names of his wife and two sons?

1. Boaz with his wife Ruth and sons Mahlon and Kilion
2. Elimelech with his wife Naomi and sons Mahlon and Kilion
3. Elimelech with his wife Naomi and sons Perez and Zerah
4. Salmon with his wife Naomi and sons Joab and Abihu

3. What series of tragedies befell Naomi in Moab?

1. Her husband Elimelech died, and then both of her sons Mahlon and Kilion also died — leaving her with two Moabite daughters-in-law and no male relative
2. Her sons married Moabite women without her permission, and then both sons and their wives left her to start new families elsewhere
3. She fell ill and lost all her possessions before she and her sons returned to Bethlehem
4. The famine extended to Moab, and the family lost everything — Elimelech and both sons died of starvation

4. When Naomi heard that the Lord had provided food for his people in Bethlehem, she decided to return. What did she tell her daughters-in-law to do?

1. To come with her to Bethlehem and find new husbands among the men of Israel
2. To follow her to Bethlehem where they could all grieve together and start over
3. To remain in Moab and pray for her safe return — she promised to send for them when she was settled
4. To return to their mothers' homes, where she hoped the Lord would grant them rest in new marriages

5. Orpah eventually kissed Naomi goodbye and returned to her people. But Ruth refused to leave. How does the text describe what Ruth clung to?

1. Ruth clung to Naomi — refusing to return even after Naomi urged her twice to follow Orpah
2. Ruth fell at Naomi's feet and swore by the God of Israel she would not leave her
3. Ruth followed Naomi silently — she did not need to say anything to communicate her decision
4. Ruth held onto Naomi's hands and wept, unable to let go of the one she loved

6. Ruth's speech to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 is one of the most beautiful declarations of loyalty in all literature. What did Ruth say?

1. 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God'
2. 'I will not leave your side until death separates us — for I love you as I love my own mother'
3. 'Wherever you go I will go — not out of obligation but out of love. Your people have become my people and your God is my God'
4. 'Your God has been my God since I came to know him through your family — I cannot return to my people's false gods'

7. When Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem, the women of the town recognised her. She told them not to call her Naomi but something else. What name did she choose and why?

1. 'Call me Alone, for my husband and sons are dead and I am truly alone before God'
2. 'Call me Forgotten, for God has forgotten me in my time of need'
3. 'Call me Mara (meaning bitter), because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full but the Lord has brought me back empty'
4. 'Do not call me by any name — I am too ashamed to bear a name before the women of Bethlehem'

8. The narrator notes a hopeful timing detail when Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. What was it?

1. They arrived just as rain ended a three-year drought — a sign of God's provision
2. They arrived just as the barley harvest was beginning
3. They arrived on the feast of Tabernacles — a time of great celebration and abundance in Israel
4. They arrived on the Sabbath, when the whole town was gathered and their return was noticed by everyone

9. Ruth went out to glean in the fields to provide food for herself and Naomi. What was gleaning, and who was it intended for under Mosaic law?

1. Gleaning was a charitable system organised by the priests in which surplus grain was distributed to needy families
2. Gleaning was a form of work exchange in which labourers were paid in grain for helping with the harvest
3. Gleaning was a right of Israelite landowners to reclaim unpaid grain after the harvest season
4. Gleaning was collecting grain left intentionally by farmers for the needy — the poor, the foreigner, the widow and the orphan (Leviticus 19:9-10)

10. Ruth 2:3 contains a phrase that appears casual but the narrator intends ironically: 'As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz.' Who was Boaz?

1. A man of standing from the clan of Elimelech — Naomi's husband's relative
2. A Moabite convert who had married into an Israelite family and become wealthy in Bethlehem
3. A wealthy landowner from the tribe of Levi who had no family connection to Naomi
4. The head of the Bethlehem elders who knew Elimelech and took pity on his widow

11. When Boaz arrived at his field and saw Ruth, what did he ask his foreman about her?

1. 'Do you know this woman? I think I have seen her somewhere before'
2. 'Has this woman been here all morning? She appears to be working very hard'
3. 'Whose young woman is that?' — he had not seen her before and wanted to know who she was
4. 'Why is this foreign woman gleaning here? Is she authorised to be in this field?'

12. Boaz showed remarkable kindness to Ruth at their first meeting. What five things did he offer her?

1. Double wages, a personal escort home, a daily food basket, extra barley from his threshing floor, and an introduction to the town elders
2. Housing in Bethlehem, introduction to Naomi's relatives, a share in his harvest profits, daily bread and wine, and his personal blessing
3. Permission to glean, protection from his men, water to drink, the right to eat with his harvesters, and an instruction to his men to leave extra stalks for her
4. Shade from the sun, water from his jugs, food from his table, protection from harassment, and permission to glean in his field all harvest season

13. Ruth was astonished by Boaz's kindness. What did she ask him, and what reason did he give for his generosity?

1. She asked how she could repay him; he said she could repay him by staying in Israel and not returning to Moab
2. She asked whether he had a personal interest in her; he said he was the kinsman-redeemer and had obligations under Israelite law
3. She asked why he was so kind to a foreigner; he said he had heard everything she had done for Naomi since her husband's death and prayed God would reward her
4. She asked why he was treating her better than his own servants; he said he owed a debt to her father's family in Moab

14. What beautiful prayer-blessing did Boaz speak over Ruth when she asked why he was so kind?

1. 'May the Lord make your name great among the women of Israel — for your loyalty is greater than that of many daughters of Zion'
2. 'May the Lord repay you for what you have done — may you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge'
3. 'May your God be your shelter and your strength — you have shown great kindness and may it return to you many times over'
4. 'The God of Abraham bless you — may you find a husband in Israel and may your family line continue'

15. How much barley did Ruth glean on her first day, and what was Naomi's reaction when Ruth came home?

1. About a day's wage in grain; Naomi asked Boaz's name and recognised him as a kinsman-redeemer
2. About a half-sack of barley; Naomi was pleased but cautious — she wondered which field Ruth had worked in
3. About an ephah (roughly 13-22 pounds) of barley; Naomi was amazed and asked where Ruth had worked — then blessed the man when she heard it was Boaz
4. Enough to fill two baskets; Naomi wept with gratitude and said God had not abandoned them after all

16. When Naomi heard it was Boaz's field, she explained his significance. What did she reveal about Boaz?

1. 'Boaz was Elimelech's closest friend — he will feel obligated to help us because of their friendship'
2. 'He is a wealthy man who owes our family a great debt from the days of your husband Mahlon'
3. 'He is the head of the elders of Bethlehem — a man of great power who can help us get back what we lost'
4. 'That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers'

17. What advice did Naomi give Ruth at the end of chapter 2?

1. To go immediately to Boaz and reveal her desire for him to act as kinsman-redeemer
2. To pray and fast for three days, asking God to move Boaz's heart toward them
3. To prepare herself and dress well so that Boaz would notice her and be moved to act on their behalf
4. To stay close to his servant girls and to keep gleaning in his field throughout the barley and wheat harvests

18. Ruth's character is described through her actions throughout chapter 2. Which of these was NOT specifically mentioned?

1. She shared her food with the other gleaners at mealtime
2. She took home what was left of her lunch after eating with the reapers
3. She was courteous and humble, asking permission before gleaning in the field
4. She worked hard without resting from morning until evening

19. The Hebrew word hesed appears several times in Ruth. It is translated 'kindness,' 'loyalty' or 'steadfast love.' Who uses it and about whom?

1. Naomi uses it about Boaz; the narrator uses it about Ruth; Boaz uses it about God
2. Naomi uses it about Ruth and Orpah; Naomi uses it about God (blessing Boaz for his hesed); Boaz uses it about Ruth
3. Ruth uses it about Naomi; Boaz uses it about God; the narrator uses it about Boaz
4. The narrator uses it to describe the whole family's relationship — a rare community of faithful people in an unfaithful age

20. The book of Ruth is set against the backdrop of the judges — an era of violence and unfaithfulness. How does the story of Ruth function as a contrast?

1. All three answers reflect genuine themes of the book — it is deliberately placed as a counterpoint to the surrounding darkness
2. It introduces the Davidic line through Ruth and Boaz — showing God was at work in quiet faithfulness even when Israel's public life was in chaos
3. It shows that foreigners could be more faithful to Israel's God than Israelites themselves — challenging any ethnic exclusivism
4. It shows that there were still faithful Israelites even in the darkest period of the judges

21. When the barley harvest ended, Naomi devised a plan to secure Ruth's future. What was the plan?

1. Naomi would go to the city gate and present the kinsman-redeemer obligation to Boaz publicly before the elders
2. Ruth should approach Boaz directly and ask him to act as kinsman-redeemer, invoking her legal rights as Mahlon's widow
3. Ruth should present herself as available for marriage at the city gate on the morning of the harvest festival
4. Ruth should wash, put on perfume, dress in her best clothes, go to the threshing floor, wait until Boaz fell asleep and then uncover his feet and lie down — following his lead

22. Ruth followed Naomi's plan exactly. When Boaz woke at midnight and found her there, what did she say?

1. 'Boaz, I have come to you in the night because I have no one to protect me and Naomi has told me of your obligation to us'
2. 'I am Ruth who served with you in the harvest. I have come to ask you to fulfil your duty as my husband's kinsman'
3. 'I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer'
4. 'It is I, Ruth the Moabite. My mother-in-law has sent me to ask whether you will take me as your wife'

23. Boaz's response to Ruth was full of praise. What did he say about her coming to him rather than going after younger men?

1. 'All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. Although I am older, you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor — and this latest kindness is greater than that earlier'
2. 'Ruth, your faithfulness has moved me deeply — you have chosen duty over desire and that is the greatest of all virtues'
3. 'The Lord himself has directed your steps to me this night — I have thought of you often since you first came to my field'
4. 'You have shown more honour than a young woman could easily show — to seek out an older man for duty's sake'

24. What was the legal complication that prevented Boaz from immediately acting as kinsman-redeemer?

1. Boaz was already married and could not take a second wife under Israelite law without first divorcing his current wife
2. Ruth was a Moabite, and Deuteronomy 23 required a ten-generation waiting period before Moabites could fully enter the assembly — Boaz needed to check whether this applied to marriage
3. The elders of the city had not yet been consulted, and the law required their approval before a kinsman-redeemer could act
4. There was a closer kinsman-redeemer than Boaz — that man had first right to redeem, and Boaz could only act if he declined

25. Before Ruth left the threshing floor in the early morning, Boaz gave her a parting gift. What was it?

1. A golden ring as a token of his pledge to act as kinsman-redeemer
2. A new garment of fine linen to replace the servant's clothes she had worn
3. A written pledge sealed with his ring, promising to fulfil his kinsman-redeemer obligations
4. Six measures of barley — she returned to Naomi laden with grain

26. When Naomi saw Ruth returning with the barley, she asked what happened and then made a confident prediction. What did she say about Boaz?

1. 'He is a man of honour and will not delay — by the end of this week you will know his answer'
2. 'He will go to the elders today — but first he must speak to the closer relative and that may take time'
3. 'He will not rest until the matter is settled today — wait and see what he does'
4. 'The Lord has moved in his heart already — be patient and trust that it is done'

27. Boaz went to the city gate and waited for the nearer kinsman to pass by. What did the gate represent in ancient Israelite society?

1. The boundary between the sacred space of the city and the secular world of the fields
2. The place of prayer and sacrifice — where the priests presided over the community's worship
3. The public forum and courthouse — where legal transactions, contracts and judicial decisions were made before witnesses
4. The seat of the king's authority — where the city's ruler heard petitions and dispensed justice

28. The book calls the nearer kinsman only 'So-and-so' (a Hebrew expression for an unnamed person). Why might the author have done this deliberately?

1. The kinsman refused his duty and walked away from his obligation — his anonymity is his punishment for declining to preserve the family name he could have perpetuated
2. The kinsman was still alive when the book was written and the author protected his identity out of respect
3. The kinsman's name was unknown to the author who wrote the account many years after the events
4. The naming conventions of the period did not include the names of those who declined covenant responsibilities

29. Boaz presented the situation to the nearer kinsman at the gate. Initially the man agreed to redeem — but then backed out when he heard the full terms. What changed his mind?

1. He discovered he would have to marry Ruth the Moabite, which might endanger his own inheritance
2. He learned that Boaz also wanted to marry Ruth and did not want to compete with such a respected man
3. He realised the land came with Naomi's significant debts which would harm his family's finances
4. The price of the land was too high — he could not afford it without depleting his inheritance

30. Ruth 4:7-8 describes an ancient custom used to seal the transaction. What was it?

1. A clay tablet was written and broken in two — each party kept a half as proof of the agreement
2. In earlier times in Israel, to legalise a transaction of redemption or transfer of property, one party would take off his sandal and give it to the other
3. In those days, a man signing over his rights would shake hands with the other party three times before witnesses
4. The custom was for both parties to pour wine on the ground before God as a sign of the covenant being sealed

31. Boaz's declaration to the elders at the gate formally announced his intention. What did he say he was acquiring along with the property?

1. All of Elimelech's estate including its flocks and servants, and Ruth as head of the household
2. All the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon — and also Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property
3. Ruth the Moabite as his wife and Naomi's guardianship as his responsibility before God and the elders
4. The field of Naomi and the right of first claim to all future property of the family

32. How did the elders and people at the gate respond to Boaz's declaration?

1. 'We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel'
2. 'We bless this union in the name of the Lord — may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah'
3. They gave both blessings — comparing Ruth to Rachel and Leah, and praying Boaz's house would be like Perez's, the ancestor of the Bethlehemites
4. They solemnly witnessed the transaction and promised to hold both parties to their commitments

33. Ruth 4:13 records the consummation of the marriage in one sentence. What specific divine involvement does the narrator note?

1. 'Ruth bore Boaz a son in due course, and the Lord blessed the child with health and wisdom from birth'
2. 'Ruth found great joy in her husband and the Lord blessed their life together from the first day'
3. 'So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son'
4. 'The Lord opened Ruth's womb and she conceived as God had always intended — the child of promise was born to continue the line'

34. After the birth of the son, the women of Bethlehem celebrated with Naomi. What remarkable claim did they make about Ruth?

1. 'Blessed be Ruth who carried this child — she is the greatest of all Israelite women for her faithfulness'
2. 'God has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer — praise his name that Ruth's son will carry on your family's name in Israel'
3. 'Ruth is worth more to you than seven sons — for seven sons could not have given you such loyalty and love'
4. 'Ruth the Moabite has become the mother of Israel — through her God has shown that his love reaches all peoples'

35. What did Naomi do with the baby, and what did the women of the neighbourhood declare?

1. Naomi dedicated the child at the sanctuary; the women said 'A son has been born to the house of Israel through a Moabite woman'
2. Naomi held the child throughout the day while Ruth rested; the women came and blessed the child with names of the patriarchs
3. Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him; the women said 'Naomi has a son' — treating the child as her own through the kinsman-redeemer arrangement
4. Naomi wept over the child and praised God; the women said 'Blessed is the Lord who has not left Naomi without a redeemer'

36. What was the baby named, and what does his name mean?

1. Jesse, meaning 'God is my strength' — the father of King David
2. Obed, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — the grandfather of King David
3. Perez, meaning 'breakthrough' — recalling the ancestor of Boaz mentioned at the gate
4. Salmon, meaning 'garment' — in honour of the garment/wing spread over Ruth by Boaz

37. The book of Ruth ends with a genealogy from Perez to David. Why is Perez specifically mentioned as the starting point?

1. Perez was born to Tamar through Judah in unusual circumstances — like Ruth, Tamar was a foreign woman who preserved a family line through unconventional means
2. Perez was the first ancestor of Boaz, connecting the story back to its Judaean roots
3. Perez was the founder of the Bethlehemite clan to which Boaz belonged, establishing the legitimacy of Boaz's claim to the land
4. The elders at the gate had specifically prayed that Boaz's house would be like Perez — the genealogy shows that prayer was answered

38. Ruth the Moabite appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Which of these women in Matthew 1's genealogy is she listed alongside?

1. Mary, Deborah and Rahab
2. Rahab alone — the only other foreign woman in the genealogy
3. Sarah, Rebecca and Leah — the matriarchs of Israel
4. Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba and Mary

39. The book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named after women. What is the other?

1. Deborah
2. Esther
3. Judith
4. Miriam

40. The overarching theme of Ruth is often described as hesed — loyal love or covenant faithfulness. How does the book show hesed operating at multiple levels simultaneously?

1. Hesed flows in all directions: Ruth shows hesed to Naomi; Boaz shows hesed to Ruth and to the memory of the dead; and God shows hesed to all of them — the human acts of hesed reflect and trigger divine hesed
2. Hesed in Ruth is one-directional — from the faithful Israelite Boaz toward the foreigner Ruth who cannot fully participate in covenant life until her integration is complete
3. Hesed is primarily legal in Ruth — the kinsman-redeemer obligation is the book's focus and hesed is just the emotional wrapper around a legal transaction
4. Hesed operates only between humans — God is largely in the background and the story's miracle is entirely the product of human faithfulness