Ladies Bible Study: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 8

Naomi's Choices

Lesson 8:  The End of the Matter!

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we left Naomi and Ruth on the path to getting settled, safe and secure, but first ...

Ruth 4:9-13

Before long the end of the matter was settled and the results shared with Naomi and Ruth.  Boaz had redeemed Naomi and Ruth’s inheritance and Ruth became Boaz’ wife.

Ruth 4:9-12 (NASB) ... ⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” ¹¹ All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. ¹² Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

But that’s not the end of the story, it never is with God when we are obedient to Him.  Boaz and Ruth had a son, whom they named Obed.  Obed became the father of Jesse and Jesse became the father of David, the man we know as “a man after God’s own heart!”  

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  ¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. ¹⁵ May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” ¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. ¹⁷ The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.  ¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron, ¹⁹ and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab, ²⁰ and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon, ²¹ and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, ²² and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.

Acts 13:22 (NASB) ²² After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’

Questions: 

1.   Did Boaz ‘redeem’ Naomi and Ruth’s inheritance?

2.   Did Boaz and Ruth marry?

3.  Who was their son?

4.  Verse 16 tells us that Naomi ‘became her grandson’s nurse’ meaning that she cared for him as if he were her own.  Can’t you just see her gazing down at this child, this grandchild that she never thought she would have, with a heart overflowing with love and quite possibly a tear or two rolling down her cheeks?  Starting with lesson one, what emotions has Naomi experienced thus far?  I’ll get you started …

                Lesson 1:  Desperation over the never ending famine

                                   Grief over the loss of her husband and sons 

                                   Resignation over Ruth’s determination to ‘not leave her’

 5.   What relation was David to Naomi?

Next week ... let's talk 'take-a-ways!'

Until then!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Class: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 7

Naomi's Choices

Lesson 7:  A Time to Wait!

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we left Naomi and Ruth about to embark on a time of waiting.  Let's see what that's all about ...

Ruth 4:1-8

Naomi’s advice after hearing Ruth’s response in 3:18 was one of wisdom.

Ruth 3:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)   ¹⁸ Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”

Waiting can be hard and I’m sure that Naomi and Ruth found this to be true during this time.  Can’t you just see Naomi and Ruth going about their morning chores discussing the previous night’s events wondering and waiting or, maybe they were both deep in thought with few words being shared.  Either way, you know this situation had to be occupying both of their thoughts!

In the meantime, Boaz went to the gate of the city to find the relative that was closer than he to Naomi and Ruth.  Once he found him he made known to him of Ruth and Naomi and inquired whether he wished to redeem Elimelech’s inheritance.  Boaz also informed the closest relative that if he did accept the role of redeemer, that Ruth would become his wife and he must raise up children in the name of Ruth’s deceased husband.  The man informed Boaz that he couldn’t redeem the land because it would jeopardize his own inheritance.  The man then passed the right to redeem Elimelech’s inheritance to the next closest relative, which was Boaz.  

Ruth 4:1-6 ... 1Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4“So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance.  Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”

What would become of Naomi and Ruth’s inheritance, what would become of Naomi and Ruth?  These were thoughts that I’m sure occupied Naomi and Ruth’s minds as they waited to see how the matter would be settled.

Questions:

 1.  What do you think Naomi and Ruth’s state of mind was, as they waited to see what their future held?

2.  Where did Boaz find Naomi’s ‘next of kin?’

3.  When Naomi’s ‘next of kin’ was notified that Naomi was going to sell the family land and that he had the first option to purchase it, what was his reaction?

4.  What changed his mind?

5.  Whose ‘hands’ are Naomi and Ruth’s future in now?

Next week ... the end of the matter!

Until then!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Study: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 6

Naomi's Choices

Lesson 6:  Naomi Has a Plan

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we left Naomi with a plan forming in her mind ... will she implement her plan or abandon it all together?  Let's find out ...

Ruth 2:18 - 3:18

Upon hearing how Ruth’s day of gleaning had gone Naomi urged Ruth to do as Boaz had said for her own safety and possibly for another reason.  Naomi also informed Ruth that Boaz was one of their relatives, one of their closest relatives.  This is an important fact that Naomi uses in Ruth’s favor a little later.   Naomi is clearly forming a plan for Ruth’s future.

Ruth 3:1 … “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you; that it may be well with you.”

Ruth 3:3-4 … ³ Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”

By the end of barley season Naomi, knowing the customs and law regarding marriage among God’s people (Deuteronomy 25:5), seizes the opportunity to secure Ruth’s future. She tells Ruth to make herself up, put on her best dress and go down to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley along with others.

Deuteronomy 25:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB) ... ⁵ “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.  

She instructs Ruth not to make herself known until Boaz finished eating and drinking and had gone to bed.  Once he had lain down Ruth was to quietly slip in, uncover his feet and then lie down at his feet.

Ruth did as Naomi said and in the middle of the night when Boaz awakened startled to find a woman lying at his feet, he inquired who she was.

Verses 9 – 15 gives us Ruth’s and Boaz’s conversation:

Ruth 3:9-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) ... ⁹ He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.” ¹⁰ Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. ¹² Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. ¹³ Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”   ¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵ Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.  

The next morning when Ruth returned home to Naomi, Naomi inquired how it all went.  Surely, Naomi had spent a restless night wondering if she had done the right thing in making such a bold move on Ruth’s behalf.  Surely, she was anxiously awaiting Ruth’s account of the night.      

Questions:

1.  What is Naomi’s plan for Ruth’s future? 

2.  In Ruth 3:3-4, Naomi gives Ruth a series of commands:  “wash … anoint … put on … go down … do not make yourself known … notice … go … uncover … lie down.”  It seems that Naomi’s reasons for these instructions might be that she is telling Ruth it’s time to lay aside her period of mourning after her late husband’s passing.    It might also be that Naomi was preparing Ruth to give the signal to Boaz that she was ready to lay aside her widow’s garments and that she was available.

Under line the words “wash … anoint … put on … go down … do not make yourself known … notice … go … uncover … lie down” in the Scripture below.

^{Ruth 3:3-4 .... 3} Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”

3.  From another perspective Naomi, a native Israelite, could have been instructing Ruth, a foreign Moabitess, on proper procedures in their land.  It seems that Naomi has definitely taken charge of the situation.  Do you think she had any doubts about what she was doing?  

4.  Boaz was quite a bit older than Ruth so it was possibly important to Naomi that Boaz realize Ruth would be interested in becoming his wife.  It seems that Naomi’s plan was to plant the idea of marriage between Boaz and Ruth in Boaz’s mind.  Was she successful? 

5.  Mostly likely the first thing out of Naomi’s mouth the next morning when Ruth returned home was something along the lines of ‘how did it go?’  

How did it go? 

Next week, all Naomi and Ruth can do is wait!

Until then!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~