Holier Than Thou

Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

Book of Ruth, about the life of a Moabite woman named Ruth, was written during the time of the judges of Israel (1375-1050 B.C.), although the author is unknown. Ruth lived with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the death of Naomi's husband and two sons. Eventually Ruth married a kinsman named Boaz and the two had children, which continued the genealogy of the line of King David. The Book of Ruth is read in synagogues during the Feast of Pentacost (Shabuoth).

The Book of Ruth includes accounts of the following events:

Death of Naomi's two sons and her husband

Ruth stays with Naomi instead of returning to her homeland of Moab

Ruth gleans in the wheat field that belongs to Boaz and soon finds favor with him

Boaz redeems Ruth by marrying her and they have a son named Obed

Obed becomes the father of Jesse, the father of David

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17)