Book of Ruth Quiz: Part 1

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