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The Lineage of David: How a Moabite Became Jesus' Ancestor
The Lineage of David: How a Moabite Became Jesus' Ancestor
The lineage of David, Israel's greatest king, is a subject of profound biblical significance, not least because it forms the direct ancestral line of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. While the genealogies recorded in Scripture often highlight the purity of Israelite descent, a closer examination reveals a remarkable and divinely orchestrated inclusion: Ruth, a woman from Moab. This inclusion, seemingly contrary to Mosaic law, underscores God's sovereign plan, His boundless grace, and His unwavering commitment to a redemptive purpose that transcends ethnic boundaries.
The story of Ruth is a testament to faithfulness, loyalty, and the surprising ways in which God weaves together disparate lives to fulfill His eternal purposes. From the dusty fields of Bethlehem to the throne of Israel, and ultimately to the manger in Nazareth, the thread of Ruth's life became an indispensable part of the tapestry of salvation history, demonstrating that God's ways are higher than man's ways, and His mercy triumphs over judgment.
The Moabite Predicament: An Ancestral Exclusion
To fully grasp the astonishing nature of Ruth's inclusion, it is essential to understand the historical and legal context of the Moabite people in relation to Israel. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, through an incestuous union (Genesis 19:37). From their inception, their relationship with Israel was marked by antagonism. They hired Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:1-6) and enticed the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor (Numbers 25:1-3).
Consequently, Mosaic law pronounced a strong prohibition against Moabites entering the congregation of the Lord:
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
This strict decree makes Ruth's presence in David's, and thus Jesus', lineage all the more remarkable. It highlights that God's plan is not confined by human limitations or even by the strictures of His own law when grace and repentance are at play. Ruth's story is a profound example of God's ability to transcend human expectations and weave unlikely threads into His divine design.
Ruth's Unwavering Loyalty and Return to Bethlehem
The book of Ruth opens during a time of famine in Bethlehem of Judah, prompting an Israelite family—Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion—to migrate to the land of Moab (Ruth 1:1-2). There, the sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Tragically, within a decade, Elimelech and both his sons died, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth as widows in a foreign land (Ruth 1:3-5).
Hearing that the famine in Judah had ended, Naomi decided to return to her homeland. She urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and find new husbands. While Orpah tearfully departed, Ruth clung steadfastly to Naomi, declaring her unwavering devotion:
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
This declaration is a pivotal moment, showcasing Ruth's extraordinary faith and commitment. She not only pledged loyalty to Naomi but also to Naomi's people and, most importantly, to Naomi's God. This decision to forsake her Moabite gods and embrace the God of Israel marked her as a true convert, demonstrating a heart aligned with divine purposes. Their return to Bethlehem during the barley harvest was met with both recognition and sorrow by the townswomen (Ruth 1:19-21).
Boaz, The Kinsman-Redeemer, and Redemption
Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Ruth, in her humility and diligence, went to glean in the fields to provide for herself and Naomi. Providentially, she found herself in the field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy and respected kinsman of Elimelech (Ruth 2:1-3). Boaz, having heard of Ruth's kindness to her mother-in-law, showed her exceptional favour, instructing his reapers to treat her well and even to leave extra grain for her (Ruth 2:8-16).
Naomi, recognizing Boaz's position as a kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew: goel), saw an opportunity for Ruth's security and for the perpetuation of her deceased husband's name. The kinsman-redeemer was obligated to buy back family land that had been sold, redeem a relative from slavery, or, in the case of a childless widow, marry her to raise up an heir for the deceased husband (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Naomi instructed Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor, an act of faith and obedience (Ruth 3:1-6).
Ruth's courageous act in requesting Boaz to "spread thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman" (Ruth 3:9) was a direct proposal for him to fulfill the role of kinsman-redeemer. Boaz, a man of integrity, acknowledged his responsibility but revealed that there was a closer kinsman who had the first right of redemption (Ruth 3:12-13). Publicly and legally, Boaz presented the matter to the closer kinsman at the city gate before the elders, offering him the opportunity to redeem the land and marry Ruth. When the closer kinsman declined, fearing it would mar his own inheritance, Boaz publicly declared his intention:
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi;
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Thus, Boaz, through an act of selfless redemption, took Ruth as his wife, bringing her fully into the covenant community and ensuring her security and lineage.
From Obed to David: The Royal Line Established
The union of Boaz and Ruth was blessed by God, and Ruth conceived and bore a son. The women of Bethlehem rejoiced with Naomi, declaring the child a redeemer and a restorer of life:
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
They named the child Obed, which means "serving" or "worshipping." This child, born of a Moabite mother and an Israelite father, became the grandfather of Israel's greatest king. The book of Ruth concludes with the direct lineage:
Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
This concise genealogy establishes Ruth, the Moabite, as the great-grandmother of King David. Her story, therefore, is not merely a charming narrative of loyalty and love but a crucial chapter in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, setting the stage for the arrival of the promised Messiah.
The Significance for Jesus: A Lineage of Grace and Inclusion
The inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite, in the lineage of David carries profound theological significance, particularly in light of its ultimate culmination in Jesus Christ. The New Testament genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 explicitly list David as an ancestor, and by extension, Ruth as a direct forebear. Matthew's gospel notably highlights four women in Jesus' genealogy, three of whom were Gentiles or had questionable backgrounds: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. This deliberate inclusion underscores several key aspects of God's character and plan:
Conclusion: A Tapestry of Divine Grace
The lineage of David, with Ruth the Moabite woven into its fabric, is far more than a mere historical record; it is a profound theological statement. It reveals a God who is not bound by human conventions or even by His own prescriptive laws when it comes to the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Through Ruth's story, we witness divine sovereignty, the triumph of grace over legalism, and the foreshadowing of a salvation that extends beyond the confines of a single nation.
Ruth's journey from Moab to Bethlehem, from widowhood to becoming an ancestress of kings, serves as a powerful reminder that God's love and grace are available to all who, like Ruth, choose to embrace His people and His God. Her life stands as an enduring testament to the truth that God's plan for redemption is inclusive, compassionate, and ultimately culminates in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who came to redeem people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, demonstrating that in Him, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but all are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
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