Ages in Ruth

Since women usually married in their early teens, and men only a year or two later: 

Naomi would have been say 16-20 when Mahlon and Chilion were born,

in her mid thirties when they married, and so

about 45 at the time the story is set.

Ruth would have married in her teens, and so been in her twenties ten years later at the time of the story.

With much shorter average life-spans this makes Naomi "old" and Ruth a mature woman - we have no gauge of Boaz' age except that he speaks like an elder!

© Dr Tim Bulkeley, 2004.

You may quote and use these study notes, subject to the usual provsions of fair use - like giving proper credit e.g.
Tim Bulkeley, "Ruth: Genre" in Study Notes on Ruth http://www.hypertextbible.org/ruth/genre.htm [downloaded today's date].

If you want to reproduce large sections you should contact Tim. (tim at bible.gen.nz)

Tim teaches Hebrew Bible (First or Old Testament) at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and at Carey Baptist College his other sites include:

Amos - Postmodern Bible commentary

Study Notes on Jonah

Images of Archaeological Sites in Israel (Focusing on the Iron Age)