Return to Ruth: contents page

Ruth: Speeches

One way to divide up a play or film would be according to who is speaking, or rather to distinguish conversations - who is speaking with whom. This approach is useful for Ruth too, since biblical narrative includes much "direct speech", and the book of Ruth more than usual!

1:1-5	NARRATOR
1:6-18	NAOMI with ORPAH and RUTH
1:19-21	NAOMI with THE WOMEN OF BETHLEHEM
1:22-2:1	NARRATOR
2:2	RUTH with NAOMI
2:3	NARRATOR
2:4-7	BOAZ with his SERVANTS
2:8-14	RUTH with BOAZ
2:15-16	BOAZ with his SERVANTS
2:17-18	NARRATOR
2:19-22	RUTH with NAOMI
2:23	NARRATOR
3:1-5	RUTH with NAOMI
3:6-8	NARRATOR
3:9-15	RUTH with BOAZ
3:16-18	RUTH with NAOMI
4:1-6	BOAZ with those at the gate (esp. the GOEL)
4:7	NARRATOR
4:8-12	BOAZ with those at the gate (esp. the GOEL)
4:13	NARRATOR
4:14-17	NAOMI with THE WOMEN OF BETHLEHEM
4:18-22	NARRATOR

Notice that these schemes (dividing the book by scenes or speeches) are not really exclusive but operate at different levels and can be combined to break the text up into sensible units at different levels.

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)