古冬華

【Abstract】In the contemporary time, the issue of mixed marriages or intermarriages is still an issue of strong debate among Christians in some countries. From literary perspectives, this paper makes an analysis of the marriage between Ruth and Boaz in the Old Testament book of Ruth, and considers the positive impact of this marriage for the Judeo-Christian world especially as manifested in the personalities of King David and Jesus Christ, who of course come from the lineage of Boaz and Ruth. The paper also aims at giving some advice to such mixed marriages or intermarriages.

【Key words】Mixed Marriages; Boaz; Ruth; Religious Acceptance; Cultural Adaptation

Introduction

The issue of mixed marriages or intermarriages stand criticized among contemporary Christians in some countries. Various people in the world have practiced different types of religion and marriage system. In some countries, religion has been an obstacle to marriage contracts. So many marriage engagements have been thwarted as a result of religious beliefs. In Old Testament book of Ruth, the marriage between Ruth and Boaz is an exceptional case. Hinson (1992) agreed with the idea of some scholars that the book of Ruth was written as a protest against the religion of Israel which forbade mixed marriages especially during the period of Ezra and Nehemiah, who tried to make Yahweh a discriminatory God. The intermarriage between Ruth and Boaz has fostered a binding relationship between the Jews and the Moabites which climaxed in the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ, who of course came from the lineage of Boaz and Ruth.

The problem of the attitude of Christians towards marriage in some countries is that they pretend to be religious even as they discriminate in their choice of marriage partners. Some Christians are always blind at understanding the message of the Old Testament book of Ruth as regards marriage to the extent that denominationalism has become an issue in marriage within Christianity. So the task of this paper is to make an analysis of the marriage between Ruth and Boaz in the Old Testament book of Ruth and give some advice to such mixed marriages or intermarriages.

An Analysis of the Marriage between Boaz and Ruth

The marriage between Ruth and Boaz as recorded in the Old Testament book of Ruth was weaved around the custom of levirate marriage prevalent in ancient Israel. It was also a classical integration of two religions. Ruth was a Gentile and stranger to the Jewish religion. She was eventually related to Boaz by marriage. The intermarriage between Ruth and Boaz fostered a binding relationship between the Jews and the Moabites. The marriage between Ruth and Boaz presents a lesson before contemporary Christians that we shouldnt discriminate in choosing marriage partners. Ruth left her people, her nation and her god to cling and follow her mother-in-law and eventually to marry Boaz. Imagine a Moabitess getting married to someone of the Jewish race who sees themselves as the only people of God. Jews have always believed that God is peculiar to them and it is not in their character to marry a non-Jew. They discriminate against other nations, race etc. But, Boaz loved and married Ruth, a Moabitess. Boazs marriage with Ruth points to the contemporary Christians that God is always willing to accept any stranger or foreigner who accepts to be part of his covenant relationship. Jews often despised the Moabites, but Ruth was loved for her faithfulness. Her modesty and virtue won the admiration of Boaz who eventually indicated interest in marrying her. Hence, Christian women especially the young ones who are seeking for marriage partners should emulate Ruths faithfulness, modesty and virtue.

The success of the marriage between Boaz and Ruth implies that God is a universal God. Religious sentiments and tribal discrimination are not supposed to count in marriage. God as the creator of the universe is the God of all people there in. According to Menezes ( 2003 ) : The author of the Book of Ruth along with the author of the Book of Jonah and the Second Isaiah are outstanding examples of prophetic personages who criticized the narrow-minded, nationalistic and racist types of theology as represented in the Book of Ezra-Nehemiah, who tried to make of Yahweh national God, not to say a partisan god. Boaz and Ruths marriage was blessed with a son, Obed who became the grandfather of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Boazs marriage with Ruth points to the Jews and Christians that God is willing to accept any foreigner who accepts to be part of his covenant relationship he has with them.

Conclusion

The issue of mixed marriages is still a problem among Christians, no matter how some people try to play it down. The book of Ruth presents a lesson before us that we shouldnt discriminate in choosing marriage partners. Marriage in our time can also be blessed irrespective of religion, tribe, color and social status. Mixed marriages should be encouraged once the man and woman marrying themselves agree to dwell together under the same religion. For a smooth intermarriage, there should be religious acceptance and cultural adaptation.

References:

[1]Henry,M.,Matthew Henry s Commentary on the Whole Bible,New York:Hendrickson,1991.

[2]The Holy Bible,King James Version,New York:Ivy Books,1991.

[3]The King James Study Bible,King James Version,Nashivelle: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1988.