Ruth

Course Description

The Ruth course brings to light the universal scope of God's sovereignty and mercy. With careful analysis and interpretation of the Hebrew text, professor and scholar Daniel Block traces the flow of argument in the book of Ruth, showing that how a biblical author says something is just as important as what they say.

Ruth is widely recognized as a superlative literary achievement of ancient Israel. With its sensitive portrayal of women in crisis, its admiration for a righteous man, and its profound theology of providence, it offers learners of every age a window into life in the ancient Near East, inspiration for good and godly living, and reason to wonder at the common roots of Israel's royal and messianic hope.

Bridging the historical and theological gap, the Ruth course explains how David, the most important character in the Hebrew Bible, could emerge from the spiritual and ethical morass of the premonarchic period and accounts for the Moabite blood in this king's veins. Each unit surveys the main idea of a passage, its literary context, an explanation of the text, and its canonical and practical significance for us today.

By taking this course, you'll gain:

  • Familiarity with the overarching structural drama and literary flow of the Old Testament book of Ruth
  • A deeper understanding of Ruth and its application for Christians today
  • Insight into the passage-by-passage meaning of the book of Ruth
  • Confidence in your growing knowledge through personalized review sessions and unit assessments

Course Instructor

Daniel I. Block

Ph.D., University of Liverpool


Daniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College. He is the author of several books and numerous essays and has written commentaries on Deuteronomy, Judges, Ruth, and Ezekiel.

Course Textbook

This course is based on the book, Ruth: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible by Daniel I. Block from the Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament. While taking this course, you will have online access to most of this book's contents. However, if you want off line access or want this book in your personal library as a long-term reference, you may purchase it by clicking on the button to the right which will link you to amazon.ca.


Course Outline

1.   Introduction

2.  Ruth 1:1-5

3.  Ruth 1:6-22

4.  Ruth 2:1-23


5.  Ruth 3:1-18

6.  Ruth 4: 1-17

7.   Ruth 4:18-22

8.  FINAL EXAM

Course Details

Ruth

Daniel I. Block

Advanced Elective


8 Units, Self-paced

8.5 Hours of Video

12 Months of Access to All Online Content

3 Credits toward a Certificate, Diploma or Degree

Support by a Clearwater College Professor


Cost: $510 CAN