Ruth Study

The study is best for those who are 12-19.
With that said, if you have a strong reader and mature learner then it is up to your parental discretion. The youngest I would recommend is middle school.
It is also a great introduction to Bible study for a new Christian regardless of age, even though it states it’s for teens. Someone new to Bible study, may appreciate the way it is laid out and the inductive Bible study skills that are acquired.

One of the goals of my Bible studies is to introduce readers to how to study the Bible verse-by-verse and utilize cross references. Therefore, we do read about some other events in the Old Testament that have a direct relationship to Ruth. They are:

1. The origin of Moab – this can be found in Genesis 19 when Lot’s daughters intoxicated him and laid with him. We cover this from a historical perspective and why Ruth being a Moabite was stressed by the author.
2. The Threshing Floor – In my teaching I will talk about how some interpreters hold that a lot more happened on the threshing floor than just the uncovering of feet and a proposal for marriage because of how the Hebrew word for feet can be translated. I then explain just because a word could be translated one way doesn’t mean it has to be, and readers must consult the entire context of the passage. It is a good opportunity to talk about word studies and how the translations of the words can affect how we read the passage. It is also a good opportunity to explain we can still maintain fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ even in the midst of differing opinions on the text.
3. Tamar and Judah – In the study we will compare and contrast the event in Genesis 38 with the events in Ruth pertaining to the practice of a kinsman redeemer.

Yes, you can. I would not hesitate to have my own sons go through the study at the appropriate time. I do not think Ruth is for women only. The theme is God’s loyal love and both men and women need to know about that!

We study *all* of Proverbs 31, which pertains to both men and women, and is much more about application of wisdom than gender roles. And Boaz is a wonderful, historical faithful man of God who is worthy of emulation by any young man.

In short, no, the markings are not required.
My goal is to provide support and activities for the various learning styles that people have. Marking various people and themes in the text forces the reader to slow down and re-read which is an under-rated practice in the study of the Bible.
If someone does not learn well by marking, they can simply skip that part or change the marking system into something that does meet their needs.
I would encourage people to at least try it for a few weeks if they are new to it. I have heard some students and adults express that while it is not their preferred way to study, they did notice it forced them to slow down, and they noticed things they probably would have missed.