C5 Ruth & Samuel

Lesson 1: Ruth

Readings: Ruth 1

The story begins in a well known Bible town. In this town lived Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two boys, Mahlon and Chilion. A dreadful famine took place, and Elimelech decided to take his wife and family away to another country called Moab.

Lesson 2: Ruth and Boaz

Readings: Ruth 2-4

It was harvest time when Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. Ruth was willing to work, so she went to the fields, where she was allowed to gather up any stalks of barley left by the reapers. All day she worked, hardly stopping for a break. By evening, she had a bag of barley to take home to her mother-in-law.

Lesson 3: Hannah prays to God

Readings: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20

Sometimes, in the days of the Bible, a man would have two wives. This was not God’s plan and it often led to quarrelling and unhappiness. Elkanah had two wives. One was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Hannah was often laughed at by Peninnah, because she had no children, whereas Peninnah had several children.

Lesson 4: Samuel hears God’s call

Readings: 1 Samuel 1: 21-3: 21

When Samuel was very young, his mother took him to the House of the Lord at Shiloh, to meet Eli, the priest. Hannah reminded Eli about her earlier visit and about her prayer to God.