Bethlehem, the place Boaz and Ruth lived, is also referenced as Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2), Ephrath (Genesis 35:19, 48:7) or Ephratah (Ruth 4:11) in the Bible.
The books of Ruth and Esther are the only two in the entirety of the Bible named after women.
A Special Distinction
Ruth holds the distinction of being one of four gentile (non-Jewish) women in Jesus' lineage through Joseph (Matthew 1:5). The other gentiles in Matthew's genealogy are Tamar (1:3), Rachab (Rahab the harlot, 1:5) and Bathsheba (1:6).
Her listing is even more unique when one recognizes that absent from Matthew's genealogy are several other Biblically important women. These include Sarah (Abraham's wife), Rebekah (Isaac's wife) and Leah (through whom Jacob had Judah).
Ruth's name means "friend" or "friendship" (Strong's Concordance #H7327, #G4503).
Leaving Moab Alone
Ruth was from the nation of Moab which was located east of the Dead Sea. Since Moab's father was Lot, whose uncle was the patriarch Abraham, the Lord commanded the ancient Israelites to not take their land as they approached the Promised Land.
[Why is it called the Promised Land?]
And the Lord said to me (Moses), 'Do not besiege Moab, nor fight with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.' (Deuteronomy 2:9, HBFV).
The famine mentioed in Ruth is one of at least sixteen recorded in the Bible (Genesis 12, 26, 41, Ruth 1, 2Samuel 21, 1Kings 18, 2Kings 4, 6, 8, 25, Nehemiah 5, Jeremiah 14, Joel 1, Acts 11, Matthew 24 and Revelation 6).