Immediately in the first verse we find the timing, which we have already discussed. The story of Ruth takes place during the Judges period. Ruth is set between the arrival of Joshua and the time when Israel is a kingdom under David. It is a representation of the time between the first coming of Jesus and His second coming, when He will sit as King and Messiah on the throne in Jerusalem.
Ruth 1
1 And it came to pass in the days that the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land.
Israel in disbelief
We are introduced to the family in question, but their names are not mentioned until the next verse. It only says where they come from. Because these details are omitted, more emphasis is placed on what is there. There was famine in the land. The disasters that befall Israel are always a result of the people’s unfaithfulness and unbelief. God had promised Israel blessings if they would serve Him (Deut.28:1-14), a land flowing with milk and honey. But if Israel disobeyed, a curse would befall them (Deut.28:15-68).
cycle
In the book of Judges the recurring refrain is that the people did ‘what was evil in the sight of YAHWEH’. God then sends a hostile people and Israel is oppressed, after which she begins to cry out for His help in her distress. Then God sends a judge to deliver them. There is temporary peace, but it starts again. Thus this cycle is repeated.
Although there are differences between the many judges that we find described, the similarity is that they are in some way a representation of Him through Whom God brings about real redemption: Christ Jesus.
In Judges it is mainly hostile nations that are sent by God (Deut.28:25) as punishment for the people, sometimes causing famine (Judg.6:4-6). In Ruth we do not read of enemy armies, but of a famine that oppresses Israel (Deut.28:33,39-40,51, etc.). The country behaved hostilely towards the people. This was also promised and is a result of Israel’s unbelief.