After leading Jehovah’s people for many years, Joshua died at the age of 110. As long as he was alive, the Israelites worshipped Jehovah. But after Joshua died, they began to worship idols, as the Canaanites did. Because the Israelites did not keep following him, Jehovah allowed a Canaanite king named Jabin to make life hard for them. The people begged Jehovah for help. So Jehovah gave them a new leader, Barak. He would help the people return to Jehovah.

Deborah, a prophetess, sent for Barak. She had a message for him from Jehovah: ‘Take 10,000 men, and go meet Jabin’s army at the stream of Kishon. There you will defeat Sisera, the chief of Jabin’s army.’ Barak told Deborah: ‘I will go but only if you come with me.’ She said: ‘I will go with you. But know that you are not the one who will kill Sisera. Jehovah has said that a woman will kill him.’

Deborah went with Barak and his army up to Mount Tabor to prepare for battle. As soon as Sisera heard about this, he gathered his war chariots and troops in the valley below. Deborah said to Barak: ‘Today is the day that Jehovah will give you victory.’ Barak and his 10,000 men charged down the mountain to meet Sisera’s powerful army.

Jehovah then caused the stream of Kishon to flood. Sisera’s war chariots got stuck in the mud. Sisera left his chariot and began running. Barak and his soldiers defeated Sisera’s army, but Sisera escaped! He ran away and hid in the tent of a woman named Jael. She gave him milk to drink and then covered him with a blanket. The tired warrior fell asleep. Then Jael quietly crept toward him and drove a tent pin into his head. He died.

Barak came looking for Sisera. Jael stepped out of her tent and said: ‘Come inside. I will show you the man you are looking for.’ Barak went inside and saw Sisera lying there dead. Barak and Deborah praised Jehovah in song for giving the Israelites victory over their enemies. For the next 40 years, Israel had peace.

During a time of famine in Israel, an Israelite named Naomi moved to the land of Moab with her husband and their two sons. Later Naomi’s husband died. Her sons married Ruth and Orpah, who were Moabites. Sadly, in time, Naomi’s sons died.

When Naomi heard that the famine in Israel was over, she decided to return home. Ruth and Orpah traveled with her, but while on the road, Naomi told them: ‘You were good wives to my sons and good daughters-in-law to me. I want you both to marry again. Go home to Moab.’ The women said: ‘We love you! We don’t want to leave you.’ Naomi kept telling them to go. Finally, Orpah went back, but Ruth stayed. Naomi told her: ‘Orpah is going back to her people and her gods. Return with her, and go to your mother’s home.’ But Ruth said: ‘I will not leave you. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’ How do you think Naomi felt when Ruth said that?

Ruth and Naomi arrived in Israel at the beginning of the barley harvest. One day, Ruth went to collect leftover grain in the field of a man named Boaz, who was the son of Rahab. He heard that Ruth was a Moabitess who had loyally stayed with Naomi. He told his workers to leave a little extra grain in the field for Ruth to gather.

That evening, Naomi asked Ruth: ‘Whose field did you work in today?’ Ruth said: ‘The field of a man named Boaz.’ Naomi told her: ‘Boaz is one of my husband’s relatives. Keep working in his field with the other young women. You will be safe there.’

Ruth continued to work in Boaz’ field until the harvest was over. Boaz noticed that Ruth worked hard and was an excellent woman. In those days, if a man died and had no sons, his relative would marry his widow. So Boaz married Ruth. They had a son named Obed, who later became King David’s grandfather. Naomi’s friends were delighted. They said: ‘First, Jehovah gave you Ruth, who has been very good to you, and now you have a grandson. May Jehovah be praised.’