“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek (strength of the king), his wife’s name was Naomi (beautiful grace of God), and the names of his two sons were Mahlon (sickly) and Kilion (failing). They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.” Ruth 1:1-2
This story takes place “when the judges ruled”. It was a time of chaos and evil. This is significant because this story shows God’s love and protection for His children in difficult times. All generations have been evil. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Moses called his generation “warped and crooked”:
“They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation…” Deuteronomy 32:5
As did the Apostle Paul:
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation…” Philippians 3:14-15
God was the ruler in Israel – it was a theocracy. Under this system of government each person would recognize God as the authority and would be free to choose to follow Him.
However, most of the Israelites chose what was wrong – even thinking they were right:
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6, 21:25
In other words, most people did not know God personally. They were not willing to listen to His authority. They even twisted His law (what they bothered to learn) to fit their own desires. There are many people like that today!
During the suffering caused by their disobedience, God would raise up a judge to deliver His people when they called out to Him. Then there would be peace while the judge ruled.
God let them have what their stubborn hearts desired when the Israelites rejected God’s rule, wanting to be like their neighbors:
“So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have
“But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” 1 Samuel 8:4-7
They wanted a king even though God, through Samuel, warned them of the consequences (1 Samuel 8:10-18).
“There was a famine in the land”. A famine at that time meant there was no food or very little food – not enough to live on. There was no government welfare, no churches to take care of the needy, no neighbors who could help (at least not for long) and not even people with food from which the unscrupulous could steal. It was a fearful and confusing time.
But God could have taken care of His children. We know that Naomi knew God, and probably Elimelek, Mahlon and Kilion did, also. Their decision showed a lack of faith. They left the land where God was ruler and protector as Boaz pointed out when he spoke to Ruth in Chapter 2:
“…May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12
They went to live in the country of Moab where Chemosh was god. Chemosh was an idol, and the people knew that their idol had power. The Bible says that behind every idol is a demon:
“Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Idols and demons are put together as something evil that is worshipped:
“They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons which are not God–gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.” Deuteronomy 32:16-17
“They worshiped their idols which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.” Psalm 106:36-37
The consequences of worshipping idols/demons is to become like them:
“…Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:2-8, 135:15-18
Idols are said to speak – who is really speaking?
“The idols speak deceit…” Zechariah 10:2
Demons and idols are put together as what is still being worshipped in the very last days.
“…they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.” Revelation 9:20
“He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.” Revelation 13:15
“Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah (stubbornness) and the other Ruth (friendship). After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” Ruth 1:3-5
When Elimelek’s family left, they put themselves in the territory of Satan. Sometimes, people are called to do this, for instance, someone called to witness in bars, but otherwise it is a dangerous.
First of all, Elimelek died. To what degree this was a result of moving to Moab, we are not told.
Then, from what we are told (“…Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow…” Ruth 4:10) Kilion married Orpah and Mahlon married Ruth. Then Kilion and Mahlon died. They lived in Moab ten years. We do not know how long they were married, but neither Orpah nor Ruth had children which might mean that they were not married long.
“When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.” Ruth 1:6-7
When Naomi decided to return to Israel, she was deciding to return to God. God had never left her, of course, and she had not completely left God because she told her daughters-in-law about Him, but she had taken herself outside of His special protection.
This could represent someone being backslidden – he/she is a child of God, but is not serving Him. He/she decides to return to God, often because of the hardship of living without Him. Now Naomi is returning to Israel, and bringing her daughters-in-law with her. She obviously had formed a strong bond with them – they were willingly to move to a foreign land at this dark stressful time.
“Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband…” Ruth 1:8-9
Naomi loved her daughter-in-law and wanted the best for them. She wanted them to have a full life with marriage and children. But she was so misguided. It is like someone saying, “You don’t want to follow Jesus, it is of no advantage to you.”
“Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” Ruth 1:9-13
They still wanted to come with her, so Naomi kept trying to convince them to return.
At that time, if a man died his brother was to marry the widow. Any children they had would carry on the name of the dead brother. That man was called a kinsman redeemer.
“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6
“That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.” Matthew 22:24 Mark 12:19 Luke 20:28
Naomi said that she didn’t have any other children, and even if she had a husband and was giving birth to a son that very night, would they wait for the son to grow up to marry them? Of course not!
It was “more bitter” for Naomi than for them – without their kindness and help she would be a widow alone in a cruel world. To makes matters worse, she thought that the Lord had turned against her. She did not know that because she was returning to Him. He was planning to bless her more than she could imagine.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20
“At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” Ruth 1:14
To go back was to go back to her gods—and Naomi encouraged this! How bitter towards God (she calls herself bitter later) she must have been! Orpah did the logical thing.
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” Ruth 1:15-18
This is one of the most beautiful statements of commitment and love that is made in the Bible. Ruth was not only saying it to Naomi, she was saying it to God!
“So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
It had been quite a while since she had been there, but could the ravishes of sorrow and bitterness have aged her more than was natural?
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara (bitter), because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full (with husband and sons), but the LORD has brought me back empty (all of Naomi’s family and future family, as far as she was concerned, were gone). Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.” Ruth 19-22
Naomi was so bitter, thinking it was God who had afflicted her, that she did not recognize the blessing in the person of Ruth, she had brought back with her.
Was God afflicting her? He was discipling her in love, to bring her to Himself:
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17
“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 2:11-12
“…“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:5-11
Perhaps it took this much discipline to make Naomi turn back to God. If even one of her sons had lived, she might have stayed in Moab with him and his family all her life.
Her hardships had been her own doing – she had taken herself out from under God’s protection.
“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Proverbs 26:2
Only when we disobey God, can the devil harm us. God has said we will have suffering and persecution (Matthew 5:10, 12, John 15:20 1 Thessalonians 3:4 2 Timothy 3:12), but these are for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).
“Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?…” Job 34:33
If we want God’s blessing, we have to obey.
“A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.” Proverbs 19:3
How many people blame God when they should be asking forgiveness for their own foolishness!
“Naomi and her family made a choice ten years before and it was a choice made in a hard time – a time of famine. But they didn’t have to make the wrong choice they did. The people of Bethlehem had not perished from hunger. They were still there. And they were blessed more than Naomi’s family.” Enduringword.com
Even though her heart was not quite right as yet (we all have growing to do), she was returning to God. And as always, God had everything planned – they arrived just “when the barley harvest was beginning”.
CHAPTER 2
“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz (by strength).
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean (pick up grain) behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.” Ruth 2:1-3
We are introduced to Boaz right at the beginning of chapter 2 because he is so significant. He is a relative of Naomi on her husband’s side, and, as mentioned twice, he was from Elimelek’s clan (vs, 1 & 3). “A man of standing” meant that he had a high social position and was well off financially. We will also see that he was respected for his integrity, kindness and wisdom.
Boaz had the place Elimelech could have had if he had trusted God and stayed in Israel, even in hard times:
“A man of great wealth: During the time of famine, when Elimelech, Naomi, and their whole family had left the Promised Land and went to Moab, Boaz had stayed behind – and God provided for him. In fact, God made Boaz a man of great wealth.” Enduringword.com
At that time in Israel the owners of grain fields were to leave the leftover grain for the poor to gather. Naomi and Ruth were very poor. Since Naomi’s age would have made it difficult for her to work, the best solution and the one suggested by Ruth herself is that Ruth should pick up grain for them to live on. Naomi agreed, and Ruth “as it turned out” went to work in the field belonging to Boaz.
“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:9-10
“This is a wonderful way of helping the poor. It commanded the farmers to have a generous heart, and it commanded the poor to be active and work for their food – and a way for them to provide for their own needs with dignity.” Ruth 2 – Ruth As a Gleaner enduringword.com
“Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!”
“The LORD bless you!” they answered.” Ruth 2:4
Notice that Bethlehem,the birthplace of Jesus, was the home of Boaz. His greeting and the return greeting of the harvesters show belief in God and respect for Him and for each other. Peace, joy, trust and warmest for each other is shown.
“Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”
The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” Ruth 2:5-9
The difference in age between Boaz and Ruth is shown in verse 5 when he calls her “young woman” and in verse 8 when he calls her “my daughter”. He has lived long enough to be “a man of standing”. These clues would point to him being middle age. He is probably not as old as Naomi, yet he and Naomi have the same values and understanding. Most of this is, of course, due to their being Israelites who know God. Boaz is in good health and a hard worker as is described later.
Boaz shows at once that he will take care of Ruth. He has “told the men not to lay a hand on” her. We can see that Israel could be dangerous for Ruth.
“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:10-12
When Ruth came to Israel, she put herself under the Lord’s protection. Boaz points this out to her and adds his own blessing. In the small town and vicinity of Bethlehem, the character of Ruth and what she had done for her mother-in-law was common knowledge
“May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”
At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah (about one bushel or 35 litres, about 30 pounds or 13 kilograms). She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.” Ruth 2:13-18
Boaz is more than kind to Ruth. His desire was to help Naomi as well as Ruth.
“Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!”
Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.
“The LORD bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsmen-redeemers (in Hebrew a legal term meaning obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulties).” Ruth 2:18-20
“At the end of the day she was left with an ephah of barley! Amazing aye? Ok, I’m sure you, like me, have no idea how much an ephah is, so I looked it up and it’s 22 litres. This would be enough to feed both herself and Naomi for about 10 days. No wonder Naomi was surprised and had to know where she had got this!” Jesusplusnothing.com
“A kinsman? This introduces an important word in the book of Ruth – the ancient Hebrew word goel. To say that Boaz was a goel (a kinsman) was more than saying he was a relative; it was saying he was a special family representative. He was a chieftain in the family.” Enduringword.com
Naomi recognized God’s care for her and her family. The fact that she acknowledges “his kindness to the living (herself and Ruth) and the dead (her husband and sons, especially Mahlon)” and adding “that man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsmen-redeemers” seems to mean she had begun to see God’s plan for the future.
“Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”
Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”
So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.” Ruth 21:-23
Here again we see that the country had its dangers: “in someone else’s field you might be harmed”.
“Naomi realizes what Boaz is trying to do for them and encourages Ruth to stay and glean in that field…The wheat harvest would extend this harvesting by over a month.”
“Although barley and wheat were both planted in the autumn, barley matured faster and would be harvested sooner…Wheat ripens later than barley and…was harvested…end of April to end of May…” Grace Communion Church
“We need to see that the One who has been showing us such undeserved favours ever since we took our place as gleaners in His field has more and is more. We need to see that Jesus is our nearest Kinsman, with the right to redeem both ourselves and our situation, a right acquired through the mighty sufficiency of His blood. The Son of man has the right on earth to forgive sins, and more, to redeem and overrule for ultimate good the very losses occasioned by our sin. And it is all based on blood, in the shedding of which all blame attaching to us was anticipated and extinguished.
With that vision of the blood must go a new vision of grace—that our very lacks, faults and failures are our qualifications for what grace provides, in the same way that Ruth had to see that her poverty and widowhood were the very things that qualified her for a redeemer.”
Hession, Roy: Our Nearest Kinsman: The Message of Redemption and Revival in the Book of Ruth. Christian Literature Crusade. 1976
CHAPTER 3
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home (Hebrew – find rest as is Ruth 1:9) for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.” Ruth 3:1-6
“Naomi was faced with three issues. First, how could the name of Elimelech be maintained among the tribes of Israel since both her sons were now dead? Second, what steps should be taken to protect her inheritance, which Elimelech had left in Naomi’s trust? Third, how could she provide rest and security for her faithful daughter-in-law? A marriage between Ruth and Boaz would solve all three problems.” (Fruchtenbaum, A. G. Ariel’s Bible Commentary : The books of Judges and Ruth. Page 318. San Antonio, Tex.: Ariel Ministries)
“That it may be well with you – Recall that Naomi prayed for this very thing in Ruth 1:8-9 now she plays a role in answering her own prayer. This is an example of divine sovereignty and human responsibility being beautifully interwoven to bring about the purpose of God.” Preceptaustin.org
“The course Naomi advised appears strange to us; but it was according to the laws and usages of Israel. If the proposed measure had borne the appearance of evil, Naomi would not have advised it.” Matthew Henry
The author/authors of Cutting Corners bible.org do not have such a high opinion of Naomi. They say that Naomi’s purpose was to have Ruth seduce Boaz. She was doing what others did at that time:
“…everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6, 21:25
However, their arguments can be easily answered. I’ve mentioned some of their arguments (the ones that have any substance):
(1) Naomi proposes to solve a problem in secret that should have been dealt with in public… (2) Naomi’s proposition is God-less… (3) Naomi’s plan seeks to appeal to the baser instincts and impulses of Boaz, not his higher sense of duty…(4) Naomi’s plan does not call for thought and reflection, but rather for impulsive, irreversible action…(5) Naomi’s plan seems to deliberately bypass and exclude the nearest kin, giving preference to Boaz instead… (7) Naomi’s plan wrongly implied that Ruth needed to take the initiative in this matter of redemption and levirate marriage, as though Boaz would not have done so on his own. 9) Naomi’s plan only dealt with the matter of finding a husband for Ruth, and yet we shall see in chapter 4 that another pressing issue was the redemption of her property.
Arguments 1, 3 and 7 can be answered from these quotes:
“Naomi instructed Ruth 1) to put on her best appearance and 2) to propose marriage to Boaz by utilizing an ancient Near Eastern custom. Since Boaz is a generation older than Ruth, this overture would indicate Ruth’s desire to marry Boaz which the older, gracious Boaz would not have initiated with a younger woman.” Preceptaustin.org
Boaz respected and admired Ruth, but being a man of integrity, he would not have dwelled on the possibility of marriage if it had ever crossed his mind. He would not presume to ask Ruth to marry him, so she had to ask him, in a humble, godly way. She had to appear at her best in order to give both him and herself worth and show that this was a request of great value.
Ruth followed the ancient Near Eastern custom by asking Boaz when he was alone at night – how could she have asked him in front of witnesses? The following quote adds to the significance of this act:
“Uncover his feet, and lie down: At the appropriate time, Naomi instructs Ruth to go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. Some might think this was a provocative gesture, as if Ruth was told to provocatively offer herself sexually to Boaz. This was not how this gesture was understood in that day. In the culture of that day, this was understood as an act of total submission.
In that day, this was understood to be the role of a servant – to lay at their master’s feet and be ready for any command of the master. So, when Naomi told Ruth to lie down at Boaz’s feet, she told her to come to him in a totally humble, submissive way.
Don’t lose sight of the larger picture: Ruth came to claim a right. Boaz was her goel, her kinsman-redeemer, and she had the right to expect him to marry her and raise up a family to perpetuate the name of Elimelech. But Naomi wisely counseled Ruth to not come as a victim demanding her rights, but as a humble servant, trusting in the goodness of her kinsman-redeemer. She said to Boaz, “I respect you, I trust you, and I put my fate in your hands.”
He will tell you what you should do: Of course, this was a situation that had the potential for disaster, if Boaz should mistreat Ruth in some way. But Naomi and Ruth had the chance to get to know Boaz, and they knew what kind of man he was – a good man, a godly man, one to whom Ruth could confidently submit.” Enduringword.com
“…had not Boaz been a person of extraordinary piety, prudence, and continence, this experiment might have been fatal to Ruth. We cannot easily account for this transaction, probably Naomi knew more than she revealed to her daughter-in-law. The experiment however was dangerous, and should in no sense be imitated.” Study.light.org
God does give directions that are not be imitated. Tamar used a secret plot to become pregnant by Judah because he had not done as was required in order to carry on the ancestral line of Jesus (Genesis 28). God can use whatever is necessary to enact His plans. He won’t go against His character, but He can make a situation conform to His character.
“…Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes…” Ruth 3:3
“Refers to a very general practice in the East. It originated from the relief from the effect of the sun that was experienced in rubbing the body with oil or grease. Among rude people the common vegetable or animal fat was used. As society advanced and refinement became a part of civilization, delicately perfumed ointments were used for this purpose. Other reasons soon obtained for this practice than that stated above. Persons were anointed for health (Mark 6:13), because of the widespread belief in the healing power of oil. It was often employed as a mark of hospitality (Luke 7:46); as a mark of special honor (John 11:3); in preparation for social occasions (Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 14:2; Isaiah 61:3).” Preceptaustin.org
“Put on your best: like Esther who risked her life going uninvited before King Ahasuerus put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. Esther 5:1
Certainly Ruth was not risking her life but it is nevertheless in Naomi’s eyes a crucial encounter and she is to look her best.” Preceptaustin.org
Answer to argument 2: It is not necessary to mention God when we are being directed by Him. The book of Esther does not mention God although He was obviously behind events that happen.
Answer to argument 4: Ruth understood what Naomi was purposing so they had obvious discussed it to some degree before. When Ruth carried out the plan it is clear that she understood what she was to do. It was not impulsive.
“A threshing floor is a hard flat surface made specifically for the purpose of threshing the grains during harvest. It’s usually made of rock or beaten down earth. It can be owned by a town or village or by a single family.” Yahoo Answers
“When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits (heart was merry, to his heart’s content, feeling satisfied, heart was glad), he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!” Ruth 3:7-8
“Having ate and drank freely, though not to excess; and innocent mirth was always allowed in the time of harvest, and of the vintage, and of gathering the fruits of the earth, see (Judges 9:27 Isaiah 9:3) or “his heart was good”; he was in a good frame and disposition of mind, praising God for his goodness to him, and to his people…” John Gill commentary
Noah and Lot knew God and got drunk, but Boaz seems to be more sensible. If what he drank had alcoholic content, he would not have drunk too much, being that the purpose of his staying at the threshing floor was to protect his grain, and as shown by his quick understanding, dignity and wisdom when he discovered Ruth.
“The farmer usually remained all night in harvest-time on the threshing-floor, not only for the protection of his valuable grain, but for the winnowing. That operation was performed in the evening to catch the breezes which blow after the close of a hot day, and which continue for the most part of the night. This duty at so important a season the master undertakes himself; and, accordingly, in the simplicity of ancient manners, Boaz, a person of considerable wealth and high rank, laid himself down to sleep on the barn floor, at the end of the heap of barley he had been winnowing.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer of our family.”
“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your kinsman-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.” Ruth 3:7-13
“This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier”: Ruth was showing more devotion to Naomi than ever before because any children Boaz and Ruth had would legally be the child of Naomi’s son Mahlon and would give Naomi an heir.
“You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor”: Being young, Ruth could easily have done this, which might appear to have been to her advantage and which a woman not following God would have chosen to do.
“All the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character”: The righteousness of her proposal of marriage would not be questioned by anyone.
“In reply to Boaz’ question, Ruth identifies herself as a maidservant, again taking a lowly position. She acts toward Boaz in humility. And she looks for Boaz to take action because of who she is.
Ruth uses a very expressive metaphor here in asking him to spread his skirt over her. The word “skirt” here is in the plural, and in such a case it more often means “wings” than part of a garment. It may be that Ruth was saying “spread thy wings over thy handmaid”, a very beautiful and delicate way for Ruth to express her wish.
She calls Boaz GO-EL, “near kinsman”. This makes her request a formal one, and she’s looking to him to resolve the legal question of redemption.
Keil and Delitzsch say that the word “skirt” refers to the corner of the counterpane, or blanket, which Boaz had over him. A man and wife sleeping together would share this blanket. Therefore, in those times, the act of covering Ruth with part of the blanket would have been symbolic of a proposal of marriage.
However, Boaz did not take this action. As we see further on, there was a legal question to be resolved before Boaz could marry Ruth. But Boaz does begin the process here…” realtime.net
Boaz told Ruth that he would marry her if the one “more closely related than I” would not, and even confirmed it with an oath.
Answer to argument 5: Ruth did not seem to know about the kinsman-redeemer closer than Boaz. Probably Naomi did, but she could have reasoned that he would not accept the proposition so she was putting it in Boaz’s hands. Boaz had already shown he would care for Ruth and herself.
Naomi realized that God was providing for her in this situation:
“He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” Ruth 2:20
I think she was making a bold step directed by God. No one’s integrity seems to be in question, adding to the beauty of the story.
Ruth was showing even more courage. The wisdom she demonstrated in putting this plan into action is evidence she was directed by God. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she handled it with integrity as did Boaz. Both of them seem to have trusted Naomi’s motive as shown by Ruth’s quick submission and obedience to Naomi and by Boaz quick response to her proposal – “this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier” – to provide an heir for Naomi.
“So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.” Ruth 3:14-15
“Even though nothing immoral had gone on, Boaz was worried about gossip that would start if people saw that Ruth had spent the night on the threshing floor where he was.” Rondaniel.com
“Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 NIV 1984 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
An added emphasis in keeping her visit secret was the fact that Boaz did not know yet if he could marry her. It would have been very difficult if the other kinsman-redeemer had chosen to marry Ruth and someone had found that she had been at the threshing floor.
“When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Ruth 3:16-18
He sent a gift back with Ruth for Naomi to show he would do what she wanted. The fact that Boaz gave Ruth so much barley, and told her especially not to “go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed” shows that the love and kindness Ruth was showing Naomi would also be the love and kindness he planned to show Naomi by doing all he could to marry Ruth. Naomi knew this – “the man will not rest until the matter is settled today”.
“Hebrew, “six seahs,” a seah contained about two gallons and a half, six of which must have been rather a heavy load for a woman.” Biblestudytools.com This shows us that Ruth must have been a strong, healthy woman.
Answer to argument 9 is given in the following quote:
“Boaz gives Ruth six measures of barley to bring home with her, stating that he didn’t intend to have Naomi go empty-handed either. Upon seeing it, Naomi understood the message – he was not only going to marry Ruth, but also redeem Naomi’s land. And he would not rest until he had settled the matter that day.
How did she understand this from a simple gift of six measures of barley? Remember that the standard for the fellowship offering was set back in Genesis 18 by Abraham:
Gen. 18:6 …Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead {it,} and make bread cakes.”
Three measures of meal became the standard fellowship offering. By giving them six measures, Boaz was letting Naomi know that his fellowship with Ruth was also with her.
She also knew that he would not rest until the matter was finished. I imagine that this was also because of the gift. Just as Boaz gave her six measures, God finished His work on the sixth day of creation, and rested on the seventh. He did not rest until everything was done, until his job was complete. I believe that’s what Naomi is thinking, because she says
Ruth 3:18 “…the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”
And indeed, Boaz would not rest until he settled it that day.” Rondaniel.com
Although it was flattering to have a young woman ask to marry him, we do not know what inheritance rights Boaz or any other heir of his would have to give up to their child. Of course, we know that obedience to God always brings abundant blessing, and Boaz (as had Naomi and Ruth) would have seen God’s hand in this.
God does more than show His divine protection and care for His children, show an example of love and commitment and other endless lessons in the book of Ruth. He defines redemption. A kinsman-redeemer has to be a blood relative (God became a man), have the means to redeem (gave Himself – sinless) and be willing to marry (Christ married the Church). Christ gave all that He could for us.
CHAPTER 4
“Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.” Ruth 4:1
Boaz went to the town gate where business transactions were carried out and where he was apt to find the kinsman he had mentioned to Ruth.
I can imagine how anxious Boaz, Naomi and Ruth were. It is like waiting for an answer in the buying of a house – you know what you want and are waiting for all the factors to come into place. When one of these factors is the approval of another person, it makes the outcome more uncertain. We can see that God was even considering this and also making His will very clear because the other kinsman came along just as Boaz sat down.
“Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”
“I will redeem it,” he said.” Ruth 4:2-4
“Ten men — To be witnesses: for though two or three witnesses were sufficient, yet in weightier matters they used more. And ten was the usual number among the Jews, in causes of matrimony and divorce, and translation of inheritances; who were both judges of the causes, and witnesses of the fact.” John Wesley Commentary
How simple business transactions were then! All Boaz had to do was find ten elders. He knew these men and Israel business well. In fact, he could have been the chief elder in Bethlehem. He explains his request. The men would have quickly understood:
“If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold.” Leviticus 25:25
“It is difficult to determine the nature of Naomi’s sale of land. She may have been selling the property rights to some land owned by her husband, Elimelech (10 years had elapsed). However, it is more probable that she held only the right to use the land until she remarried or died. Since she held the right to use the land, she had the right to buy it back from the present owner.” Verse by Verse Commentary Dr. Grant Richison
Boaz knew Naomi wasn’t able to buy back the land so would give that right to the next of kin. Naomi (through Ruth) had approached Boaz instead of the closer kinsman because she and Ruth knew Boaz was an honorable man who would take care of them. He showed that he would do all he could by sending her the gift of six measure of barley (as explained in the quote by rondaniel.com in chapter 3); he would not only marry Ruth (as requested), he would buy back the land for Naomi’s family.
The other kinsman had a less noble motive for buying the land:
“I WILL REDEEM IT,’ HE SAID: “Yes, he would redeem the land’ he was willing enough to buy it, and add it to his own inheritance until the year of jubilee restored it to the family which originally owned it. He was the more willing to do this since there was no immediate prospect that there would be any other heir upon whom the property might devolve; so there was a fair chance that it might become his for good” (WJR). Agora Bible Commentary (internet)
The year of Jubilee is explained in Leviticus 25 and Numbers 36:4.
It is possible Boaz could have purchased the land without telling the other kinsman-redeemer, yet he did everything with integrity and honesty. He used wisdom (like Daniel in Daniel 1). He mentioned Naomi’s name (although it involved Ruth) when making the request because she directed the negotiations. Because the other kinsman said yes to redeeming the land, Boaz clearly presented the stipulation of marrying Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow.
“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” Ruth 4:5-6
Marrying Ruth was an inconvenience for the other kinsman so he changed his mind and declined the offer. He readily understood what marrying Ruth would involve:
“If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6
“Mar — Either because having no children of his own, he might have one, and but one son by Ruth, who, though he should carry away his inheritance, yet would not bear his name, but the name of Ruth’s husband; and so by preserving another man’s name, he should lose his own. Or, because as his inheritance would be but very little increased by this marriage, so it might be much diminished by being divided amongst his many children, which he possibly had already, and might probably have more by Ruth.” John Wesley Commentary
“Lest I ruin my own inheritance: Probably, the man had grown sons that had already received their inheritance of lands. The problem of dividing that inheritance among future children he would have with Ruth was more than he wanted to deal with.
Also, no doubt, the man was married – and knew it would be awkward (at best!) to bring home Ruth as wife number two. “ David Guvik’s Commentary
“(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)
So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.” Ruth 4:7-8
Since Boaz had already mentioned that he would redeem the land and the ancestry of Naomi, it was not such a stigma on the other kinsman because he refused. It was mainly to legalize the transaction that he removed his sandal:
“However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.” That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled” Deuteronomy 25:7-10
“Gave it — He who relinquished his right to another, plucked off his own shoe and gave it to him. This was symbolical, and a significant and convenient ceremony, as if he said, take this shoe wherewith I used to go and tread upon my land, and in that shoe do thou enter upon it, and take possession of it.“ John Wesley Comentary
The unnamed kinsman didn’t know what he was missing. Matthew Henry mentioned in his commentary that the name of the other kinsman-redeemer was not mentioned because he had no significance in history having refused to marry Ruth. Like Orpah he was willing to go part way but his own desires kept him from going the full way. In this way Ruth and Boaz are contrasted to Orpah and the other kinsman.
“Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”
Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” Ruth 4:9-12
Boaz clearly announced the legal requirement and his intentions. The people understood what he was doing as shown by the respect and blessings they gave him.
Rachel and Leah were the wives of Jacob – God calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob several times in both the Old and New Testament. Jacob (God changed his name to Israel) had twelve sons so built up his family and the nation of Israel.
“Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob (supplanter), but Israel (triumph with God, who prevails with God), because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28
Perez was born to Tamar who like Ruth was not originally a Jew, but like Ruth acted in great courage to fulfill the laws of Israel (Genesis 38).
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed (servant). He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:13-17
Isn’t it wonderful that the women of Bethlehem praised God, recognizing Him as the giver of life. They knew what Obed would mean for Naomi. He would give her hope for the present and for the future. Also unknown to Naomi is that she would have a part in the birth of Jesus. Surely God had given her “…immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” Ephesians 3:20
The women of Bethlehem were giving Ruth the highest compliment when they told Naomi Ruth “is better to you than seven sons”.
There are several examples of the number seven represented in Jewish history – “…7 represents wholeness and completion.” Ask the Rabbi
“Seven is one of the greatest power numbers in Judaism, representing Creation, good fortune, and blessing.” Judaism & Numbers
The character of Ruth is shown in Proverbs 31:
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family (she has shown that she would take care of Naomi) and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (she had shown her desire and ability to work hard). She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (she knows what it is to be poor and already shown her care for Naomi). When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land (Boaz is a respected elder, and will be free to manage the affairs of the city and perhaps even more outreaching with Ruth as his wife). She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (she has shown her faith in God). She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness (she does more than her share).
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (we don’t know what Ruth looked like – in God’s eyes all who love Him are beautiful). Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate (the women have already praised her at the city gate). Proverbs 31:10-31
What Ruth has not already shown (because of circumstances) would have been, no doubt, fulfilled in the rest in her lifetime.
Ruth was the great grandmother of King David who was the ancestor of Jesus:
“…Ruth herself, who forsook the gods of her people to become a child of the true God is, indeed, better than seven sons. Through her would come the greatest blessing the world will ever know.” Head and Heart
“This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez (whose mother was Tamar – Genesis 38) was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon (the husband of Rahab – Joshua 6), Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.” Ruth 4:18-22
Ruth and Boaz were ancestors of Jesus. Jesus, along with the Jewish people, would have known the story of Ruth well. It was part of His heritage:
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52
Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man.