Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
God does not just disclose who He is by saying things about Himself, but reveals His nature and character by His actions as recorded in every book of the Bible. We want to be constantly looking for what is revealed about God as we read the divinely inspired story, as well as keep an eye out for the important themes which have already been introduced in Ruth. The first is a contrast between ‘empty’ and ‘full’. Naomi declares, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty,” and her response is bitterness. Also recall the setting: this is not a good time in history to be a woman. The book of Judges gives us several examples of brutality and atrocities towards women in this day, along with a general negative view towards women. There are also tensions between Israel and Moab and tensions within Israel with food shortages along with social and political unrest. These historic details help us realize the impact of the next events.
1 – The narrator introduces a relative of Elimelech still living in Bethlehem whom Naomi is aware of but doesn’t contact or request any support from. He’s a “worthy” man, a man of substance, wealth, character and/or strength. In other words he’s powerful and important.
2 – Ruth’s options as a widowed woman would be to beg, sell herself into slavery or prostitution, to look for an eligible man to marry, seek support from the nearest relative, or to glean in neighbors fields, which was not safe or a sure thing.
Leviticus 19:9 and 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19 explain God's provision for the poor and the special blessing for those following these generous actions.
Ruth is aware that not all farmers are going to welcome her, a poor, alien immigrant, and especially when food has been very scarce and so it’s risky and she is very aware that she is putting her own safety at risk.
3 – Though she knows nothing about the near relative of her father-in-law and is new to this area, she “happened” to find the field that belongs to Boaz! The repetition of the words in verse one “who is of the clan of Elimelech,” underscores the importance that this was no accident! God was her unseen guide as subsequent events were to prove.
4 – Despite the chaos all around him, with people doing whatever is right in their own eyes and ignoring God’s good law all around him, Boaz and his servants acknowledge their dependence on God for a harvest.
5 – Boaz just happened to have come from Bethlehem and just happened to be in right place at the right time to notice an outsider. The original audience would have recognized and noted the hand of God at work here!
6, 7 – Here again, as the foreman gives a good report about Ruth, we are reminded that she is a Moabite. He gives a positive recommendation which wins her Boaz’s respect. She left Moab to come with Naomi and great personal cost, a kindness (hesed) that Naomi seems to take for granted. She had asked permission, not just assuming that she could glean there, and she had worked hard and steady through the heat of the day to get food for Naomi and herself.
8 – Boaz's interaction with Ruth is remarkable as it certainly wouldn't have been the custom for the land owner to even ask about, never mind to start speaking to, a poor woman who is gleaning. His words hold a lot of information as we see the language is a familial "my daughter" which shows an age difference. Boaz offers protection and provision rather than exploitation or physical harm which might have been expected.
9 – He continues to offer protection and provision. The word "touch" you, means to not reproach, humiliate or assault, which obviously she was at risk for. The law of gleaning described in Leviticus did not require the landowner to provide either food and water or protection for those on his land. Boaz is giving rights and privileges not usually given to poor foreign women.
10 – Ruth knew she had to find favour in order to be safe and get what she needed (2), but she is struck by the ‘over the top’ generosity of this man despite her social status and situation. When she questions why she discovers it's in response to Ruth’s kindness to his relative Naomi.
11, 12 – Boaz prays that God would repay her for her actions. As a general principle “Yahweh maintains order by repaying people according to their deeds". Part of God’s blessing on Abraham and his offspring, in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse.” Boaz identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel, which is significant as Ruth is a Moabite.
Because of her deeds of kindness to Naomi, an Israelite, God has obligated himself to repay her by his own promises, even though she is an outsider (cf. Num. 24:9b). As Ruth has transferred her spiritual allegiance from the gods of Moab to Yahweh, the God of Israel, Boaz expresses a picture, an image common in those days, of a mother bird who offers protection of her defenseless young (cf. Psalm 36:7; Isaiah 40:31 & Matt 23:37, just to name a few).
Boaz shows covenant faithfulness, great hesed/kindness, to Naomi in his treatment of Ruth. Ruth has no idea who this man is and Boaz has no idea that he is going to be used of God to give her a "full reward" and to answer his prayer for her.
13 – Ruth's responses in both verse 10 and 13 reveal her total amazement that the differences in race and class do not effect Boaz's compassion towards Naomi through her. Ruth's words tell us that she views herself as occupying the lowest rung on the ladder, a shipkhah; a female servant of the lowest rank who could be given as a gift to accompany a bride and if her mistress is barren, could bear a child on her behalf for the husband, although even this would not change her status (cf. Gen 16:6 & Lev 19:20).
Ruth places herself lower than Boaz's servants and even says "she could never be like" one of his servants and she gives him honour by calling him "my lord".
Boaz responds by dignifying her and is an example of how to treat women and how God thinks about and treats women.
Prayer:
God you are intimately acquainted with all our ways and in full control of every detail of our lives. Help us to always and in every time of hardship and suffering to look to you in trust and thanksgiving knowing that you are working all things out for our good, your plan and your glory, when we are called according to your purpose.