Scripture reading
Ruth 1
Questions
1 Now Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek for you security that things may be good for you?...
Naomi prioritises Ruth despite her mar? What sort of love does this look like?1
…2 So then, is not Boaz our kinsman whose maidservants you were with? Look, he is winnowing the barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 Wash, anoint yourself, put your clothing on, and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking.
What does washing and anointing signify [2 Samuel 12:20]?
4 And when he lies, take notice of the place where he lies. And you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he shall tell you what to do.” 5 And she said to her, “I will do all that you say.” 6 And she went down to the threshing floor and did all that her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7 And Boaz ate and drank until his heart was merry and then he came to lie at the end of the grain heap. And she came in quietly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
It is interesting that whereas the ancient tradition of transferring a sandal is explained by a later scribe [4:7] that no explanation is given as to why Ruth would lie at night at the feet of her intended redeemer.
What does this tell us about the later scribe and his readers/hearers?
Feet or legs can be a euphemism for the male genitals. Do you think, in terms of what we learn of Ruth’s character, that this is what is being hinted at?
8 And it happened in the middle of the night the man was startled and he reached out and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your garment [lit. “wing”] over your servant because you are a redeemer.”
The idiom “to spread one’s wing over” is a marriage request [see Deuteronomy 22:30, 27:20; Malachi 2:16; Ezekiel 16:8] and a play on 2:122.
Why is marriage language used of YHWH and his people [2:12]? How does this find its fullest expression in the NT?
10 And he said, “You are blessed by YHWH my daughter. You did better in this last kindness than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And so then my daughter, do not be afraid. All that you ask I will do for you, for the entire assembly of my people knows that you are a worthy woman. 12 Now truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me. 13 Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good; but if he is not willing to redeem, then as YHWH lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
According to Jewish tradition Ruth was exceptionally beautiful3.
6. What do we learn of both Ruth’s and Boaz’s integrity and character?
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and got up before anyone could recognize each other. And he said, “It must not be known that you came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the cloak that is on you and hold it out.” And she held it out and he measured six measures of barley and put it on her cloak. Then she went into the city [עִיר, ʿîr].
ʿÎr according to Block is a walled settlement4.
7. Why did Boaz and his men not sleep in the safety of the city? What extra insight does this give us into Ruth?
16 And she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “How did it go for you, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man did for her. 17 And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘You shall not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” 18 And she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
More
Bible Project guide to the Book of Ruth.
This reminds us of God’s ḥěʹ·sěḏ [lit. “loyal love”] that Naomi wishes for both her daughters-in-law [1:8]
Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 691.
"She was beautiful in appearance, beautiful in deeds, and beautiful in all her ways" Ruth Rabbah 4:3. "Four women were the most beautiful in the world: Sarah, Rahab, Abigail, and Esther. According to some, Ruth was among them" Tractate Bava Batra 14b. "She was beautiful and of good appearance, and her deeds were as beautiful as her appearance" Ruth Zuta 2:5. Etc.
Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 684.