Ruth Chapter 3 - Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

1 One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? 2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

Naomi may be mother-in-law to Ruth but in her heart, Ruth is her daughter.  She loves her as if she has come from Naomi’s own body.  Every mother longs to have all her sons and daughters cared for and loved.  She believes this may be an opportunity arranged by God for the future of her family and the provision for that future.  Naomi understood the ways of her people and she personally had the right to approach Boaz for herself.  Her love for Ruth was such that she chose to forsake her own opportunity to have a husband and created an opportunity for her daughter.  Have you ever asked yourself what are you might be willing to do without to make sure someone else has what they need?

3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on 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. 4 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.”

Naomi didn’t just tell Ruth to go speak to Boaz.  She told her how to present herself, when and where to do it.  She even said to wait until he had finished enjoying the celebration so he was in a great mood.  Verse four describes an understanding of Hebrew rank and authority of that age.  A man wore his family name and rank on the hem of his garment.  In the New Testament the woman with the issue of blood took hold of the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed (Matthew 9:20, Luke 8:43-44).  Whenever anyone touched the hem of Jesus’ garment they were healed (Mark 14:36). 

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

When you know you can trust someone not to cause you harm, you know their word is good.  Ruth was not sure how this might all work out but she trusted her mother-in-law and did everything she said to do.  In all her ways Ruth humbled herself before God and her mother-in-law.  God says the meek shall inherit the earth.  Ruth portrayed this attribute perfectly.

7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.

So far Naomi’s plan is working.  Boaz is full of joy, God has given them a good year and he fell asleep with a light and happy heart.  He has found himself a place at the far end of the pile of grain which was protected by the men surrounding it.  There has been a great deal of discussion over whether or not Ruth was propositioning him or actually uncovered more than his feet.  This is not the case. 

In Ezekiel 16:1-8 we see God observing Israel.  It is quite clear that Israel’s past history was filthy to God, rather like the past of the Moabites.  They began as a small baby and progressed to where God saw them as a woman old enough to be married.  He saw Israel’s nakedness and covered them with a corner of his robe.  In other words, He covered them with righteousness.  In the second half of that verse it says he made them solemn vows; He married Israel.  This is what Ruth wanted from Boaz.

8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. 9 “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.”

Israel’s punishment for fornication, adultery, incest and other sins was simple…they were stoned to death.  To say that Boaz was startled was a huge understatement.  Any thoughts that she might have been propositioning him for sex ended with her words, “I am your servant Ruth.  Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer (gaal).  She didn’t want a single night of passion; she wanted a wedding ring.  The choice of Boaz was a good one since his own mother was once the prostitute Rahab in Jericho and only as a kinsman redeemer would anyone in Israel consider marrying a Moabite or a Moabitess.  It just wasn’t proper otherwise.

As I said earlier, a kinsman-redeemer had to be a near kinsman, had to be able through wealth and the physical ability to perform if the late husband failed to provide his wife with a child.  Scripture does not credit Boaz with an heir before his marriage to Ruth.  He was apparently an older man in Naomi’s generation rather than Ruth’s.  He had sufficient wealth to purchase Naomi’s land back from the creditors.  He was close enough kin but not the closest and the honor of being chosen had to go to the nearer kinsman first.

10 “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.

The choice of a husband for a woman of Israel was highly important.  Many accuse the Jews of being greedy or callous to outsiders.  The truth is that God instilled in them the understanding that knowledge is power and that a man (or woman) with no education is always at a disadvantage before someone that has an education.  It is also true that an older man was more likely to die sooner than a younger man and the man was the primary wage earner.  If Ruth had concerns for her future she would need to marry a younger and more vigorous man. 

It is unlikely that Ruth knew that Boaz was the right kinsman-redeemer to produce an heir who would be king.  It is unlikely that she knew her decisions and honorable actions toward Naomi would catch the very eye of God and place her in the genealogy of the Messiah.  She wanted to honor and serve her beloved mother-in-law.  That appeared to be her only motivation.  Her mother-in-law was concerned for the family name and Ruth’s future.  She knew Boaz could preserve both.

Boaz made an important statement to Ruth.  He said she had not run after the young men whether rich or poor.  This is true.  Ruth was determined to help Naomi and serve God.  This was her only true goal.  She was not worried about her future.  Naomi was concerned for Ruth and not herself.  That was her main goal.  Had either of them been jealous of the other or thinking only of themselves this whole plan of God’s would not have come to pass.  It was only through a willingness to put the other first that BOTH got what they needed (Philippians 2:3-4).  This doctrine is a major theme in the New Testament.

Putting another before yourself is an important part of trusting God to keep His word.  It is possible that the other is not as honorable as yourself and may try to cheat you.  Only God can make sure you receive what He has determined you should.  This attitude takes faith and a willingness to trust God at His Word. 

11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

Scripture says to treat younger women as sisters and older women as mothers.  If you begin a relationship by treating someone as an untouchable family member then you are not tempted to sin with them.  You can treat them that way until such time as a decision is made to lawfully change the relationship to something deeper.  Ruth was probably at least 20 years younger than Boaz.  While he might have hope for a wife, he chose to honor her as a daughter rather than as a potential bride.  This was important.  Any other attitude might have made him behave foolishly.

He let her know that she was held in some esteem in the village.  They knew she had honor and was not a Moabitess sinner.  The word used for her character is hayit and means strong, virtuous and mighty of word and deed.  What Ruth said she would do, she did.  By this time she is probably hoping that Boaz will do the kinsman’s part since he is such a noble character but then he drops the knowledge that there is one nearer still.  The kinsman-redeemer that is required must redeem both land and family tree.  Technically he would be redeeming the land for Naomi but the family for Ruth.  This placed Naomi’s claim first which made an even older relative the nearer kinsman.

13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

From the moment Boaz met Ruth he protected her.  It is curious that he was so willing to trust and lean on God that he trusted Him to chose who would receive this amazing woman as a wife.  In the first sentence it is as if he is quoting the old song, “Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be.”  The ‘but’ in the second sentence has much more feeling though.  But!  If he is NOT willing, then AS SURELY AS THE LORD LIVES…I WILL DO IT!”  He had her remain until just before daybreak so she would be safe.  How many times to we make life mistakes by working an outcome to the conclusion we want rather than to allow God to work it?

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

Had anyone known that she had been there all night it would have damaged both their reputations.  Oddly, in the Jewish world, Ruth is considered one of the most honored of women.  In spite of her Moabite past, the Jews consider her to have received the greatest that God could give; to be the great grandmother of king David and a forebear of the Messiah.  Many people accuse the Jews of being arrogant and unwilling to accept proselytes to their faith.  In reality, they have been so persecuted throughout world history that they have for over a thousand years been forbidden to win converts under pain of death.  It was fear, not arrogance, that has prevented much witnessing on the part of the Jews.  In truth, they have often been extremely gracious to new converts. 

Too often today we fail to properly honor God’s word in our lifestyle.  We frequently do what we want and dare anyone to say anything.  God’s punishment for living in sin with someone was death by stoning.  How is it that we have come to a place in our Christian walk where we don’t even honor Him by basic decency?  It used to be a death penalty sin to be pregnant out of wedlock and then it was hidden and not spoken of.  Now it’s more common than waiting for marriage. 

15 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 put it on her. Then he went back to town.

Every Hebrew and Greek word in the Bible is given for our learning.  There are no unimportant words or statements.  She wore a shawl.  Why?  Because she was a modest and humble single widow.  He poured six measures of barley in it for a reason.  Had it been three it would have been a fellowship offering.  It was six.  He bundled it up and placed it on her head for carrying.  She walked toward her home and he set course for Bethlehem.

16 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 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’

I wonder how well Naomi slept that night.  She was obviously awake when Ruth entered.  After telling Naomi all that occurred she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’  It did not matter whether it was barley or wheat.  It was six measures and they were addressed to her mother-in-law.  Numbers are quite important in the Bible and the number six is the number of man.  It also has another very important connotation…

18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

Genesis 2:2 says, “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”  Boaz let Naomi know that he would not rest until their property was returned and Ruth was a married woman.  Verse 18 was one of those times when you have done all you can; it is up to God to do the rest.  All you can do is wait on God (Psalm 27:14, 37:34, Proverbs 20:22).