Even though they’ve come to the end of the wheat harvest season, love is just beginning to bud in chapter 3.
This Ruth 3 commentary and chapter study dives deep into chapter 3 and the book of Ruth.
(1) Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? (2) “Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, [is he] not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. (3) “Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your [best] garment and go down to the threshing floor; [but] do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. (4) “Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
Naomi speaks to Ruth about seeking security for her. She is talking about long term security through marriage. Something that would be good for her and not harmful.
Remember in Ruth 1:9 Naomi mentioned that she wanted both of her daughter-n-laws to find rest with a new husband. She wants to help Ruth with that so she gives her direction on how to make that happen starting in verse 2. She tells her to get cleaned up and put on her best clothes so that she would look nice and smell nice. Then Ruth was to wait until he finished eating and lay down before she let him know she was there. Once he lays down she is to uncover his feet and lie down by his feet.
This seems weird for us because dating and courtship has changed so much since this time. But what we see Ruth doing is an act of a servant. Boaz is her kinsman redeemer and Ruth has a right to expect him to marry her. It was the law, but neither Ruth nor Naomi are forceful people.
Naomi is teaching her to be humble by letting Boaz know what she wants without forcing it to happen. I believe love and happiness is what Naomi wanted for Ruth and I believe that’s what Ruth was wanting as well. Naomi could have gone to Boaz and told him what they wanted and remind him that it is his duty by law but that isn’t the kind of relationship Naomi wanted for Ruth.
The last part of verse 4 Boaz will tell Ruth what she should do after she lays at his feet.
A note from Jennifer: It went something like this “You know Boaz, our relative? He will be working tonight at the threshing floor. Get yourself together and get down there. And don’t bother him while he is eating, let him finish first.” Not sure if that was a culture thing or just that Naomi knows what it’s like to interrupt a man who is eating. They can be a bit of a bear. Then show him your intent by laying at his uncovered feet. He will tell you what he wants you to do when he knows what you’re asking. I’m so happy that dating looks so different now. But what has stayed the same is the emotional aspect of dating. You have to show that you’re interested not knowing if the one you are pursuing will be interested as well. Sometimes dating can be harsh and not only can you be rejected but humiliated as well. I can’t even imagine how nervous she must have felt as she waited to hear from him. Will he accept her or shamefully send her away? It seems like Ruth has the upper hand but truthfully Boaz could treat her anyway he wanted to. Let’s see how it goes for Ruth.
(5) And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.” (6) So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. (7) And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. (8) Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. (9) And he said, “Who [are] you?” So she answered, “I [am] Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.” (10) Then he said, “Blessed [are] you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. (11) “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you [are] a virtuous woman.
Ruth does all that Naomi tells her and Boaz wakes up to see her at his feet. Boaz in the dark didn’t know who was lying at his feet so he asked “Who are you?” Ruth’s reply again is very humble as she tells him she is his maidservant. She then asks that he take her under his wing since he is a close relative. She is asking for him to marry her and to cover her with his clothing. In their culture this type of reaction would be customary for the man to do.
I’m so excited about Boaz’s reaction. He responds by telling Ruth she is blessed by the Lord for she has shown so much kindness. Afterall, she could have pursued anyone but instead of going after someone young and close to her age she is asking him, an older man to continue the name of her late father in law.
This could have gone several ways and Ruth could have looked for a husband that she desired and not taken Naomi’s advice or direction. She didn’t have to show respect for the family the way she did. Also with Boaz being the kinsman redeemer he could have turned her down and chose not to marry her. The opposite could have happened as well. He could have forced Ruth to marry him when she first came. Instead, Boaz was kind to Ruth not expecting anything in return for the extra grain he was allowing her to get. This just feels like genuine love to me.
In verse 11, Boaz answers with “Do not fear. I will do all that you’ve asked. The people here know that you are a worthy woman. This was a huge compliment not just because she was a woman but a moabite woman.
(12) “Now it is true that I [am] a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. (13) “Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be [that] if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you–good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, [as] the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”
In verse 12, we get a bit of unwanted news. Boaz tells Ruth that there is a close relative in line ahead of him. He wants to marry Ruth but one man stands in their way. So he instructs her to stay the rest of the night and in the morning if the other man will step in to marry her then let him and if he doesn’t then Boaz will. He is unable to perform his task as the kinsman redeemer before the closer relative of Elimelech.
Boaz once again is shown to be a man of honor and chooses to follow God’s plan by not going against the law and marrying Ruth without asking the other man to relinquish his rights to Ruth. It must be done in a proper way.
(14) So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” (15) Also he said, “Bring the shawl that [is] on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six [ephahs] of barley, and laid [it] on her. Then she went into the city. (16) When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “[Is] that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. (17) And she said, “These six [ephahs] of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” (18) Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” (Rth 3:1-18 NKJV)
Ruth did as Boaz had asked and lay at his feet until early morning. He asks that she not tell anyone and asks for her shawl. He put 6 ephahs of barley in the shawl and handed it to her. This is a lot of grain so he didn’t send her away empty handed. He is always looking out for her it’s no wonder she has asked him to take care of her.
In verse 16 Ruth makes it to Naomi and tells her all that happened. She had been waiting all night for Ruth to return. After hearing what Boaz said Naomi tells Ruth to sit still and wait because she knew Boaz would rest until he took care of this matter.
A note from Jennifer: Let me add some emotions to this story. Ruth probably nervously goes to Boaz to ask for him to take her in. I can only imagine the emotional thoughts she had as she walked to the threshing floor. Then for Boaz he must have been so excited to find her at his feet. Knowing that Ruth, a beautiful young woman, chose him would have been exciting. But then to know there is someone who stood in the way of their happiness, A rollercoaster of emotions for them both. And now Ruth sits waiting to know who she will marry. The man that she loves or the other man she doesn’t even know. Do I even need to remind you how thankful I am that dating and courtship is so different these days.
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