Ruth2

Ruth, seeking to provide for herself and Naomi, requests permission to glean in the fields. She providentially arrives at the field of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of Naomi's late husband. Boaz, having heard of Ruth's devotion to Naomi, shows her exceptional kindness, offering protection, food, and abundant gleanings. Naomi, upon learning of Boaz's generosity, recognizes him as a near kinsman and praises the Lord for his continued kindness to their family.

Boaz, Kinsman of Elimelech

Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Boaz Shows Favor to Ruth

Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” They answered him, “The LORD bless you.”

Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”

The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.

She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.”

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens.

Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Boaz answered her, “It has fully been shown me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before.

May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.”

At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left some of it.

When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her.

Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”

So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an efah of barley.

Naomi Discovers the Kinsman

She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.

Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.” She showed her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”

Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.’”

Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.”

So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Study Notes for Ruth 2

Verse 1

Boaz is introduced as a *gibbor hayil* ('mighty man of wealth' or 'man of standing/valor'). This term signifies not only financial success but also high moral character and influence, setting him up as a potential redeemer.

Verse 2

Gleaning was a legally protected right for the poor, the sojourner, and the widow (Lev. 19:9-10). Ruth’s initiative is both practical and humble, demonstrating her commitment to providing for Naomi.

Verse 3

The phrase 'her hap was' (lit. 'her chance fell') is a subtle narrative device. While presented as coincidence, the text hints at divine providence guiding Ruth directly to the field of their nearest relative.

Verse 4

Boaz’s pious greeting and the reapers’ sincere response reflect a godly and communal atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the violence and moral decay often described in the Book of Judges.

Verse 6

The servant emphasizes Ruth’s vulnerable status by calling her the 'Moabitish damsel,' highlighting her foreign origin as a non-Israelite widow seeking refuge.

Verse 9

Boaz offers Ruth profound security by charging his young men not to harass her. This protective measure was crucial, as female gleaners were often vulnerable to abuse in the fields.

Verse 10

Ruth recognizes the extraordinary nature of Boaz’s generosity, acknowledging her status as a *nokriyah* (foreigner/stranger) who has no claim on his kindness.

Verse 11

Boaz’s kindness is not random; it is a direct response to Ruth’s demonstrated *hesed* (loyal love/covenant kindness) toward Naomi, fulfilling the ethical requirements of the Law.

Verse 12

This verse is a theological climax. Boaz uses the image of taking refuge 'under the wings' (a metaphor for divine protection, cf. Ps 17:8), affirming that Ruth’s loyalty and conversion will be rewarded by the God of Israel.

Verse 14

Inviting Ruth to eat with the workers and offering her parched grain (a delicacy) is a public gesture of adoption, bringing her into the community and ensuring her strength for the rest of the day’s labor.

Verse 16

Boaz moves beyond passive adherence to the gleaning law toward active, intentional generosity, instructing his workers to make Ruth’s labor highly productive by dropping handfuls of grain on purpose.

Verse 17

An ephah (roughly 3/5 of a bushel or 22 liters) was a substantial amount—enough to feed two people for over two weeks. This demonstrates the success of Boaz’s instructions and Ruth's diligence.

Verse 20

Naomi recognizes Boaz’s actions as continued *hesed* ('kindness'). She then identifies him as a *go'el* (kinsman-redeemer), a relative responsible for protecting the family line, land, and honor, thus setting up the central conflict of the next chapter.

Verse 23

The barley harvest (spring) and the subsequent wheat harvest (early summer) together span several months, indicating a prolonged period of safe, consistent provision under Boaz's protection.

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Ruth2

Boaz, Kinsman of Elimelech

Boaz Shows Favor to Ruth

Naomi Discovers the Kinsman

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