Ruth: Lesson Six
Ruth Seeks Naomi’s Security (Ruth 3:6-16)
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.” He said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”
So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you,a my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”
On Boaz’s threshing floor in the dead of the night, Ruth brazenly (and selflessly) proposed marriage and reminded Boaz of his kinsman-redeemer obligation. Boaz recognized her devout loyalty and her valiant strength which bolstered his opinion of her. With integrity, Boaz committed to discover her availability, protected her from gossip, and supplied her with a generous gift of barley for her and Naomi. Though once “empty,” now Ruth brings abundance to Naomi, and we anticipate more abundance to come.
Ruth Approaches Boaz
Ruth did exactly what Naomi told her to do.
She bathed, perfumed, and changed her clothing. Ruth was no longer in mourning; she is now available for marriage. Naomi wants Ruth to find “rest.” In other words, Ruth needs to find a husband as she has no means of support and no future in Bethlehem in its patriarchal and patrilineal culture.
She went to the threshing floor under the cover of darkness to secure a future by proposing marriage to its owner, Boaz. This was audacious, brazen, courageous, and risky. She exposed herself to potential humiliation, abuse, and rejection. But both Ruth and Naomi know the sort of man Boaz is. They know he is a “worthy” man, and he has demonstrated kindness (hesed) toward them both. He has protected Ruth from abuse and provided for her needs during the harvest.
Yet, Ruth does not approach Boaz directly in public view at the end of a workday. Rather, she waits till he is refreshed with food and drink and contented, beginning his rest with a night’s sleep on the threshing floor. It is the end of the harvest; Boaz stays with his grain. Ruth approaches him in quiet or “stealthily” to uncover his feet (see previous lesson for its meaning). She does not want to awaken anyone or raise an alarm. She only wants to interact with Boaz. While he still sleeps, Ruth lays down at his feet to await his response.
Bathed, perfumed, and dressed in her best, she uncovers his feet and lies down at them as a marriage proposal. This is not an invitation to a one-night stand, and neither is necessarily an invitation for a sexual liaison in the middle of the night. However, it might be an invitation to consummate a marriage on that threshing floor as Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer for the family. That is possible. At the same time, Boaz’s response tells us that there was no sexual consummation. But why not?
Ruth Proposes Marriage
Around midnight, Boaz is startled, turned over, and saw a woman lying at his feet. No doubt this was surprising. His question indicates he had not anticipated this moment, “Who are you?”
Ruth responded with four key points: (1) her name; (2) her work in the field (“your servant”); (3) her intent (“spread your cloak over your servant”); and (4) her relation (kinsman-redeemer). Since it was dark, Boaz did not immediately recognize Ruth, but he knew her from his relationship with her in the fields. She had harvested with his workers for perhaps seven weeks, shared his table, and was generously supplied with food and resources by Boaz.
She identified herself as one of his “servants” (one of his workers, according to Boaz’s kindness). But she had come to the threshing floor to extend her relationship with Boaz—no longer a boss but a partner in marriage.
Literally, her request that Boaz “spread [his] cloak over” her is “spread [his] wing over” her. “Wing” is exactly the word Boaz used when he had earlier blessed Ruth (2:12, Yahweh, “the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” This is clearly a marriage proposal, and it is deeply theological. Boaz asked Yahweh to bless Ruth and find security (a refuge) under Yahweh’s wings. Ruth now turns the language toward Boaz with a question: “Will you be Yahweh’s wings to me?” For Boaz to cover Ruth with his wings is to participate in the blessing of Yahweh toward Ruth (and Naomi as well). Will Boaz show hesed (kindness) to Naomi through Ruth?
Ruth’s response was succinct but powerful, and Boaz caught the point immediately. Boaz did not see this as an invitation to a sexual affair but to marriage. He responds accordingly.
Boaz Responds to Ruth
Boaz’s response highlights Ruth’s character as he blesses her once again. He is not upset that she is at his feet; he does not belittle or scold her. Instead, he blesses her, just as he had done when they first met weeks previously. His blessing is rooted in the fact that Ruth is loyal to Naomi and a worthy woman.
Ruth acts out of hesed (kindness, loyalty). Ruth did not seek what was best for her personally. She did not manipulate the situation out of self-interest. If that were the case, she would have pursued a younger man. Rather, by raising the point of about the kinsman-redeemer, she was seeking security not only for herself but, and perhaps primarily, for Naomi. This is her hesed, her loyal kindness, her loving kindness, toward Naomi for which Boaz blesses her.
In the second movement of his response, Boaz calls Ruth a “worthy” woman and reveals that the Ruth is known as such at the “assembly of my people” (literally, at the gate). Ruth has gained a reputation in town, particularly among the town elders or leaders. Consequently, Ruth should have no fear since she is respected, and Boaz intends to do as she asks.
“Worthy” is the same word that the narrator of the book of Ruth used to describe Boaz himself in Ruth 2:1. Both Ruth and Boaz are “worthy”. While this may have overtones of wealth and power when it comes to Boaz, that is not true of a barren, widowed, Moabite alien in the land. “Worthy” refers more to character than status, it seems to me. Her hesed toward Naomi is well-known. Her industry in providing for Naomi is also well-known. She has revealed her colors as a devout, self-less woman whose generosity and commitment is exemplary.
That there was no sexual consummation that night at the threshing floor is clear from Boaz’s integrity regarding his role as kinsman-redeemer. He did not presume to take liberties with Ruth as a kinsman when there was another who had the right of first choice (or first refusal). It was not his place. He did not have the right, and he honored that. This is something that must be adjudicated at the gate (or in the assembly of the people). Boaz wants to honor Ruth by acting honorably, and he wants to provide security for her that was untainted by scandal.
Yet, if Ruth is available, Boaz will honor her request. He swears an oath before Yahweh.
Ruth Returns to Naomi.
With Boaz’s reassurance and commitment, she lies down in peace to sleep on the threshing floor. One way or the other (either Boaz or the other kinsman), Ruth will have secured Naomi’s as well as her own “rest.”
Appropriately, Ruth slips out before dawn to protect her reputation. She is known as a “worthy” woman, and Boaz wants to keep it that way. This is not an escape from a sexual tryst but a prudent action to preserve both of their reputations until the matter is resolved publicly at the gate.
Before she leaves, however, Boaz gifts her a further supply of barley. Six measures of barley is probably something like half of an ephah, or probably about 15 or so pounds. Ruth carries the gift with her cloak (a different word than “wing” in 3:9). She does not return to Naomi “empty” (Ruth 1:21).
This is a gracious reversal within the narrative. Remember Naomi complained that Yahweh had brought her back “empty” to Bethlehem, but now from the threshing floor of Bethlehem, Ruth fills Naomi’s hands with abundance. She is no longer “empty.”
When Ruth returns, Naomi’s question for Ruth, in Hebrew, is the same as Boaz’s question, “Who are you?” English translations try to make sense of this; so, they typically provide a paraphrastic meaning for the phrase. Perhaps it is something like, “What’s up” or “What happened” along the lines of “how have your returned [empty or full]?” (or, “what are you doing here”? in the case of Boaz earlier).
Ruth has returned full—not only with barley but also with Boaz’s oath. Their security is firm because a kinsman-redeemer will act: if not the closest one, then Boaz certainly will as the next in line. Boaz will settle the matter one way or another.
Naomi and Ruth, however, must patiently wait for the outcome.