9 Were Ruth and Naomi somehow less than a family? Although Boaz treated her kindly when they first met, she knew that what she was going to do was wrong and there was no guarantee that Boaz would marry her. (b) How did Naomi react when she saw Ruth? Another one is Rahab, who was the mother of Boaz. (Matt. Isn't the whole problem that someone else now possessed the land? cutting corners), I decided to do a search on the Internet to see what kind of shortcuts I could find. As an impoverished foreigner with neither husband nor child, how would she support herself and Naomi in the years ahead? The time had come to put Naomi’s plan into action. Boaz did fulfill his commitment to marry Ruth ( Ruth 4:13) and later had a son by her named Obed. Therefore, even in the midst of Ruth and Naomi ’s poor suffering, God still had a plan to take care of them. 1:1. If we imitate Ruth’s faith, we will seek to treat others and their ways and customs with deep respect. Ruth quickly told her mother-in-law of all that had passed between her and Boaz. The two of them are not married until after the scene at the city gate where this closer relative relinquishes his opportunity to marry Ruth (removing his sandal according to the custom of the … Knowing Boaz as she did – "For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today" (3:18) – Naomi was convinced that Boaz would not allow his encounter with Ruth to remain an illicit relationship. What lesson can we learn from Ruth about accepting advice from older ones? 7, 8. (b) In what ways did Boaz show kindness and sensitivity toward Ruth and her reputation? In verse 6, the near kinsman realizes that in buying the land he would be eventually giving it to heirs of Elimelech, thereby losing not only the land but also the money used to buy the land and provide for Ruth and Naomi. Matthew 1:5–6 says, “Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was … Boaz reassured Naomi that when he redeems Ruth he will not leave Naomi behind. Instead of losing everything, as his relative feared, Boaz gained a preeminent place in the history of Israel. 2 Were things finally starting to look up for this young widow? This answer is not useful. Ruth replied, perhaps with a tremor in her voice: “I am Ruth your slave girl, and you must spread out your skirt over your slave girl, for you are a repurchaser.” (Ruth 3:9) Some modern interpreters have sought to imply that there were some sexual undertones in Ruth’s actions and words, but they ignore two simple facts. All that you say I shall do for you, for everyone in the gate of my people is aware that you are an excellent woman.” (Ruth 3:11) He was pleased at the prospect of marrying Ruth; perhaps he was not completely surprised to be asked to be her repurchaser. 17. (a) Describe the scene at the threshing floor as Boaz finished working for the evening. (Boaz had an older brother who should have done this but he backed out.) Some assume that there must be someone to fill each role—husband, wife, son, daughter, grandparent, and so forth—for a family to be “real.” But the examples of Ruth and Naomi remind us that servants of Jehovah can open their hearts and make even the smallest of families glow with warmth, kindness, and love. 1:3, 5, 6, 16) Like Ruth, she was not an Israelite. Boaz filled her cloak with a generous gift of barley, and she made her way back into Bethlehem.—Read Ruth 3:13-15. (a) How successful was Ruth’s first day of gleaning in the field of Boaz? 18 Boaz spoke, and no doubt his gentle, soothing tone comforted Ruth. He told Ruth that there was another repurchaser, one more closely related to the family of Naomi’s dead husband. Naomi’s scheme did not produce a “romantic evening,” nor did it result in a sexual union or a midnight marriage. 28-31. As I was thinking about shortcuts (a.k.a. Because Ruth treated others with kindness and respect, she earned an excellent reputation. Still she kept at it, swinging a small rod or flail down onto the stalks to loosen the grains. Jehovah never fails to notice such loyal love. That appears to be left out hereperhaps indicating some mitigating circumstances in favor of the relative, such as the children he was already providing for. She also “kept on dwelling with her mother-in-law.” (Ruth 2:22, 23) In those words we see once more her hallmark quality—loyal love. 10. However, Boaz was a righteous man, and he was not about to act merely on his own preferences. Ruth’s supreme desire to be among God’s people was honored by God greatly. 22, 23. So, Boaz needed to first ask that relative for his permission. And now she found that some of Jehovah’s people, who lived under the Law and were trained by it, showed a degree of spirituality and kindness that touched her wounded heart. It would be understandable if such concerns weighed on her mind. Any kindness shown to Naomi and Ruth was, in effect, kindness to the men who would have wanted those dear women to be cared for. However, it did give Ruth the opportunity to ask Boaz to become her husband so as to provide protection and security for her (and for Naomi), as well as to produce a child who would carry on the family line. ^ par. Copyright © 2020 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. The other kinsman was willing to redeem Naomi’s lands, but he had no desire to marry Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess — a foreigner who did not follow the Hebrew God. The rest of the story showed how Ruth looked after Naomi, and God looked after Ruth. Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: After the opening of… 24 Naomi was quite right about Boaz. (b) How can Ruth’s example help us in today’s hard economic times? Although she was a Moabite, Ruth insisted on doing all of the things that would have been expected of a Jewish girl. However, God’s Law allowed the man’s brother to marry the widow so that she could give birth to an heir who might carry on her deceased husband’s name and care for the family property. (Read Psalm 71:17, 18.) According to the Interpreters One Volume Commentary, this incident provided a precedent for the later view that 10 men formed a quorum. On the other hand, the six measures—perhaps shovelfuls—may simply have been all that Ruth could carry. "Now, in case a widow sold the field of her deceased husband for the time that it was in her possession, on account of poverty, and a relation of her husband redeemed it, it was evidently his duty not only to care for the maintenance of the impoverished widow, but if she were still young, to marry her, and to let the first son born of such a marriage enter into the family of the deceased husband of his wife, so as to inherit the redeemed property, and perpetuate the name and possession of the deceased in Israel. Several interesting things take place in this story. This was evidently a common practice, perhaps designed to protect the precious harvest from thieves and marauders. Boaz found his potential rival and assembled ten elders at the city-gate, the ancient equivalent of city hall. Trembling from the cold, he stretched forward, likely to cover his feet up again. 3 One such person was Boaz, the wealthy older man in whose fields she was gleaning. He went to the city gate, where the city elders usually met, and waited until the man who was a closer relative passed by. Ruth took that advice. 11, 12. Then there was a young man who took a shortcut when hiking in the mountains of Alaska and had to be rescued from a precarious position on the side of a mountain. Perhaps they played a major part in helping Ruth through her pregnancy, enough so that their input was solicited and accepted. Nay, it is her own proposal. You have expressed your loving-kindness better in the last instance than in the first instance, in not going after the young fellows whether lowly or rich.” (Ruth 3:10) “The first instance” referred to Ruth’s loyal love in accompanying Naomi back to Israel and caring for her. 3, 4. First of all, we should understand that when land was sold in Israel, it was more like a lease or rental agreement since all land reverted to the original owner at the Jubilee, every 50th year. Some believe the fact that the near relative's name is not mentioned in the story connotes a blotting out of his name for refusing his obligation. 22 “Who are you, my daughter?” Naomi said when Ruth arrived home. Those who imply that there was something improper in Ruth’s actions ignore what two simple facts? Read the full Bible story account of Ruth and Naomi's special relationship in the Scripture below. (a) What kind of work was Ruth doing? a woman lying at his feet!”—Ruth 3:8. (b) What did Naomi urge Ruth to do? Boaz was her goel, her kinsman-redeemer, and she had the right to expect him to marry her and raise up a family to perpetuate the name of Elimelech. Lest I mar mine own inheritance — It seems he had a wife and children already, which made him afraid to marry a poor woman with a small parcel of land, which would not provide for the children he might have by her, lest he should thereby diminish the inheritance of which he was already possessed. Whatever the case, he defers the right of redemption to Boaz in verse 7 and gives Boaz his shoe as a witness to make it official (see Deuteronomy 25:5-10). To Ruth, it must have felt like an eternity. Like Boaz, Christ loved and redeemed an unlikely, unworthy bride. The second day he met with that relative in the presence of the town leaders and asked him if he would be willing to redeem Naomi’s late-husband’s land and marry Ruth. “An Excellent Woman”, Publication download options However, the man refused, claiming that doing so would ruin his own inheritance. She assured Ruth: “The man will have no rest unless he has brought the matter to an end today.”—Ruth 3:18. 4 Still, Ruth may have wondered about the life ahead of her. Ruth 2:1-3 ~ Observe Ruth's humility. 17 She said, “Boaz gave me these six portions of barley, saying, ‘You must not go home without a gift for your mother-in-law.’” 18 Naomi answered, “Ruth, my daughter, wait here until you see what happens. 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