Ruth 2:1-7RUTH 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz." This chapter gives us a look at the life of the poor in ancient Palestine. There were not many ways for widows to make a living. One method open to them was that of gleaning in the fields at harvest time. It was laid down in the law that a landowner must not reap the land to the very borders, nor was he to pick up what was left after the reapers had gone through. Read Leviticus 19:9,10 and 23:22 If a reaper forgot a sheaf of grain and left it there in the field, he was forbidden to go back for it. (Deut. 24:19) In such ways provision was made for the poor. They could go through the fields or the vineyards of grapes or olive orchards and glean what they could. It was a good thing that Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, for it enabled them to get some food right away, probably lentils and barley at first; and the wheat harvest was only a few weeks away. Topic: AGRICULTURE IN PALESTINE Boaz is now brought on the scene. He is a kinsman, but his exact relationship is not defined. He was not a direct relation of Naomi, but of her husband, Elimelech. In fact, if he had been Naomi's kinsman he could not have helped her as "kinsman-redeemer". He was also not the closest relative; as you see by reading ahead Boaz told Ruth that there was a "kinsman closer than I". The expression "might man of wealth" is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as "mighty man of valor". So we get the force of the more modern word "knight". He would have been a warrior in time of conflict, but in peace he has a different kind of influence. Boaz would have prominence by reason of his direct descent from Judah, if for no other reason. So he appears here as a solid citizen, a man of influence and integrity in the community. RUTH 2:2 "And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter." Ruth takes the initiative now by suggesting that she go to the field to glean. The author does not lose sight of Ruth's origin in this book. Of the twelve uses of Ruth's name, five have the word "Moabite" attached to them. There is no loss of pride in gleaning. Gleaning is honorable work, a grace provision of the Lord for poor people. Where the Lord provides prosperity in a community, there is enough in the leftovers to care for the indigent. Ephesians 4:28, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." The principle is that prosperity comes to an individual so that provision might be made for those who are in genuine need of help. Gleaning is true charity, but it is charity that requires the able-bodied to work and maintain self-esteem. Both the rich and the poor trust God for the provision He makes for them. The situation is that all the farmers work in one large field. Ownership is vested in parts of the one big field. Ruth will try to find a sympathetic farmer to glean with. While the law applied to everyone, a hostile or greedy landowner could break the law or find ways to make life miserable for the gleaners. And Ruth was undoubtedly aware that she could run into some prejudice because of her nationality. There are always plenty of reasons a person can find for hoarding his goods to himself. The history of the Jews has plenty of examples of how people developed ways to get around the laws of God. Making life hard for gleaners was just one of them. The plan of God works best in the presence of obedience to His laws and a willing heart. RUTH 2:3 "And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to a portion of the land belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." She probably went gleaning several days before she came to Boaz' field; it says she "went and came". It's possible that she tried several places before she found friendly people. Ruth did not know the people or the property owners. So it was apparently by chance that she was working in Boaz' portion of the fields. But men do not control events; the hand of God is behind events as He works out His purpose. God is in all these happenings which lead up to the marriage of Boaz and Ruth, the birth of Obed, and the continuation of the royal line from Judah through David to Christ. RUTH 2:4 "And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, the Lord bless thee." Boaz lived in Bethlehem and came to his fields after the reapers had started for the day. He had a friendly relationship with the workers who were employed by him. His greeting, and their reply, indicates that Boaz' spiritual life extends into his everyday affairs. The greeting was probably a common one; but coming from a devout man it would have had a great deal more meaning. In our generation, many Christians tend to stratify their lives, to separate the secular from the religious. For them, there is a time to work, a time to play, and a little time for the Lord. Many times such a Christian's spiritual life is perfunctory. The Jew in Palestine, however, was reminded of his relationship to the Lord, of his obligations, and of the standards the Lord had set for his life. Almost every day had its ceremony, its sacrifice, its fast, or it celebration. But some people find these practices boring, inconvenient, and expensive. It would have been very frustrating to the person whose heart is not in it. Some Jews in ancient times, like their brethren in modern Christianity, sought every excuse to neglect their duties, to slide by the obligations, to get by with not attending, not paying, not obeying. But Boaz is an example of a man who thrived under the Lord's leading and fellowship. In his attitude toward others, his care for Ruth and Naomi, and in his attitude toward his servants can be seen his gracious and loving character. RUTH 2:5 "Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?" It would not be difficult for Boaz to notice that there was a new face among the gleaners. We should not suppose that this question indicated any more than curiosity. Boaz' interest in Ruth became more keen when he found out who she was. But even then we should not presume that this was love at first sight. The word "servant" and "damsel" are the same Hebrew word in masculine and feminine. The term is used frequently for "servant", male and female. Boaz is inquiring as to Ruth's owner, in case she was an indentured servant. This concept is explained in the topical study referenced here. Topic: SERVANTS AND SLAVES IN PALESTINE The Christian believer is to have an attitude of submission toward the Lord as of servant to master. Psalm 132:2, "As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us." Proverbs 27:18, "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored." There is great delight in serving God, and great reward. There is no shame in being the servant of a great and kind man like Boaz. Nor is there shame in being the servant (slave) of God. The apostle Paul often referred to himself as a slave of Jesus Christ, and he spoke with great satisfaction. Titus 2:9,10 "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." RUTH 2:6,7 "And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. "And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued from the morning until now, except that she tarried a little in the house." The indication is that the story of Naomi's return, accompanied by Ruth, was by now well known. It would have been significant enough in any small community like Bethlehem. And there was the added interest in Ruth's decision to come with Naomi, something that undoubtedly was very unusual. The servant reported that Ruth had approached him on this day to ask about gleaning there. She did not demand her rights to glean; but she was "seeking one in whose eyes" she would find graciousness. She worked diligently, resting only for a little. These is difficulty with the phrase "she tarried a little in the house" because it is not known what the house might be. She wouldn't have gone all the way back into town to rest at home. Neither is it likely that there was a permanent house next to the field. This may have been a temporary tent or shelter set up to provide a resting place for workers. Topic: THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD |
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