Ruth 3:12-18RUTH 3:12,13 "And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I." "Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning." Boaz affirms that he certainly is a kinsman; but he goes on to point out that there was a man nearer of kin then he. It seems unlikely that Naomi did not know this, although Ruth may have been unaware of the complexities of the family relationships and the legal implications. There was a due order in these matters. In Deut. 25:5-10, it is the brother that is to marry the widow, and no mention is made of anyone else. If fact, the widow can humiliate him publicly if he refuses to perform his duty. It would appear to be a matter of common sense, however, to allow for someone else in the family to perform this duty if the brother were incapacitated. The next of kin had the privilege and responsibility, and only if he declined was it possible (and necessary) for another member of the family to take his place. Boaz saw nothing wrong with Ruth's coming to him. He thought of it as natural and right, and as soon as he had got over his surprise, he dealt with matters in a straightforward manner. He was ready to carry out her wish as soon as circumstances would legally allow it. And he made her a solemn promise to do so. Topic: REDEMPTION Boaz makes plain the order of things. He tells Ruth to stay where she is until morning, since she will be perfectly safe there until light of day. As it turns out, she didn't stay until daylight, but rose and left "before one could know another." RUTH 3:14 "And she law at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor." Ruth resumes her place at Boaz' feet until the morning. We don't know whether she was able to sleep, or lay awake the rest of the night. She was on her way before daylight. What Ruth had done conformed to known custom; Boaz had no need to explain to others what she was doing, if anyone had noticed. Nevertheless, there were obvious reasons why it should not be published abroad that Ruth had been there that night. There was protection for Ruth's reputation; and there was the question of privacy for the transaction until time to make it a public issue (chapter 4). There is no question of impropriety here. In fact, it is likely that if Boaz and Ruth had been suspected of wrongdoing, that according to Jewish law they could not have been married. Morris quotes a portion of the Mishnah, Yeb. 2:8, that states if a man was suspected of having intercourse with a Gentile woman he could not perform levirate marriage with her. In its written form, this regulation is centuries later than the book of Ruth. But if it derived from ancient custom, it would have given Boaz added reason to exercise caution. RUTH 3:15 "Also he said, Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid in on her: and she went into the city. Boaz does not want Ruth to go back empty-handed; so he provides her with another generous gift of grain. The amount mentioned is, literally, "six of barley", with no unit of measure given. She had carried home an EPHAH previously, on the day she first gleaned in Boaz' field. That was about 40 pounds. Six OMER of grain would have been about 2.5 gallons, or 28 pounds, so it's possible that was the measure. Or Boaz might just have used whatever scoop he had nearby to put some grain in her shawl. RUTH 3:16-18 "And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done unto her. "And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty to thy mother in law. "Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." When Ruth returned home that morning, Naomi asked her "Who art thou?" Since she obviously knows Ruth, Naomi is undoubtedly asking about the results of the petition to Boaz, so that the question is "What are your circumstances?" or "What have you accomplished?" The question in Hebrew expects information about the condition of the person, rather than just identification. Naomi would also have been encouraged to see another gift of grain from Boaz, which would mean that Boaz certainly would carry out the matter to the end they wanted. Boaz had said "Go not empty to your mother in law". Remember that Naomi said that "the Lord had brought me home again empty" (Ruth 1:21). Now, Naomi's empty days were over. "Sit still..." This is advice to trust God and wait for Him to bring about His plan (Faith-Rest). This confidence in Boaz is based on knowledge of his mature character, and of his ability to carry out what he had promised. He made no empty promises. He had the legal stature, the authority, and the substance to provide for everything. Boaz is in view here as the redeemer, in type, the picture of the Lord Jesus Christ who first redeems the soul and then the body in the resurrection. As in Titus 2:13, we are "waiting with keen anticipation..." for the appearing of Jesus Christ, and our hope is based on the character of God who has promised and will deliver. Likewise, Naomi has confidence in Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, to carry out his promise. Topic: Promotion |
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