Naomi announces one day that it is time for Ruth to marry and she cites the kindness of Boaz as a sign that he is probably interested in her. That night was to be a celebration of completing the harvest at the threshing floor. They would thresh their wheat and then celebrate with food and drink, staying all night with their harvest.
Ruth 3:2 ESV Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
Commentary on Ruth 3:2 “…he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor” — “The winnowing process is performed by throwing up the grain, after being trodden down, against the wind with a shovel. The threshing-floor, which was commonly on the harvest-field, was carefully leveled with a large cylindric roller and consolidated with chalk, that weeds might not spring up, and that it might not chop with drought. The farmer usually remained all night in harvest-time on the threshing-floor, not only for the protection of his valuable grain, but for the winnowing. That operation was performed in the evening to catch the breezes which blow after the close of a hot day, and which continue for the most part of the night. This duty at so important a season the master undertakes himself; and, accordingly, in the simplicity of ancient manners, Boaz, a person of considerable wealth and high rank, laid himself down to sleep on the barn floor, at the end of the heap of barley he had been winnowing.” Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary
Naomi instructed Ruth to bathe and put on perfume and dress in her best clothes. When Boaz was finished eating and drinking, she was to wait until he laid down to sleep; then she was to uncover his feet and lay down at his feet and wait for him to tell her what to do. And so Ruth did all that Naomi instructed.
Ruth 3:7-11 ESV And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. (8) At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! (9) He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer." (10) And he said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. (11) And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
Commentary on Ruth 3:9 “The mantle of the Redeemer”
I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman — She had already drawn part of the mantle over her; and she asked him now to do it, that the act might become his own. To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection. To this day in many parts of the East, to say of anyone that he put his skirt over a woman, is synonymous with saying that he married her; and at all the marriages of the modern Jews and Hindus, one part of the ceremony is for the bridegroom to put a silken or cotton cloak around his bride. Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary
Protection Of Inheritances And Securing Heirs
There are some very important principles at play in the story of Ruth and Boaz. Inheritances are very important to the LORD. He set up a number of safeguards to protect against a man’s generations loosing their inheritance. Every 7th year was a year of release and all debts were forgiven. Our modern day bankruptcy laws were founded on this concept. Then, every 50th year was a year of restoration; all property diverted back to the original family. God safeguarded inheritances so that no one person could forever destroy the family inheritance.
The principle of redemption for salvation gives us safeguards against losing our eternal inheritance to sin. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. But even in Bible times a person had to claim their redemption, just as we have to do by repenting and being baptized in Jesus name and receiving the Holy Ghost. Israel was rescued time after time. At Christ’s return, Israel will be restored; and the twelve sons/tribes of Israel will be the twelve gates of the Holy City and forever be the access to the throne of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:12 KJV And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Ruth had married Mahlon, a man from the tribe of Judah, the son of Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem in Judah. When he died, it was the responsibility of a “kinsman” also referred to as a “redeemer;” that is the next closest relative; it was his responsibility to marry her and produce an heir for her dead husband Mahlon. Naomi believed that Boaz was the kinsman. Among the Israelites, if a man died without an heir, his brother was to marry his brother’s widow and produce an heir for his dead brother; as described in detail below; in Deuteronomy 25.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 KJV (5) If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. (6) And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. (7) And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. (8) Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; (9) Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. (10) And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
When Ruth uncovered Boaz’s feet and lay at his feet, she was claiming him as her husband’s redeemer/kinsman for an heir. However, Boaz was not the nearest kinsman. Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, but the nearest kinsman would have to deny Ruth. So Boaz sets a plan in motion by which to get the nearest kinsman to default so the Boaz could marry Ruth. Early in the morning, Boaz arranges for ten of the city elders to be at the gate, as witnesses when the other kinsman comes to the gate. He first states that Naomi is selling the property of her dead husband Elimelech and that if he wanted it he needed to redeem it, if not Boaz wanted it. The kinsman wanted the land until Boaz informed him that he would have to marry Ruth as well and hold the property as an inheritance for Mahlon’s heirs. Since Boaz wanted Ruth the other kinsman took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz and said, “Here you Buy it (the land);” which also meant, “here, you marry her.” This was the custom of their day and it was witnessed by ten of the elders.
Ruth 4:5-8 ESV Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance." (6) Then the redeemer said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it." (7) Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. (8) So when the redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," he drew off his sandal.
Boaz married Ruth with the approval and blessing of the entire town and they proclaimed blessings on their first born son and said, may he be famous in all of Israel. That son, Obed, became the father of Jesse and grandfather to King David.
Ruth 4:13-14 ESV So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. (14) Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! (16)Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. (17) And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Prayer: Almighty Father, you make all things work together for good to those who love the LORD. Thank you for blessing me. Lead me in your paths daily, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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