RUTH 3 Handout Prophetic picture of Ruth 2: The Gentile woman is introduced to the Redeemer by His unnamed Servant (John 16:13). Ruth, the Moabitess, the Gentile, finds grace in His sight and must work only in His field with His workers. She stays with Naomi, the Jew, until the end of the harvest time. The second chapter closes with the end of the harvest time (end of the age [Matt. 13:39]) both barley and wheat during which time Ruth and Naomi lived together and Ruth remained to glean in Boaz field. o Barley harvest usually began about March/April (at Passover) o Wheat harvest extended to May/June (Shavuot/Pentecost) o Harvest time Lev. 23:22; a period of intense labor. Then in Ruth 3 connects the action. Then prompts the question when is then? o We are not told exactly how much time lapsed between the last verse of Ruth 2 and Naomi s statement to Ruth. Chapter 3 opens with Naomi, as the good Jewish mother, giving Ruth advice. It was customary for parents in Israel to arrange marriages for their children (Gen. 24:3-34:4; Judges 14:1-10). v. 1 - Naomi desires security for Ruth. Hebrew for security is manowach from the root word nuach which means an absence of movement; pictures one being quietly settled in a particular place. REST! Is this what marriage is to look like? o This is a commentary on the ideal state of marriage which, when entered into within God s will, is the closest earthly approximation to REST which a human being can enjoy. o A married state should be a state of REST where youthful lusts are forsaken, and wandering affections are fixed on one s beloved (Song of Solomon), and one s heart is at REST. o Think of the bride of Christ RESTING in Jesus! He is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4). o Matt. 11:28-29 - Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find REST for your souls. o Naomi had spoken of this rest related to marriage in Ruth 1:9. v. 2 - Then Naomi mentions Boaz Is he not our kinsman redeemer? The one who would buy back Naomi s property AND, if he was willing, he could carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deut. 25:5-10). But, remember Naomi said in 2:20 that Boaz was ONE of their close relatives.
If Boaz will perform as a go el, Naomi has the chance to get her land back. AND if Boaz will take Ruth as his wife, the family name will not die. 2 CONSIDER Boaz actually could take Naomi as his wife. BUT, Naomi is stepping aside and giving this opportunity to Ruth. Are we seeing a changed/transformed Naomi? We are definitely seeing a submissive, kind, humble Ruth in speaking to Naomi. AND, we are seeing in this book of Ruth, inspired by God, redemption for BOTH Jew and Gentile!! Naomi instructs Ruth re: how to petition Boaz to exercise his responsibilities as her goel. Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is winnowing barley (first harvest) at the threshing floor tonight. Why would Boaz wait until the end of the barley AND wheat harvest to winnow the barley? In the Bethlehem area, barley and wheat are harvested close together ( nearly the same time ). The barley was left to dry out while the wheat (which ripened later) was harvested; only then could the barley be threshed. Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom (his commentary is interspersed with the Expositor s Bible Commentary notes [Frank Gaebelein, General Editor] and w/ notes from the Theological Wordbook of the OT originally published by Moody Press.) Threshing floors were nothing more than level places of smooth rock or pounded earth located on a hill or on the side of a hill where the grain could be separated from the chaff by tossing the threshed grain into the wind that rose in the evening from the Mediterranean. The grain, being heavier, fell to the ground as the chaff was blown away. (EBC/Expositor s Bible Commentary, p. 78) (I Chr. 21:18; II Chr. 3:1). Threshing loosening the grain from the straw and winnowing. Oxen would drag a wooden board studded with metal to further break up the stalks and separate the grain. Winnowing tossing the grain into the air/wind by means of a fork w/ large teeth to separate the grain from the chaff (wheat). (Judges 6:11 Gideon winnowing in a wine press) Psalm 1:4 the ungodly are like the chaff (judgment time) Parable of the wheat and the tares allowed to grow together during the Church age until judgment time!
Threshing is indicative of the Tribulation. Where do we see Ruth at this time of threshing/winnowing? At Boaz feet! Who does Ruth represent? Whom does Boaz represent? 3 Threshing illustrative of judgments of God: Matt. 3:12; Isa. 21:10, Jer. 51:33, Hab. 3:12. YET Joel 2:24 (fullness, blessing [following purging]) In Mal. 3 we see the purging of Israel prior to their restoration. The Hebrew word for thresh is to trample which comes from one of the threshing practices of using oxen to trample the grain. Threshing roller rectangular wooden frame within which are rows of small wheels. There is a seat on top to give it weight. Latin tribulum. When threshing was over workers slept near the grain (Ruth 3:4) - to prevent from being stolen (I Sam. 23:1). These were esp. difficult times during the account of Ruth time of the Judges. The most well-known threshing floor in Scripture is on Mount Moriah (the site where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac [Gen. 22]). This site was purchased by King David from the Jebusite Araunah (Ornan) for the purpose of building an altar to the Lord (II Sam. 24:16-24; I Chron. 21:15-22:1). Later this land was the site on which Solomon s Temple was built (II Chron. 3:1). Naomi tells Ruth to wash and anoint herself (oil) and put on her best garments. These external rituals spoke to what GOD does internally: Wash yourself purification for marriage (Eze. 16:9-10). Cleansing. (Psalm 51:7; Eze. 36:25; Ephesians 5:25-26; Titus 3:5) Anoint (cuk or suk) describes the ordinary physical process of anointing the body which in the ancient orient was usually with olive oil (Dt. 28:40) particularly after bathing (II Sam. 12:20) and esp. for its fragrant effect. o The Jews had the custom of rubbing the head with oil or ointment at feasts in token of joy so it s also a symbol of gladness (Psalm 45:7) Jer. 16:9, Jer. 25:10, Jer. 33:11 voice of the Bridegroom and bride connected with mirth and gladness! And, we see a bridegroom and bride scenario here. Garments: (linked to salvation in Scripture) o Origin Gen. 3:7, 21 o Isa. 61:10 He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. o Jer. 2:32 bride and attire seem to go together in Scripture. o Joel 2:16 bride dressing room o Rev. 19:8 the redeemed are dressed in fine linen.
Is Naomi instructing Ruth to prepare herself for marriage? 4 The law prohibited marriage to a Moabite. Boaz married a Moabite. The law shut Ruth out; grace took her in. God s grace seen so clearly in Ruth 2 leads to LOVE: o Love obligated Naomi to counsel Ruth. o Love motivated Ruth to obey. o Love encouraged Boaz to take responsibility as a go el. v. 9 Ruth was NOT propositioning Boaz. She was asking him to assume the role of the go el to take authority over her according to the law of Levirate Marriage (surviving brother of husband who died marries the widow). Ruth was proposing marriage to Boaz by utilizing an ancient Middle Eastern custom. In Israel, the hem of the garment depicted authority. v. 7 - Merry (yatab) means made well, happy, pleased, cheerful, joyful. Boaz is described as having a sense of well being which is explained by the full harvest in contrast to previous years of famine. He was not drunk he could not guard the grain if he was drunk. AND his subsequent actions and words during the night do not suggest that he was drunk but that he was in command of his senses. Harvest time was a joyful time for the Jewish people (Isa. 9:3; Isa. 16:10) Uncover his feet and lie down Naomi instructs Ruth. In the culture of that day, this was understood as an act of total submission. A servant lay at his master s feet awaiting any command of the master. So, when Naomi tells Ruth to lie down at Boaz s feet, she is telling her to come to him in a totally humble, submissive way. Application waiting on the Lord s timing in the various events of our lives. Ruth immediately made her objective clear when she requested, Spread the corner of your garment over me. She was using the accepted idiom meaning Marry me. Other passages in which the same expression is used are Eze. 16:8; Dt. 22:30; I Kings 19:19; and Mal. 2:16. The idiom reflected the custom, still practiced by some Arabs, of a man s throwing a garment over the woman he has decided to take as his wife. Bold but not inappropriate on the part of Ruth. Boaz handled himself honorably he reveals that there was someone who actually had prior claim over Ruth and her inheritance - a closer relative. However, if he should prove unwilling to take responsibility in the matter, then Boaz would marry Ruth.
5 Kinsman redeemer had to be: o Fit a kinsman; a relative. o Jesus Dt. 18:15-18 Jewish (brethren) o Jesus Phil. 2:7 humbled Himself and came in the likeness of men. o Jesus sinless could redeem permanently. Gal. 4:4 born of a woman (virgin born); born under the law He came to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). He fulfilled the law! o Available (most likely not married) o Jesus is our bridegroom betrothed to His bride Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus (the Church). o Willing o Jesus I lay down my life.... (John 10:15-18). v. 10 - Ruth s latter kindness - Ruth s former act of devotion was her decision to stay with and help Naomi. The latter act of devotion is her decision to marry Boaz and thereby provide a child to carry on her deceased husband s (and Elimelech s line) and to provide for Naomi s needs in her old age Why had this man not been mentioned before? The answer can only be surmised, but it seems likely that Naomi had already decided that he was unlikely to take on any extra responsibilities. Boaz would put the matter to the test. (Ruth 3:18). Boaz acted responsibly in two ways: o He did not send her home in the middle of the night. He would protect her and he would touch her only if she could be rightfully his. o Also he protected the rights of her nearer kinsman. Boaz would do God s will in God s way. Do not let it be known - Boaz and Ruth were not trying to hide anything scandalous; it is just that Boaz doesn t want this nearer kinsman to learn that Ruth is now demanding her right to marriage to a go el before Boaz can tell him personally. OR Boaz didn t want others to talk. Before she leaves, Boaz gives her 6 measures of barley to give to Naomi which is a code Naomi picks up on (v. 18) that he won t rest until this is resolved. Six days God worked and rested on the 7 th day. Two Ephahs would be too heavy for Ruth to carry. (Ruth 2:17 about an ephah 30-40 lbs.) v. 15 shawl/cloak veil (??) the bridegroom would only have the right to ask his bethrothed to life her veil.