Ruth 2:1-7

Ruth Meets Boaz Ruth 2:1-23

Ruth Gleans in the Field of Boaz Ruth 2:1-7

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband'S, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
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.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
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.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6 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:
7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

1.

What is the meaning of mighty man of wealth? Ruth 2:1

Boaz is described as a mighty man of wealth. Such terminology is usually used to describe one who was a brave man of war. The term was used in this way in Judges 6:12 in describing Gideon. The angel of the Lord called Gideon a mighty man of valor, but the original language is the same in both places. The phrase is translated in the same way in Judges 11:1 where Jephthah is called a mighty man of valor. Since Boaz had nothing to do with warfare, it is presumed the phrase means he was an influential man with considerable wealth, and the translation is so given.

2.

What was the law regarding gleaning? Ruth 2:2-3

The Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:9; Leviticus 23:22, cf. Deuteronomy 24:19) expressly secured to the poor the right to glean in the harvest fields. It prohibited the owners from gleaning themselves, but hard-hearted farmers and reapers threw obstacles in the way of the poor. Some even forbade their gleaning altogether. Hence, Ruth proposed to glean after him who should generously allow it. She carried out this intention with the consent of Naomi. God led her to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, without her knowing the owner of the field or being at all aware of his connection with Elimelech. Ruth was industrious and willing to work with her hands to provide their daily bread.

3.

What was the relationship between Boaz and his reapers? Ruth 2:4

He treated them mercifully and they served him faithfully. He greeted them by saying. The Lord be with you. They replied to him by saying, The Lord bless thee. Such a greeting indicates the existence of a good rapport between the landowner and those who worked in his fields. Their expressions were more than the customary greetings which are often thoughtless and given hastily, such as our everyday, Hi! or Hello! Both the greeting of Boaz and the reply of his reapers were prayers.

4.

Why did he come from Bethlehem? Ruth 2:4

Men lived in towns and went out to their fields. It was unsafe for individual farmers to live alone in the countryside. They would be vulnerable to highway robbers and in danger of harm from predatory animals. Most of the time, these settlements had walls around them with gates which could be locked at night, thus protecting the people who dwelled there from any harm. Boaz resided in Bethlehem and went out to his field during the daytime. Thus we read, Boaz came from Bethlehem.

5.

Why did Ruth ask to work among the sheaves? Ruth 2:7

She wanted permission to go into the fieldsmore than walking along the roadside. The Old Testament law was specific in giving instructions as to how much grain could be gathered by those who were dependent upon this activity for their livelihood. For example, it was specified that they could go into the vineyard of their neighbor, but they were not to take any grapes out in a vessel. They could eat all that they needed while they were there. A similar rule was made with regard to walking through the standing grain of the fields. People were allowed to pluck the ears with their hands, but they were not allowed to use a sickle in the standing grain (Deuteronomy 23:24-25). According to this custom and regulation Jesus-' disciples plucked grain as they walked through the grain fields on the sabbath day (Matthew 12:1-2). Ruth's request was for freedom to work in the fields following the reapers.

6.

What can we learn from the servant's conversation with Boaz? Ruth 2:4-7

It is evident from this answer of the servant who was placed over the reapers that Boaz did not prohibit any poor person from gleaning in his field. It is also clear that Ruth asked permission of the overseer of the reapers. She availed herself of this permission with untiring zeal from the first thing in the morning. She wanted to get the necessary support for her mother-in-law and herself. Lastly, we learn her history was well known to the overseer and also to Boaz, although Boaz saw her now for the first time.