Ruth 2:17-23

Ruth Returns to Naomi Ruth 2:17-23

17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

12.

How much is an ephah? Ruth 2:17

An ephah equals three pecks and three pints. It was almost a bushel. This standard of measure was popular throughout much of Israel's history. When the children of Israel received manna in the wilderness, the portion given to each person was counted as a tenth part of an ephah (Exodus 16:36). Since one-tenth of this amount was sufficient for an individual's need of manna, Ruth's portion from her gleaning was considerably more than a day's supply of grain. She was quite evidently industrious and achieved a great deal from her day's work.

13.

Why was Ruth reserving some grain? Ruth 2:18

The writer of Proverbs wisely counseled a young man to put a knife to his throat when he went to eat with a ruler. Otherwise, he might be tempted to plunge into the abundant provisions and make a spectacle of himself. He would thus show his greediness and offend his host (Proverbs 23:1; Proverbs 23:3). Such conduct was not becoming to any person, and it was especially so with Ruth since she was a woman and a foreigner. Consequently, she did not eat all of the parched grain which was provided for her. Furthermore, she must have been thinking about Naomi. Her unselfish and loving character prompted her to save some of the delicacies for her mother-in-law.

14.

How was God showing kindness to the dead? Ruth 2:20

What was done to Ruth and Naomi was also done to Mahlon and Chilion. Naomi admits it was kindness done to her and to Ruth, the living. God was showing kindness to Elimelech and his sons inasmuch as He was caring for their widows. The property was still in the name of Elimelech, and Ruth was still known as the wife of Mahlon. The kindness of Boaz to Ruth was a remembrance of both the living and the dead.

15.

What is the meaning of next kinsmen? Ruth 2:20 b

There were three ways in which redemption was specified in Leviticus 25:25 ff. The first case was this: if a man became poor and sold his property, his nearest redeemer was to come and release what his brother had sold. He was to buy it back from the purchaser and restore it to its former possessor. The nearest kinsman was the relative upon whom this obligation rested. The second case was this: if one had no redeemer, either because there were no relatives upon whom the obligation rested or because they were all too poor and he had earned and acquired sufficient to redeem it, he was to calculate the years of purchase and return the surplus to the man who had bought it. He gave as much as was paid for the years which still remained up to the next year of jubilee. Thus, the original owner might come into possession of it again. The third case was this: if a man had not earned as much as was required to make compensation for the recovery of the land, what he had sold was to remain in the possession of the buyer till the year of jubilee and then it was to go out. It was to become free again, so that the impoverished seller could enter into possession with compensation. Since the near kinsman was also to marry the widow of a brother, the two transactionsredemption of the land and marriage of the surviving wifebecame inextricably associated.

16.

How long did the gleaning continue? Ruth 2:23

Barley harvest was early spring (March, April). Wheat harvest was in the summer. Altogether harvest lasted from three to four months. These were important events in the lives of this agricultural people. The plagues which came on Egypt were identified in time by the condition of the crops. When the plague of hail came on Egypt, the flax and the barley was smitten for the barley was in the ear and the flax was boiled (Exodus 9:31). At the same time a note was made of the season because the wheat and the rie were not smitten: because they were not grown up (Exodus 9:32). These people were accustomed to noting time by making reference to the progress of their crops. Such activities as the harvesting of the grain were very important to the lives of these people.