Meaning of Ruth 3:2

This verse marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, as Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, strategically outlines a plan for Ruth to secure her future and that of her deceased husband's lineage. Naomi identifies Boaz, not only as a man of significant standing and a distant kinsman-redeemer, but also as someone who has already shown kindness to Ruth through his workers. The mention of the barley harvest and the threshing floor indicates a time of celebration and abundance, but also a practical setting where Boaz would be working late, presenting an opportunity for Ruth to approach him under the cover of night and according to ancient customs. This is not a casual encounter, but a calculated move by Naomi, driven by her deep desire to see Ruth "settled" and to fulfill the Levirate marriage obligations.

Context and Background

The story of Ruth unfolds during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a lack of central authority and moral decline in Israel. Naomi, a Moabite woman by birth, has been widowed in Moab and returns to Bethlehem with her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, after her sons also die. In Bethlehem, Naomi is destitute and reliant on Ruth's loyalty. The concept of the kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew: go'el) is crucial here. This was a legal and social obligation in ancient Israel whereby a close relative had the right and responsibility to redeem a kinsman's property or family line, particularly in cases of poverty or death. Boaz, being a relative of Naomi's late husband, Elimelech, fits this role. The threshing floor was a communal area where grain was separated from chaff after harvest, a task often done at night to take advantage of cooler temperatures and the wind to aid in the winnowing process.

Key Themes and Messages

• Loyalty and Faithfulness: Ruth's unwavering loyalty to Naomi, even after her husband's death, is a central theme. Her willingness to follow Naomi's instructions demonstrates her deep commitment.
• Divine Providence: While Naomi devises a plan, the narrative implies God's guiding hand in bringing these events to pass. The opportune timing and the presence of Boaz are presented as providential.
• The Kinsman-Redeemer: This verse introduces Boaz as the potential go'el, highlighting the biblical concept of redemption and the responsibility within a community to care for its vulnerable members.
• Social and Legal Obligations: The passage alludes to ancient Israelite customs and laws regarding marriage, inheritance, and the duty of a kinsman to ensure a deceased man's name and lineage are not forgotten.
• Dignity in Humility: Ruth is instructed to approach Boaz in a humble and respectful manner, emphasizing that her actions are not illicit but a seeking of legitimate provision through established social structures.

Spiritual Significance and Application

From a spiritual perspective, this passage foreshadows the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Boaz, as a man who provides for and redeems Ruth, serves as a type of Christ. Ruth's vulnerable state and her seeking of a redeemer mirror humanity's need for salvation. The act of approaching Boaz at the threshing floor can be seen as a spiritual plea for grace and provision. This verse encourages believers to place their trust in God's appointed means of provision and redemption, even in times of hardship, and to act with diligence and faith in pursuing God's will. It speaks to the importance of recognizing and acting upon opportunities for blessing that God places before us.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The Book of Ruth is a vital bridge between the period of the Judges and the lineage of King David. By marrying Ruth, Boaz ensures that Elimelech's line continues. This continuation is crucial because David, the greatest king of Israel, is a descendant of Boaz and Ruth. Therefore, this seemingly small domestic event in Bethlehem has profound implications for the entire history of Israel and, ultimately, for the lineage of Jesus Christ, as Matthew's genealogy in the New Testament explicitly traces Jesus' ancestry through Boaz and Ruth (Matthew 1:5). The story of Ruth demonstrates how God can use ordinary people and humble circumstances to bring about His grand redemptive purposes.

Analogies

• A Strategic Business Meeting: Naomi is like a seasoned CEO advising her most promising employee (Ruth) on how to approach a key investor (Boaz) during a crucial financial quarter (harvest time) to secure the company's future (her family's legacy).
• Seeking Legal Counsel: Ruth, facing destitution, is guided by a wise elder (Naomi) to approach a qualified legal expert (Boaz) who has the authority and means to rectify her situation through established legal channels.
• A Seed Planted: Ruth's situation is like a seed that has been uprooted and needs fertile ground and a gardener's care to thrive. Boaz represents that fertile ground and the gardener, ready to nurture and ensure its growth.

Relation to Other Verses

• Leviticus 25:25: This verse establishes the law of the kinsman-redeemer, stating, "If any of your brothers become poor and sell some of their property, his nearest kinsman is to redeem what his brother has sold." This provides the legal and cultural framework for Boaz's role.
• Deuteronomy 25:5-10: These verses detail the Levirate marriage law, which mandated that a brother marry his deceased brother's widow to preserve his name. While Boaz is not a brother, the principle of preserving a deceased man's lineage is at play.
• Matthew 1:5: This verse explicitly links Boaz to the lineage of David and Jesus: "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse." This highlights the theological significance of Ruth's story.
• Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." This verse resonates with Naomi's and Ruth's reliance on God's providence and their careful, prayerful planning.