RUTH

Ruth Chapter 3

• Ruth 3:1  Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 

Naomi had a plan to use the law of the kinsman redemption. She wanted Boaz to marry Ruth. Whoever redeems the land of the relative who passed away must marry the wife of the deceased brother to raise up children to carry on his name in Israel. Boaz was a close relative.
Ruth 3:2  And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 

This was done at night so when it was cooler. Any wind would help actually. Winnowing was when they had to throw the wheat into the air. The heavier wheat fell to the ground. They then had to sift the dirt and other things that might be on the ground with some kind of sieve. Now they could thresh the grain. Talk about work. I believe they have machines that do all that now.

Amos 9:9 and Luke 3:17 is one reference for this but used to explain a spiritual truth.

• Luke 3:17  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 

• Ruth 3:3  Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 

Naomi didn't want Ruth to be unclean and filthy apparently.

• Ruth 3:4  And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 

This was not something vulgar or bad here. It was sort of a proposal for Boaz to do the proper thing according to the law.

• Ruth 3:5  And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 

Here shows Ruth's futher trust in Naomi to look out for her well being. With the mindset I have in this day and age, I might be willing to do work to make a living for both of us but I doubt I would ever do this myself but I wasn't raised under that same type of system.

• Ruth 3:6  And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 
• 7  And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 
• 8  And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
• 9  And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 

This seems to be a way for Ruth to ask Boaz to fulfill the part of the law of being a near kinsman. We today would think of it as a proposal. She must have loved Naomi and believed in her so much to do this. When Boaz woke he was alarmed but when learning why she was there, his actions were different when he found out the reason for her being there.

• Ruth 3:10  And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

He knew she was a virutous woman by choosing him who was an older person, instead of following younger men.  

• Ruth 3:11  And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 
• 12  And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 

Boaz was willing to do his duty according to the law of God but he also knew there was a kinsman closer than he was. Perhaps that is why he failed to think of this before. Also it could be he thought he was too old and she might prefer a younger man.

• Ruth 3:13  Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. 

• 14  And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 

He was indeed protecting her reputation and virtue. He was an awesome guy it seems.

• Ruth 3:15  Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 
• 16  And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17  And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
• 18  Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. 

Naomi was a wise woman for she knew that Boaz was a sincere follower of God and would do what was right and take care of this immediately. Ruth didn't come away empty but had barley enough to full the veil she was wearing for a covering as was the custom of that day.

Ruth Chapter 4