Threshing-floors were always in danger of being robbed (1Sa 23:1). 2 The man was named Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his sons Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. Boaz is introduced in the narrative as an esh gibor hayil (a powerful man of integrity) in 2:1, and he pronounces the community’s opinion of Ruth as an eshat hayil (a woman of integrity, a worthy woman) in 3:11. Maybe a lot, since they may be feeling good about bringing in this harvest. Wash thyself therefore.] Sit still, my daughter.] by I Gordon. Ruth Chapter 3 רוּת. . Yet, Naomi in verse two of this chapter refers to Boaz as being both her kinsman and Ruth’s. What does this chapter show you about Ruth’s obedience and boldness? I think there’s at least a hint of bringing Ruth into the family of Israel, in contrast to her other repeated epithet, “the woman from Moab,” which is never used in this part of the story. How do you think she was feeling when she did this? Ruth does all the going into in this text, interestingly. Verse 21 of the previous chapter emphasized Ruth’s foreign birth, calling her Ruth the Moabitess. Boaz, having undertaken this matter, would be sure to manage it well. Boaz made his promise conditional, for there was a kinsman nearer than he, to whom the right of redemption belonged. Notes: 1 Note that both Ruth and Boaz are referred to as people of integrity. After the events of chapter 3, Boaz will make the necessary administrative arrangements to follow through on acting as Naomi and Ruth’s redeemer (Hebrew goel), Ruth will give birth to Obed, and king David’s ability to be born will be secured. ( Log Out /  BKD Ruth Lesson 3 Page 1 of 3 The Study of Ruth 3:1-18 It may be hard to understand the details of this chapter without considering the cultures of ancient Israel especially considering God’s provision for widows in Israel. First, Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem, just in time for the barley harvest (1:19-22). When the silver company made it, it was perfectly clean and bright. But this is not recorded for imitation in other times, and is not to be judged by modern rules. He spoke honourably of her as a virtuous woman, made her a promise, and as soon as the morning arrived, sent her away with a present to her mother-in-law. Verses 1-13: Because widows were usually destitute in biblical times, God provided for their well-being through Levirate law, in which the nearest relative would marry and care for a widow (Deut. The directions given to Ruth by Naomi. As illustrated in Chapter 2, most studies concerning dual-career and dual-earner marriages have focused on concepts such as labour division, gender identity, sex, and power. What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. [Personal aside: when I was a little girl, my grandmother taught a Sunday school class at our church called “The Gleaners.” Since most of the members were, in fact, widows, the name must have seemed appropriate. The Book of Ruth. Ruth 3:1-13. Ruth 4. RUTH 3. Midnight is a very specific hour. So surely we contemporary readers ought not expect anything improper to occur, despite the highly suggestive circumstances and despite the fact that in our culture’s stories people plop into bed together at the first opportunity all the time, so that Boaz and Ruth seem to be taking a long time already. Read Ruth 3. So, we enter the book of Ruth and the 3 rd chapter looking for a king. Ruth Chapter 4: Fruits of Freedom. Rut - Ruth - Chapter 3 ... "I am Ruth, your handmaid, and you shall spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman." So, let’s start reading Ruth 1:1. The reason for the practice given in Deuteronomy is to keep the man’s name alive; but in effect, it also provides for the widow in the context of Israelite patriarchal society: it provides her with a husband and a husband’s support now, and with another opportunity to have a child or children who will support her in future. In chapter two, we learn … Continue reading "Commentary on Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17" She gave Ruth instructions on how to get close with Boaz, really close. Bible Study: Book of Ruth Chapter 4. Now midnight comes around and we can assume it has been at least a couple of hours. We come to the end of chapter 3 with a sigh of relief. Ruth had done all that was fit for her to do, she must patiently wait the event. Ruth went alone at night to the threshing floor, a place where women would not be. Ruth Chapter 2 Questions. He will tell you what to do.” Ruth obeys, and in verse 9 she tells Boaz, “I am your servant Ruth. ” she said, “ I am Ruth, thine handmaid; spread thy wing over thine handmaid, for thou art a redeemer. Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament. ( Log Out /  Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) /. Ruth also waits for Boaz to tell her what to do. And let us earnestly desire and seek the same rest for our children and friends, that it may be well with them also. We saw some of the vehicles that God used to renew that hope – His law, individual initiative, and the kindness of others. Change ). Verse 21 of the previous chapter emphasized Ruth’s foreign birth, calling her Ruth the Moabitess. Ruth is in it for the long haul. Acts 9:6. Reread verses 3-4. 4. After taking up Ruth 1:1-18 in the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, the lectionary now skips to 3:1-5 and 4:13-17. Parents should carefully advise their children in this important concern, that it may be well with them as to their souls. After her conversation with Boaz, after he recovers from his surprise at finding a woman in his bed, and they work out the administrative arrangements of this plan, she leaves “before one could recognize another”. Its original condition was shiny and beautiful. And the chapter closes again with Naomi full of confidence in … 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. She had left the devastation of Moab, in search of a new beginning, in a strange and foreign land. The name Boaz seems to mean something like “in him is strength.” One of the massive bronze pillars of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 7:21) is later given the same name. (14-18). The Hebrews had reason to believe that they would have a king all the way back in the Law. We have also seen her working in Boaz' field and seen his gracious commitment to her in return. But it is far from clear that she is happy about it, or happy with Ruth. (1-5) Boaz acknowledges the duty of a kinsman. We won’t say “everyone will live happily ever after” because of the rabbinic tradition that Boaz dies the day after his marriage to Ruth. (Read Ruth 3:6-13) What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. 6. Who was allowed to glean? (1-5) Boaz acknowledges the duty of a kinsman. Now midnight comes around and we can assume it has been at least a couple of hours. (2-3) Ruth happens upon Boaz’s field. Home >> Bible Studies >> Ruth >> Ruth 3 These small group studies of Ruth contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, teaching points, and applications. Our culture uses “down there” for that purpose, don’t forget. (1-5) Boaz acknowledges the duty of a kinsman. Threshing-floors were always in danger of being robbed (1Sa 23:1). 25:5-10). Ruth 3:9 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Ruth 3:9, NIV: "Who are you?' Widows could become destitute quickly after their husbands died so the Lord may provision for them. Technically, it seems, Naomi ought to be the beneficiary of this particular bit of social legislation, but we’ve already heard from Naomi herself that she’s too old to have children. And all the while a kinsman named Boaz was preserved as a husband for Ruth to raise up an heir for the family name and property. Look at this silver spoon. Maybe that’s their only conversational alternative, but I doubt it. Verses 1-5 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? We found it very easy, in the former chapter, to applaud the decency of Ruth’s behaviour, and to show what good use we may make of the account given us of it; but in this chapter we shall have much ado to vindicate it from the imputation of indecency, and to save it from having an ill use made of it; but the … We see it in Naomi in 3:1–5, in Ruth in 3:6–9, and in Boaz in 3:10–15. Ruth chapter 1 KJV (King James Version) 1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Maybe a little too far. 3. Ruth 2:3 "And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to … ], Naomi’s plan—which she doesn’t describe, but which we don’t have much difficulty figuring out as the chapter unfolds—depends on the institutions of “family redeemer” or “kinsman-redeemer” and of “yibbum” or “levirate marriage”, Torah also prescribes the practice of redemption, which Naomi alludes to at the beginning of our passage, in Leviticus 25. Let us seek to receive from him his directions: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Not exactly a coincidence, we will likely think, but rather the unseen hand of God setting things up to work out. [Some questions on the text are here.] And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Ruth 3:3 Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament "Wash and anoint thyself (סכתּ, from סוּך equals נסך), and put on thy clothes (thy best clothes), and go down (from Bethlehem, which stood upon the ridge of a hill) to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be noticed by the man (Boaz) till he has finished eating and drinking. Ruth 3. 2. he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor--The winnowing process is performed by throwing up the grain, after being trodden down, against the wind with a shovel. meaning to the topic of dual-career marriage amongst Black professionals within the South African context. Ruth Chapter 3 + Text Size ... Commentary for Ruth 3 . Rth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. Ruth 2. Then notice—in Hebrew, it’s know again—the place Boaz lies down; and then go over and “uncover his feet” and lie down and “he’ll tell you what to do”. Ruth 3-4 New International Version (NIV) Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor. 2. Naomi in Moab. We finished up Ruth chapter 2 last week and we’ll study chapter 3 this week. 1 One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, 'My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. (6-13) Ruth's return to her mother-in-law. Restore means to bring something back to its original condition. He obviously was not her relative by descent, but Elimelech’s heir, Mahlon, was Ruth’s husband. (14-18) Commentary on Ruth 3:1-5 (Read Ruth 3:1-5) The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. Gleaning means picking up the stray bits and pieces of the crop that have been missed or overlooked by the harvesters. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Much has taken place in the pages of Ruth during this one week of liturgical time. Ruth Chapter 3. Uncover his feet — Remove the clothes which are upon his feet; thereby to awake him; and lay thee down — She was not to lie down by his side, for that would have been immodest, but at his feet, in the posture of an humble supplicant. In fact, what The famine broke in Judah and Naomi could go home. Many people have different views as to what Ruth and Boaz did on the threshing floor during the night that the two were together. Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: After the opening of the story, which we looked at last week, Ruth goes to glean barley in a field that, as it happens, belongs to a prominent and wealthy man—Boaz—who has some kinship responsibilities vis-à-vis Naomi. These two issues are addressed in the book of Ruth. 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