Ruth 3:7-8
Ruth 3:7 When In Strength (Boaz) had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry,
he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain;
then she came quietly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 And it came about in the middle of the night
that the man was startled and sat up feeling around;
and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Now remember, Naomi has set forth her plan to secure her family’s wellbeing. At its heart, the single objective of this plan is to formally request that Boaz would marry Ruth, the widow of his kinsman.
As such, Naomi has instructed Ruth to lay aside the customs and clothing of mourning and to dress as one who is marriage eligible.
Then she is to go to the threshing floor where they know Boaz will be.
Next, Naomi says that once Boaz is asleep, Ruth is to go in, uncover his feet, and lie down at his feet. Why? To do so is a formal and recognized request to be taken under another’s care/charge (specifically in this case, it is a request for marriage).
In our text this morning, Ruth sets out to enact Naomi’s plan FN#1.
Verse 7
Notice at once, as verse 7 opens, its game time. The plan we have seen Naomi so carefully lay out is underway. Notice then, just as Naomi instructed, Ruth waits until after Boaz’ has finished all his work, has eaten dinner, and finished his wine before she approaches him to initiate the whole point of this plan (which is a formal request of marriage). Importance: notice the way Naomi’s plan carefully stages the request. Ruth waits until Boaz’s mind is free and his responsibilities are all handled. Not only that, Naomi knows that the best timing for the success of this venture is when Boaz’s belly is full, his heart is glad with wine, and there is a collective joy over the harvest just winnowed FN#2. In other words, right away we are reminded that as we watch this plan unfold we are observing Naomi’s wisdom, Ruth’s diligence, and most of all, YHWH’s care/deliverance/provision.
Next, notice after a long and successful day Boaz is tired, full, and happy. Not only that, the wine together with his satisfaction over a good day’s work has helped him go to sleep quickly and rest deeply. Notice then where he chooses to sleep: he goes to sleep at the end of the heap of barley. Why? First, the heap of grain would have provided comfort, warmth, and shelter from the breeze on a cool spring night (kind of like sleeping in the hay or by a bank that shelters one from wind) FN#3. Second, sleeping by his grain would protect it from theft while it was still out in the open. In fact, the need to protect the grain (instead of just going home to sleep) may do much to explain why verse 8 tells us that Boaz was startled during the night.
Next, notice that Ruth follows the exact timing of Naomi’s plan: Ruth has not just waited until the work is finished, dinner is done, and Boaz has gone off to lie down. Instead, when Boaz leaves she notes where he has gone and gives him plenty of time to fall asleep. Then and only then does she go in. Not only that, notice verse 7 tells us that she goes in quietly so as not to wake him FN#4. Why? Again notice the wisdom of Naomi’s plan: Ruth waits until Boaz is asleep and is careful not to wake him lest he misunderstands her intentions. She is not there to entice Boaz or to hook up with him. Instead, she is there to make one single specific request– that Boaz would assume the full role of family guardian by marrying her. Importance: have you noticed, in a book that is all about names, Ruth’s name has gone conspicuously unmentioned so far in this entire chapter. Instead, she is only referred to by pronouns. Why? The author is intentionally presenting Ruth, this impoverished, foreign born widow in a diminutive manner in order to underscore the enormity of the situation and risks that she is facing. Ruth is completely at Boaz’s discretion. She could very easily be rejected, publically disgraced, and run out of town. In other words, the very way the author relates the account, allows us to feel the weight that is bearing down on Ruth throughout the whole of these events FN#5.
Next, notice that verse 7 tells us that Ruth uncovers Boaz’s feet and lies down there FN#6. Importance: we are at the very heart, purpose, and objective of Naomi’s entire plan. This is it. In other words, in a book that is all about legal transaction, this is the official request that Ruth has come make. What request? Remember, to uncover one’s feet and to lie down beneath them was a formal and culturally recognized appeal to be taken under that person’s care. Notice then the imagery at work here is that of putting on a responsibility like a pair of shoes (these are now the shoes I walk in, the responsibility I take on, the role I stand in) FN#7. Simply put, Ruth is making an official request that Boaz would take on his full legal role as family guardian and thus redeem his kinsman’s line by marrying her, a widow of his kinsman’s house.
Verse 8
Notice at once the scene with which verse 8 opens: it is the middle of the night and Boaz is asleep. Ruth lies at Boaz’s feet too focused and nervous to rest and not knowing what will happen or when. As she stare at the night sky and listens to the noises of the countryside around her, she rehearses and re-rehearses what she will do and what she will say and how it all will play out. Meanwhile, the night seems to creep on forever.
Next, notice the high drama: after what has felt like an eternity, verse 8 tells us that Boaz sits straight up, wide awake, and begins to feel around. There is no warning, no easing Ruth into the moment. Instead, the stillness of the night is suddenly shattered and- ready or not- it’s go time. Notice then at this very moment, everything (Naomi and Ruth’s future, their wellbeing, Ruth’s reputation, a king, a Messiah, everything) hangs in the balance of what happens next.
Notice, verse 8 says behold a woman was lying at his feet. Importance: remember the book of Ruth is a book that is meant to delight, engage, and draw you in. Notice then the author intentionally breaks his 3rd person narration and allows us to share Boaz’s discovery first hand, seeing it through his eyes. Notice then the scene: Boaz is startled and wakes up because something is at his feet. Whatever it is, it is not supposed to be there. He can’t stretch out and he just can’t get comfortable. So he sits up in disgust and starts to feel around FN#8. As he does so, he thinks about how many times he has told the reapers not to leave the bags of tools and bundling coil lying around the field. However, this is no bag of coil or tools. Instead, this is…wait a minute …this is… a person…. it’s a woman! Not only that, she has uncovered his feet and is lying beneath them! Notice the result: as Boaz tries to shake off the sleep, his mind is a jumble. This whole thing is highly irregular. However, as the fog of sleep begins to clear, Boaz begins to realize that this whole strange event is starting to look a lot like one of those customary requests that you hear about from time to time. But who is this and who would make such a request? Now before you say duh Ruth, remember Boaz has only seen Ruth in mourning cloths. And those in morning do not make such requests.
One last point: notice the tenderness of the drama. In a book that is all about names the author deliberately refrains from using either Boaz’s or Ruth’s name. In fact, he even refrains from using pronouns to replace their names. Instead, he conspicuously refers to them as the man and a woman. Importance: the author goes out of his way to show us the vulnerability of the moment. Thus, regardless of all that is at stake and all the other factors going on around this scene (be it social, cultural, or otherwise) at the end of the day, we have a scene, in the quiet of the night, between a startled man and a young girl who is scared to death. Importance: in the tenderness of the scene, we are reminded that YHWH’s plan never loses sight of the real human lives at work amid all the grand theology. Not only that, over and again, Scripture allows us to see both because our heavenly Father always sees both. Here then is the heart of God, the very heart that unfolds His plan for you without ever losing sight of you.
Bottom line: as we leave Boaz and Ruth amid this central moment of the book, Scripture gives us a wonderful picture of what God’s plan, care, and blessings often look and feel like. Boaz is groggy and rattled. He rubs his face and tries to make his eyes focus. Ruth has sat up. Her heart is pounding. She holds her breath and waits for what Boaz will say or do. Everything hangs in the balance and nobody involved knows what is going on. Oh and back home, Naomi is worried sick and can’t sleep. And yet through it all, God’s hand continues to quietly work in the details of His children’s lives. You see, sometimes blessing are messy and unnerving- like cutting a yard full of fallen trees after a storm through which you survived.
Footnotes
1] Remember, before we see a single detail of this plan enacted, v 6 provided us with a summery/overview of what takes place. Why? There are a few key points that the author wants you to have fount and center in your mind as you watch Ruth implement Naomi’s plan.
As such, we were reminded
2] Note this collective joy sets the back drop for the timing of Naomi’s entire plan. Everybody is joyful and thus the entire atmosphere is that of shared gladness. In fact, the joy felt over a harvest was proverbial in Israel (Isa 9:3)
3] Remember the process of winnowing grain occurred specifically during the evening because of the late afternoon/evening breeze common in Bethlehem that time of year. So the idea of seeking shelter and warmth to sleep is not conjecture but a real factor for that time of year.
4] Many translations tell us that Ruth goes in secretly. However, this is both a poor understanding of the Hebrew word used here as well as a poor understanding of Ruth’s main objective. The Hebrew noun לָט that is often translated as “secrecy” or “stealth” is better understood as “careful” or “gentle” or “quiet”. The root of the word (לָאַ֣ט) is a composite word which combines (אַ֣ט – gentleness) with the preposition of manner (לָ -with) meaning with gentleness, or gently, carefully, quietly (c.f. 2 Sam 18:5; Isa 8:6). In turn, the context also supports our understanding: think about it, it is long into the night. The activities and festivities at the threshing floor have wound down. As Ruth gives Boaz plenty of time to fall sleep, she also allows time for other people to go home or fall asleep as well. Therefore, the main focus of Ruth’s actions here are not concerned with slipping by other folks unnoticed (most of whom are gone or sleeping). Instead, her main concern is not to wake Boaz. Therefore, verse 7 tells us that she approaches Boaz quietly/carefully. Why? In order to not to wake him and so lead to a huge misunderstanding that would threaten the entire plan/purpose of her being there. That said, going carefully and quietly will also avoid rousing the attention/notice of any others who may be sleeping in the vicinity.
5] A more thorough answer would be that by referring to Ruth with only pronouns, the author is intentionally directing our focus to Boaz, (YHWH’s instrument/strength) and to the fact that Naomi’s plan is pleasing to God. At the same time, by giving Ruth a diminutive stature in the narrative the author has underscored the enormity of the situation and risks that she is facing. However, that said, we are never allowed to forget that Ruth is YHWH’s child and regardless of how small she may seem, YHWH goes with her.
Notice, we have seen the author do this very sort of thing before. Back in 1:19-22 when Naomi and Ruth arrive in town, it is as if Ruth is pushed aside and all but forgotten as the crowd of women gathers around Naomi. Yet quietly on the outside of this throng of town women stands a child of YHWH, through whom He is going to do the most extraordinary things. Chapter 3 and all its pronouns give us the same sort of vibe.
6] Note: the Hebrew word used here for feet (מַרְגְּלוֹת) literally means “the place of his feet” and thus is often used to indicate the feet and lower shin area. However, this is not the usual or common word for feet used throughout the Old Testament. That word is (רֶגֶל). Notice then the point: the author has refrained from using the common word for feet here in order to avoid the Hebrew euphemism of “uncovering one’s feet” to mean sexual intercourse (lit uncovering one’s genitals). We find similar imagery to this in places like Pr 6:13; Isa 3:16; Jer 2:25. Notice then the point: the author has gone to great care to avoid any misconceptions about what Ruth is doing (the very same delicacy and care that we see Naomi’s plan taking)
7] It is a similar image to that of placing one’s enemies beneath your feet (Ps 110:1). In both cases, the idea is to place one under your rule and charge. In turn, this is the very opposite of the image that we will see in 4:7-8 where the sandal is taken off in a gesture of relinquishing ones role/charge/responsibility.
8] Translation: note the NAS renders verse 8 to read
And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward;
The problem with this common translation is that it is not as vivid as the Hebrew. At its root the verb לפת (bent forward) means to twist, turn, or grasp. It also carries with it the notion to feel around. Given the context/situation, the picture that this verb provides is that Boaz is startled from his sleep and turns his body to sit up, feeling around to see what is at his feet. Thus, I have translated verse 8 to read:
And it came about in the middle of the night that the man was startled and sat up feeling around;