Ruth 2:17-18
Ruth 2:14 And at mealtime Companion (Ruth) sat down beside the workers; and In Strength (Boaz) passed her roasted grain. Then she ate and was satisfied and even had some left. 15 When she rose to glean,
In Strength (Boaz) commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. 16 “And also you shall purposely pull out some grain for her from the bundles and leave it that she may glean it, and do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until sunset.
Then she beat out what she had gleaned,
and it was about an ephah (A-fa) of barley.
18 And she took it up and went into the city,
and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned.
She also brought out what she had left after she was satisfied and gave it to My Pleasant One (Naomi).
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Notice then the story thus far: Boaz has placed Ruth under his direct protection and has allowed her the unheard of privilege of gleaning right next to his workers. Not only that, at meal time Boaz sits Ruth down with his workers and gives her some of the food that he has provided just for them.
In addition, as the workers prepare to return to the field, Boaz gives them the astonishing command to let this foreign female gleaner have the first shot at all the newly cut grain and not to rebuke or resent her when she does so.
Simply put, the message is clear: YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth means that she is no longer a foreigner. Instead, she is YHWH’s child. Therefore, she is to be treated and accepted as one of His people.
In our text this morning the author turns to give us a delightful picture of the lavish extent of YHWH’s acceptance.
Verse 17
Notice at once, verse 17 tells us that after the meal and Boaz’s instruction to his workers, Ruth went out and gleaned under the new arrangement. That is, when the text says, “so she gleaned’, it also carries with it the sense of thus she gleaned- in this manner she gleaned. In other words, what Boaz promised has been granted. There is no retraction or revision. Instead, Boaz is true to his word. Not only that, notice verse 17 tells us that Ruth gleaned until sunset. Importance: verse 17 quietly shows us Ruth’s diligence and character FN#1. Notice then she does not squander the opportunity and privilege that Boaz has given her nor does she use them as an excuse to take it easy (she could glean slower or for a shorter amount of time and still have more than she would have had under normal circumstances- so why kill yourself). Instead, she makes full use of the blessings given to her. Thus, she works all the way until sunset. In other words, she works as long as there is light by which to glean. In fact, her workday matches that of the paid reapers. Notice the result: the author quietly allows us to see the very same things that Boaz and his workers are seeing as they work alongside Ruth: her poverty/situation is not the result of a slothful, negligent, or derelict character. Instead, hers is a diligent, industrious, and exemplary character.
Next, notice verse 17 tells us that Ruth beat out what she had gleaned. Importance: first, the Hebrew word translated here as “beat out” is a technical term. It specifically points to the process by which the grain is separated from the husk by beating it with a stick. In fact, this “beating out” accomplishes the same thing as threshing does, just on a smaller scale with a smaller amount FN#2. Importance: once again we see Ruth’s character, diligence, and self-sacrifice for her mother-in-law. How? After a long day in the field, Ruth then takes on the rigorous process of beating out the grain with a stick by herself. Think about it: it is already dark, Ruth has already worked a full hard day, and now she sets about this very labor intensive task. In other words, as the light fades and we watch the solitary shadow of a young woman beating out grain, what we are actually seeing is her heart, commitment, and her love for Naomi in action.
Next, notice the astounding surprise: verse 17 tells us that Ruth gathered about an ephah of barley that day. Now this is far far more grain than any gleaner could hope to gather in a day. To put things in perspective: an ephah is roughly equivalent to the modern day bushel and thus represents some 47 pounds of grain. That’s 47 pounds that Ruth has gathered, carried all day, and is now beating out by herself. Importance: notice once again the author’s quiet disclosure (notice that once again rather than telling us the author is showing us). Thus as we look in wonder at this big pile of grain what we are seeing is the heart of both Ruth and Boaz. That is, this big pile of grain is a testament both to Ruth’s diligence (her commitment to Naomi) as well as Boaz’s great generosity and kindness. This big pile of grain is what Ruth gathered and exactly what Boaz intended his special privileges to provide.
Verse 18
Notice at once, verse 18 opens by telling us that Ruth took up the grain and went into the city. In other words, the gleaning and the beating out are finally finished and Ruth is heading home. However, notice the way that the author slows down the action so we can see the full extent of it. How? Verse 18 could have simply told us that Ruth carried the grain home. However, the author breaks up the scene so we can take in each part of it. Thus, we watch as Ruth picks up the heavy and unwieldy bundle. Then we watch her proceeds to carry it all the way back to town FN#3. Notice then the point: the comical scene of this young girl, on wobbly legs, struggling under this large and cumbersome load, underscores the lavishness of YHWH’s provision and the kindness of YHWH’s instrument (Boaz’s). The result is a scene that is meant to draw us in and delight us in the goodness of God.
Next, notice the comical scene continues. Think about it: Ruth had gone out early that morning to glean last in line and hoping to gather just a few dropped sheaves worth of grain. However, gleaning is not safe, especially for a young foreign woman FN#4. Therefore, Naomi is anxiously waiting her return. But it is far later than Naomi expected. All the other gleaners are back in town and Ruth has still not arrived. Even some of the threshers have begun to trickle home. Naomi is worried sick. Was Ruth beaten, or run off, or even worse, molested. Then, by the glow of the harvest moon Naomi sees some poor creature round the corner struggling under a burden. The poor dear stumbles, stammers a bit, and then falls straight backwards under the weight of the load. But that’s no gleaner size bundle and so it can’t be Ruth. But the dirty, disheveled, exhausted figure regains her feet and walks right up to Naomi’s door. Then with a thud, she drops the bundle at Naomi’s feet. It is Ruth! Naomi’s mouth falls open and her eyes stare in disbelief going from Ruth to the bundle then back to Ruth. How in the world did this child manage all of this? Naomi is speechless and Ruth is too out of breath to speak. So Ruth simply reaches into her sack and hands Naomi the take out box full of already prepared grain and bread and then plops down in the porch chair exhausted. Notice then, it is the absolute silence in which the whole of verse 18 occurs that creates this wonderful and comical scene of absolute amazement at YHWH’s provision.
Next, verse 18 tells us that Ruth gives Naomi the food she had left over after she was satisfied (2:14) FN#5. Importance: notice what these left overs tell us: just as the abundance that Boaz provided Ruth back in 2:14 reflected YHWH’s heart and love, so too now once again these leftovers show us that Ruth too reflects YHWH’s heart and love. How? Instead of hording the leftover portion for herself (out of fear or the excuse that she has worked all day and needs her strength for tomorrow), Ruth provides for Naomi out of the provision she herself has been given. Importance: at once verse 18 provides a picture of the use/stewardship that God intends from each one of us with regards to the blessing He bestows (II Cor 1:3-4). Regardless, the author has quietly used this one to-go box of roasted grain to show us that in Ruth and Boaz we have two genuine believers through whom God will work His deliverance FN#6.
Bottom line: as verse 18 closes we leave an exhausted Ruth and a speechless Naomi on the front porch after what has been the most unexpected and extraordinary day. But in the silence and still night air, the goodness of God and the lavish extent of what His acceptance means is beginning to rise, like a harvest moon, in the minds of these two impoverished women. God never lets go.
Footnotes
1] As we read the book of Ruth, it is vital to remember that the author intends this story to delight and personally engage us. Thus, verses 17-18 are not given as a sterile time card of Ruth’s activity for the day; nor is the author being garish or preachy. Instead, the author is allowing us to watch Ruth, to see the events of the account for ourselves and thus be drawn into the story. Why? The account of Ruth is not recorded in Scripture because the acts of kindness that God shows Ruth and Naomi are exceptional (God has shown each one of us concrete examples of His kindness throughout our lives). Instead, the account of Ruth is recorded in Scripture because these acts of kindness have direct relevance to you and to me today. That is, the acts of kindness that God shows Naomi and Ruth bring about a king (David) and a Messiah for His people. As such, the acts of God’s kindness recorded in the book of Ruth extend to and directly include each one of us. Therefore, the author does not simply report details and facts. Instead, he delights and engages you in the very way he relays these facts. Listen to Scripture and pay attention as you read.
2] Note: beating out the grain (or threshing it on a larger scale) was a distinct step in the harvesting process. Thus, after the grain was reaped (cut) and bundled, the grain would then been taken to the threshing floor where the grain would have been separated from the husk (Jdg 6:36-37). This was a shared endeavor among the workers that usually employed livestock for the manual part of the process. However, on a smaller scale, the arduous task of beating out the grain would have been done by a single person with a stick. The grain would then be winnowed. That is, it would be tossed in the air using a winnowing fork (think pitch fork). The heavier grain would fall to the ground while the lighter chaff (crushed husks and flax) would be carried off by the wind and later piled up and burned (Lk 3:16-17).
3] To give us an idea of Ruth’s couriership, tradition places Boaz’s field some 2 ½ miles from Bethlehem’s center. Even if that tradition is not exact, it does give us an idea of the location of the farmland in the surrounding area (especially since we know that Ruth passed through another landowner’s field before arriving by mistake in Boaz’s field- 2:3). Thus, Ruth probably carried the heavy load a couple of miles back home. Not only that, the terrain of Bethlehem is hilly and undulating. So it was not an easy level path that she took.
4] The fact that Naomi agrees to let Ruth go and glean, despite the real danger it represents, underscores the desperation and direness of their situation. We see this fact again as Ruth (exhausted, tired, and hungry from a full day of work) gives Naomi what she had left over from the meal in 2:14, knowing that Naomi probably has not had much if anything to eat all day.
5] She also brought out what she had left after she was satisfied and gave it to My Pleasant One (Naomi)- Importance: the Hebrew word here for satisfied also means abundance. In fact, to hear the word is to hear both notions at once (one is satiated because they have an abundance, more than enough). Thus, verse 18 could be equally translated in English “she gave to Naomi from her abundance”. Notice then the point: the dominant idea, visual, and central message of verses 17-18 is YHWH’s lavish abundance. In other words, the message is clear (both then and now): God’s acceptance means the abundance of God’s unending love and provision for each of His children.
6] Notice then the corrective that is beginning to take place: up until this point in the account Naomi believes that God has rejected her and that she is under God’s judgment. She tells the town folks to call her “Bitter” (Mara- 1:20-21). However, in verse 18 Naomi’s perspective is being divinely altered as a 47 pound sack of grain is at her feet and a prepared meal is in her hands. Not only that, in a book that is all about names it is significant that the text goes out of its way to tell us that Ruth placed this meal in “My Pleasant One’s” hands. Naomi and her persistent faith are indeed pleasant to YHWH, who has been steadily working her deliverance. In fact, for the remainder of this section (chapter 2), be on the lookout for the way the author skillfully plays off of names and designations (like mother-in-law) in order to alert you to the spiritual factors at work as both Ruth and Naomi finally begin to see the hand of God, which has been at work for them all along.