Ruth 3:14-15
13 “Remain tonight, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I myself will redeem you, as YHWH lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until morning.
Then she rose before one could recognize another;
and he said, “Let it not be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor.”
15 He also said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold onto it tightly.”
So she held onto it tightly,
and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her.
Then she carried it into the city.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Now remember the story thus far: Naomi came up with a plan to secure her family’s wellbeing and Ruth has implemented that plan exactly. At its heart, the single objective of this plan is to formally request that Boaz would marry Ruth, the widow of his kinsman.
Well to Ruth’s great relief, Boaz states his willingness to do all that Ruth has asked. However, there is a problem. There is another relative who is closer to the family than Boaz is. As such, the first right of marrying Ruth must be given to him. Therefore, Boaz says that in the morning he will go and find out if this other relative is willing to redeem/marry Ruth. If he is, then good; but if not, Boaz pledges before YHWH that he will marry Ruth himself. Thus one way or the other, Boaz has solemnly committed himself to see Ruth and Naomi provided for.
Finally, the entire conversation ends with Boaz telling Ruth to lie down and remain at the threshing floor until morning. In our text this morning we get to see Ruth lie down (as well as some other stuff)
Verse 14
Notice at once the author tells us that Ruth lay down at Boaz’s feet until morning.
In other words, Ruth does exactly as Boaz instructed. Importance: in a book that is all about legal transaction notice the subtle transition: Companion the widowed daughter-in-law of Naomi has just requested to be Boaz’s companion. Not only that, just as Ruth did exactly as Naomi instructed her, she now does exactly as Boaz instructs. In other words, although nothing is final or certain, the author is already preparing us to see Ruth’s transfer from the house/authority of Naomi to that of Boaz. Notice the result: by the opening of verse 14, the dynamics of redemption are already beginning to take place. Not only that, notice the care the author takes to avoid any misunderstanding of these events. Think about it, as verse 13 ended and Boaz told Ruth to lie down and go to sleep, it is fair to wonder where exactly she lay down. Did she return to the submissive and petitionary place beneath his feet; or did she move to some spot on the grain heap? Notice then verse 14 makes it clear that Ruth returns to her place at Boaz’s feet. In other words, the author deliberately eliminates any impropriety from the scene FN#1. In fact, the author’s delicacy and care reflect the same delicacy and care that both Boaz and Naomi take to guard Ruth’s reputation. In other words, what we are watching unfold is not a sordid tale of worldly passion. Instead, it is the very deliverance that YHWH has prepared and is now directing.
Next, verse 14 tells us that when morning dawned Ruth rose to return home. Not only that, it goes on to add that she left before people could recognize one another. In other words, Ruth rises at the first light of the day as people are just beginning to stir. Notice then the point: notice the wisdom of Boaz’s instruction: Ruth waits until it is normal/usual for people to be out and about their early morning chores. As such, because others are out, it is safe for a woman to be traveling. At the same time, because others are out, there is nothing unusual or any cause for suspicion to see someone stirring. In addition, the early dawn’s light is such that people could not readily recognize one another. As such, Boaz’s instructions have both provided for Ruth’s safety as well as used the shadows of the morning to guard her identity and reputation FN#2.
Next, Boaz says let it not be known that a woman has been to the threshing floor FN#3. In other words, as Ruth is leaving, Boaz reminds/instructs her to take special care to avoid any direct contact with folks, lest they discover that she has slept at the threshing floor and so draw the wrong conclusions FN#4. Importance: notice the very real risk behind Boaz’s stern command: were Ruth to be discovered returning home from the threshing floor, it would bring scandal on both her and Boaz. In fact, such a scandal would not only damage their reputations, it would also soil the public perception of any future redeemer relationship that may ensue between them. In fact, it may go so far as to cause the elders to prohibit any such kinsman redeemer union with Ruth at all (be it with Boaz or the other relative) in an effort to guard the purity of the institution from a loose, opportunistic, foreign born woman. Simply put, Boaz instructs Ruth to show great care as she returns home so as not to jeopardize the entire venture just as it is getting started. Notice the harsh result: just as things were starting to look up; just as the weight had seemed to be lifted; once more Ruth finds everything hanging in the balance and everything depending on her performance. In fact, the next half mile or so (from field to home) will literally determine the course of world history. Importance: at once we are reminded that sometimes the blessings of God are messy and unnerving. They don’t always look or feel the way we expect them to. Yet as we watch Ruth take a deep breath and prepare to leave, we are reminded that YHWH goes with her and that His plan, deliverance, and favor will not falter.
Verse 15
Notice at once, right after Boaz warns/instructs Ruth not to be noticed, a thought enters his mind. Therefore, just as she is getting ready to leave, he tells her to take off her cloak/jacket and give it to him. He then tells her to hold on to her end tightly/firmly. Why? He is about to put something heavy into it and he does not want it spilling all over the ground.
Next, notice as we watch Ruth (with a baffled look) taking off her warm jacket in the coolest part of the morning, verse 15 tells us that Ruth does exactly as Boaz says FN#5. She gives him one end of her cloak while holding firmly to the other. Importance: for the second time in this exchange, we see Ruth doing what Boaz has told her to do (just as she has done with Naomi). In other words, the author is again preparing us to see a transfer from the house/authority of Naomi to that of Boaz FN#6. Next, notice the reason for Boaz’s instruction: once they both have the cloak firmly gripped, Boaz pours 6 measures of barley into the cloak. Why? At first glance it seems obvious that Boaz is continuing his kindness and provision for Ruth and Naomi. However, that is not what is going on here at all. Remember, Ruth has been gleaning in Boaz’s fields for some two months under the lavish conditions that he set for her (2:8-9; 15-16). Therefore, by the time we reach 3:15, Ruth and Naomi have been well provided for. Not only that, from this point on, Boaz will insure that Ruth and Naomi are taken care of either by Boaz himself or the other relative. So charity and provision don’t really seem to be the objective here. Instead, there are two important purposes that Boaz is seeking to accomplish: first, right after warning Ruth not to be discovered, it occurs to Boaz to give her cover. Therefore, he loads her down with a worker’s wage of grain. As such, to those passing by, Ruth does not appear to be some floozy, who is returning from the threshing floor after a fling. Instead, she looks to be a person who has collected their wages first thing in the morning before continuing on with the day’s tasks. Simply put, in the shadows of the morning Boaz insures that Ruth looks like what folks expect to see. At the same time, as Boaz is measuring out the gran he realizes that it will be a good idea to send the waiting Naomi a personal note of assurance. Therefore, Boaz adds significantly more grain than the usual wages of a worker FN#7. In other words, he sends Ruth home with a sign/mark of the sincerity of his intentions.
Next, notice verse 15 tells us that once Boaz secured the wrapped grain on Ruth, that she carried it into the city. Importance: verse 15 ends with Ruth once again shouldering a great burden (just like her first day in Boaz’s field -2:17-18). However, please note: the burden she bears is far more than just the 60 or so pounds of grain that she is carrying. Instead, the whole success of this venture as well as the future of her family depend on the half mile walk that is set before her FN#8. That said, as nerve-racking as the trip may have been, when the text tells us that she carried the grain into the city, it quietly alerts us that Ruth made it home successfully and without notice. In other words, YHWH was with her every step of the way. Notice the result: as Ruth steps through the door to be greeted by an anxiously waiting Naomi, the cover of grain now becomes a pledge for the future.
Bottom line: Naomi hears the door latch turn and jumps up to greet Ruth. To her relief Ruth is not injured nor does she look distraught. So far so good. But what is up with this child and huge sacks of grain? And what could all this grain mean? Is it a kind consolation after rejection? Did no opportunity arise to talk with Boaz, so Ruth just worked the whole time? What does it mean? And what happened? As Ruth catches her breath, she meets Naomi’s anxious expression with an exhausted smile. YHWH was with them.
Footnotes
1] In addition, the author goes even further out of his way to guard the character of Ruth and her actions. How? Remember, in Hebrew the idea of lying with a woman as well as the notion of uncovering one’s feet serve as euphemisms for sexual intercourse. Therefore, the author clarifies where Ruth slept and at the same time, instead of the usual Hebrew word for “foot” (רֶגֶל) with all its connotations, he uses a different word, which means “the place of his feet” (מַרְגְּלוֹת). Simply put, the author’s deliberate word choice eliminates any misconception of these events.
2] Notice the dynamics at work here: as far as safety goes, remember it is not safe for women to be traveling at night. However, in the morning when people are up and starting their day, nefarious activity would be less likely, since if anything were to happen, there would be others close by who would hear and intervene. In turn, as far as the early morning light goes, remember Ruth is a gleaner not a worker. Therefore, she has no task/business at the threshing floor. However, as long as people can’t see who she is, they will be far more likely to assume she is just one of the many workers going about their morning duties and pay her no mind.
3] Note: in the Hebrew Masoretic text, the phrase reads as definite “Let it not be known that this woman has come to the threshing floor”. However, this reading seems disconnected with the rest of the scene. Thus, if we are to take woman as definite (the woman/this woman) it would appear that Boaz is thinking this thought to himself or praying it (“and he thought to himself, please let it not be know that this woman was here”). However, this contributes nothing to the passage and seems out of character with the certainty and confidence that has marked In Strength thus far. Instead, I have followed the LXX’s reading, which has “woman” as indefinite (a woman). Thus, as Ruth is leaving Boaz reminds/instructs her to take especial care to avoid any direct contact with folks, lest they discover that a woman has slept at the threshing floor and thus bring scandal on both her and Boaz.
4] Notice the reason for Boaz’s concern: it was unfortunate but common in those days that loose women would use the opportunity of the festivities and communal gathering to hook up with the young field workers. In fact, every detail of Naomi’s plan and all the care that Ruth has taken, underscore that this risk has been a real concern from the start. It is one of the big dangers of the entire endeavor.
5] As we watch Ruth (with a baffled look) taking off her warm jacket in the coolest part of the morning, we are reminded that this is a part of the (non-mourning) clothing that Naomi instructed Ruth to wear back in 3:3. Importance: even in this smallest of details we see Naomi’s genuine care for Ruth. Naomi knows that her plan will involve Ruth being out on a breezy cold night. Therefore, she made sure that Ruth took her jacket with her before she left the house. Simply put: over and again we see the hearts of those involved in the account moving in sync with the heart and plan of YHWH.
6] Notice then what we are watching is the hearts and actions of the central figures of the account (Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz) moving in sync with the heart and plan of YHWH. In other words, grace then (just as grace now) shapes God’s children after the deliverance He has provided.
7] Boaz sends Ruth home with some 30-60 pounds of barley (depending on which measure you assume here). That said, the author does not specify the exact measure in view here because he assumes the original readers would have known which measure was intended. In all likelihood, the amount Boaz gives Ruth is in line with the standard pay for a laborer.
Six ephahs, the equivalent of 180–300 pounds, is clearly too heavy, especially if carried in a garment. Six omers (an omer being a tenth of an ephah) seems too little, since this would have been much less than Ruth had gleaned in a single day (cf. Rut 2:17). Thus a seah (one third of an ephah) may be in view here. Six seahs (six measures) would amount to about 60 pounds.- Net Bible, Ruth 3:15
Notice the result, for Ruth to arrive home with 6 omers of grain (30 lbs) would probably represent the standard pay for a labor. However, to arrive home with 6 seah of grain (60 lbs) would not only provide her the cover she needed but would also convey the sincerity of Boaz’s intent to Naomi (c.f. 3:16). Regardless, I have simply followed the NAS and left the text to read “6 measures”.
8] Importance: over and again throughout the book we have watched as Ruth bears extraordinary burdens- be it returning with Naomi to a life of hardship; or gleaning and carrying grain day after day; or taking on the dangers and risks of Naomi’s plan; or now the nerve-racking walk back home- which oh by the way- once again involves toting a huge sack of grain. Notice then the point: in this book about God’s amazing deliverance we see Ruth His child (through whom this extraordinary deliverance will come) being asked to carry extraordinary burdens. However, the strength of character that God’s instruments exude, give witness to the fact that the work that is happening, is in fact the work of God who upholds them. God is always with His people and will not fail or forsake them.