Ruth 3:16
14 So Ruth lay down at Boaz’s 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.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law,
she said, “How did it go for you, my daughter?”
And she told her all that the man had done for her.
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, in the morning as Ruth prepares to leave the threshing floor, Boaz warns her not to let anyone recognize her. Not only that, he loads her down with some 60 pounds of grain as both a cover (so she looks like a worker gathering her wages) and as a pledge to Naomi of his commitment.
In our text this morning we watch as Ruth arrives home to an anxiously waiting Naomi.
Verse 16
Notice at once the scene: Ruth arrives home once again lugging a huge load of grain (which after gleaning for two harvests under Boaz’s lavish provision must have been a common scene). Regardless, when she gets home, she is greeted by what is certainly a sleepless Naomi, who has been anxiously waiting for her. That said, notice in a book that is all about names, Naomi is simply referred to as her mother-in-law. Why? First, after all that has unfolded over the previous night (Ruth’s request to Boaz for marriage and Boaz’s pledge to see the family provided for), we are reminded that it is Naomi’s plan that Ruth put into practice according to Naomi’s authority and instruction. Remember, Naomi as mother-in-law and the last adult standing is the matriarch of the family and the one who is in charge of their wellbeing. Thus, Ruth is returning to the one who sent her. At the same time, we are reminded that Ruth’s singular motive in this whole business is to help her mother-in-law’s situation by seeing their family line and future redeemed. Thus, at once as Ruth comes through the door, with all the risks and dangers she has faced, we see her heart and character on full view. That is, we see her genuine love for Naomi as well as the central theme of lovingkindness (committed love), which is the heart of the entire account FN#1. However, there is one more subtle point that the author’s strategic/deliberate use of mother-in-law sets before our eyes: in a book that is all about legal transactions, we are quietly reminded that we are amid a history changing transition from the house and authority of Naomi to that of Boaz.
Next, notice the way our scene unfolds: the minute Ruth stumble through the door with her big ol sack of grain, Naomi, unable to contain herself, blurts out “How did it go”. However, please note, this is not mere girl talk. Naomi is not asking Ruth to tell her all about the evening and what Boaz was wearing and was mean ol Mrs. Cridget there with her annoying daughters. Instead, in the Hebrew, what Naomi literally asks here is “who are you” FN#2. Now Naomi is clearly not asking Ruth to identify herself. She is expecting Ruth; she has been pacing the floor waiting for Ruth; and when Ruth stumbles through the door with her familiar sack of grain, Naomi recognizes her. She calls her “my daughter”. Instead, the pressing question on Naomi’s mind is in what station or capacity do you arrive? In other words, who are you? Are you the future Mrs. Boaz or are we still in a mess? How did the plan for remarriage and redemption go? Today, a waiting friend or mother might say to a young girl “well let me see your finger” Did he propose? Next, notice how Naomi refers to Ruth: she calls her my daughter. Importance: at once we see the love and concern that Naomi has for Ruth. Thus, even though verse 16 has just reminded us that Naomi is only Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi calls Ruth “my daughter”. In other words, Naomi’s love for Ruth is genuine and deep. Notice then, the same lovingkindness that we have seen in Boaz and Ruth, we find at work in the heart of Naomi as well. Simply put, by this point in the account, the hearts of all the main participants are moving in sync with the heart of YHWH. However, that said, notice that there is almost a pleading of compassion and fear in Naomi’s voice. Naomi knows the risk that Ruth has undertaken. Not only that, she also knows that if things went bad, they may have gone very bad. Thus, in one question we hear all the emotion that has built up in Naomi’s heart: the emotion of having everything on the line, her concern for Ruth, her gratitude for all that Ruth has done, and her hope that YHWH is indeed working their deliverance- it all comes to bear in one single question- who are you my daughter? Are you OK? Are we OK? How did it go?
Next, notice verse 16 says that Ruth told Naomi all that the man had done for her. That is, Ruth answers Naomi’s question (who are you) as best that she can at this time. As such, Ruth tells Naomi of Boaz’s pledge/vow as well as the condition upon which it was made. In other words, she tells Naomi that if the other closer kinsman will not redeem them by marrying Ruth, then Boaz has pledged before YHWH that he will. Thus, one way or the other, their family and their family’s future/line will be provided for FN#3. However, please note: in a book that is all about names, it is conspicuous that the author has gone out of his way to avoid calling anybody by their name. Notice then Naomi is simply “mother-in-law”; Ruth is merely “she”; and Boaz is unceremoniously only called “the man”. Why? The author is building drama within the fluid conditions of the narrative. Notice then, at this point in the account nobody involved knows if Naomi and her plan are in fact Pleasant to God. In turn, nobody knows if Boaz is indeed the Strength and Deliverer that God has provided. And as it stands now, nobody knows whose Companion Ruth will wind up being. In other words, the author’s impersonal approach to this portion of the narrative is meant to underscore the uncertainty that each person involved is feeling (life is all up in the air and nobody knows who they are going forward- which underscores the irony and significance of Naomi’s initial question- who are you). Simply put, the author’s impersonal approach is meant to allow us to share the energy and upendedness of the account. Why? Something big is about to happen and he wants you fully engaged FN#4/5.
Bottom Line: as Naomi listens to Ruth, her heart and mind are filled with a 1000 different thoughts and feelings: there is the great relief that all went well; there is a profound and deep love for this girl who has done so much; and yet there is also a tinge of anxiety and uncertainty drifting over Naomi. You see, Naomi has known of this other relative all along but she has avoided him. Boaz is and always has been her clear choice. However, to her vexation this other fellow is now a factor and a real possibility moving forward. Regardless, as Naomi’s attention finds its way back to the moment at hand, she realizes that Ruth is still talking. The conversation is far from over.
Footnotes
1] Think about it: Naomi is not Ruth’s actual mother. Thus, Ruth does not have to be there. She does not have to be going through all of this. Instead, it is Ruth’s desire to be with YHWH (her God), YHWH’s people, and Naomi the mother of her faith that has her there at all. Thus, in the author’s strategic use of mother-in-law, we hear the echoes of Ruth’s conversion and the Kessed (committed love) that are the single explanation of her presence.
2] In Hebrew the phrase “who are you” (מִי־אַ֣תְּ) means just that. The original readers and speakers would have heard just that. Thus when translators and commentators do acrobatics to make the phrase read “”How did it go” they cloud the entire passage. In Hebrew the personal interrogative pronoun who (מִי) is never really used of things (as in, how did it go). Instead, it is always used of a person either directly or implied (BDB p 566.a). Likewise, in Hebrew (just as in English) if one wants to know what or how some thing is, they would use the specific indefinite interrogative pronoun what/how (מה). Thus, in Hebrew (just like in English) no one would point to a jar and say “who are you”. Instead, they would use the indefinite pronoun and say “what is it”. In the same way, if they ask “who are you” they don’t mean “what events occurred last night” or “How did it go”. Upon further investigation, I find that the Net Bible and their original language sources agree with this assessment:
61 tn Heb “Who are you?” In this context Naomi is clearly not asking for Ruth’s identity. Here the question has the semantic force “Are you his wife?” See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 223–24, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 184-85.
-Net Bible Ruth 3:16, entry #61
3] That said, notice there is still the conspicuous matter of the big ol sack of grain that Ruth has toted home. But for that you will need a bit of patience. Ruth will get to that as conversation continues (verse 17).
4] By hearing Naomi’s actual question “who are you” instead of glossing it to read “How did it go”; and then by watching the author masterfully play off this question by alerting us that at this point in the account no one knows who they are (it is not certain to any of them that their Hebrew names match what God is doing), the author transforms what might appear to be a ho-hum verse about Ruth getting home into a verse packed with true information and insight. Thus, right away we are allowed to share in the anxiety and uncertainty that define this entire scene. We are allowed to share in the fact that Naomi is not indifferent to who Ruth marries (and neither is YHWH). Naomi’s hope and YHWH’s plan is Boaz. The result is the author builds the drama, has us emotionally invested in the account, and reminds us that we are watching the way that God’s hand often works in the lives of real life people just like you and me. Therefore, he knows we will pay attention to not simply what happens but how and why it happens.
5] Finally, notice the mercy: after telling us each step of Naomi’s plan as she laid it out and then allowing us to watch each step of that plan as it unfolds, the author mercifully gives us just a summary of Ruth’s conversation as she conveys all those details to Naomi.