III. Hope (Ruth 3:1-18)

III. Hope (3:1-18)

3:1-4 Knowing the hazards Ruth faced in widowhood, Naomi decided to become a matchmaker so that Ruth might have a secure home and future (3:1). She told her to put on her best and go to Boaz’s threshing floor that night. The threshing floor was where the winnowing would take place, separating the barley from the inedible chaff (3:2-3). During the harvest, Boaz would have spent the night there to prevent theft of his grain. Naomi advised Ruth to uncover his feet, and lie down after he finished eating and drinking and went to sleep for the night. Once Boaz realized she was there, he would explain what she should do next (3:3-4).

3:5-9 Ruth agreed to Naomi’s instructions and followed them exactly (3:5-6). After a hard day of work and with a full belly, Boaz finally lay down for the night. Then, Ruth approached. With his feet uncovered, perhaps feeling the cool of the evening, he woke and was startled to find a woman lying at his feet (3:7-8). Because it was dark, he asked her to identify herself, and Ruth replied, I am Ruth, your servant. . . . Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer (3:9).

Through these words and actions, Ruth was making a marriage proposal. Furthermore, she was requesting that Boaz perform his legal responsibility as a family redeemer (see commentary on 2:19-20). By asking him to take her “under his wing,” Ruth was reminding him of the blessing he had pronounced on her previously. Boaz had said to her, “May you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge” (2:12). Ruth was challenging him to become the human expression of that divine covering.

3:10-13 Boaz had been impressed with Ruth initially (2:11-12), but he was even more impressed by her that night. Though Boaz was older and perhaps past his prime, Ruth had not pursued younger men (3:10). Clearly, then, this was a woman of noble character (3:11), and she had shown honor to Boaz in the highest way she could.

But Boaz was aware of a complication in the circumstances. Even though he was indeed a family redeemer, there was another redeemer who was closer than he (3:12). In other words, this other relative was a nearer relation to Ruth’s dead husband, so he qualified to redeem her ahead of Boaz if he chose to do so. But, should the man refuse to raise up an heir for his dead relative, Boaz vowed that he would fulfill the obligation and marry Ruth (3:13). Boaz was a man of honor.

Don’t miss the word redeem that appears multiple times in verses 12 and 13. Through its use, Boaz is presented as an Old Testament type or picture of Jesus Christ who redeemed or “bought back” sinners from slavery to sin. Through Christ our Redeemer, we are forgiven, set free from sin, made new creations, and have a new relationship with God (see Rom 3:23-24; Gal 3:13-14; 4:4-5; Eph 1:13-14; Col 1:13-14; Heb 9:11-12; Eph 1:13-14). If Boaz were to redeem Ruth, she’d be bought out of slavery to her impoverished circumstances and formally adopted into God’s chosen family.

3:14-18 Ruth arose and left while it was still dark so that no one would see her and misconstrue the night’s events, bringing harm to their reputations (3:14). But, before she left, Boaz gave her a generous provision of barley (3:15). Ruth returned home with the food and the news, and Naomi felt confident that Boaz would come through on the matter (3:16-18).