Read: Ruth 3:14 – 4:12 NLT – So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the – Bible Gateway

“Then Naomi said to her, ‘Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.’” Ruth 3:18 NLT

Last week in Biblical Insights Ruth followed her mother-in-law’s instruction to approach Boaz and request he marry her and be her kinsman-redeemer through the Levirate law. Ruth had gone to where Boaz had laid down for the night after the celebration of the completion of the barley harvest. Ruth laid herself down at his feet and removed the cover from his feet. “After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.” (Ruth 3:7 nlt) As Boaz woke up around midnight he noticed a woman at his feet and asks who it was. ‘“I am your servant Ruth,’ she replied. ‘Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.’” (Ruth 3:9 nlt) (see last week’s Biblical Insights ‘The Story of Ruth….part 4’ for further explanation and the exchange between Ruth and Boaz)

Boaz is willing to do this as he is aware of the situation and has noticed Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi along with the respect she has earned from all who have watched her. He told her he would take of it first thing in the morning. “So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, ‘No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.’” (Ruth 3:14 nlt) Rising early in the morning was wise so she could leave before the morning light and anyone finding out that she was there. Now again, nothing immoral happen, but Boaz did not want any misunderstanding or gossip going around about her as this was an innocent visit. Boaz then went the extra mile and scooped out six portions of barley for her to take back to her mother-in-law. Arriving back home Naomi asked her what had happened and Ruth told her everything. Naomi knowing what kind of man Boaz was knew the matter would be settled quickly. Boaz would not procrastinate and let it drag on. It happens so often in our day when important matters are left undone because we do not see the urgency of getting them done. Boaz knew this was important and he had an obligation to see to it quickly. He did not wait.

Boaz went right into town and sat at the city gate. The gate was not only the main entrance way into the city but it functioned as the place where legal transactions and commercial business took place. Soon Boaz noticed the closer family redeemer approaching and he called him over. “Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses.” (Ruth 4:2 nlt) Boaz explained the situation to him concerning Naomi needing to sell the land that was in her late husband’s name for financial reasons. The man had the first right as he was closest kin. Boaz explained that if he (the closer relative) did not purchase it that he would. The man said he would redeem it, but there was more to the purchase.

“Then Boaz told him, ‘Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.’” (Ruth 4:5 nlt) This was something the man would not or could not do. He may have already been married, which would have caused a problem, and furthermore it made cause complications in his own inheritance passed down to his children, The man declined saying, “Then I can’t redeem it, because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.” (Ruth 4:6 nlt)

The transaction is about to be made official. We have come a long way in binding legal transactions through paper trails and endorsing signatures, we even have electronic signing in our day, but not back then. “Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction.” (Ruth 4:7 nlt) So, the man took of his sandal and handed to Boaz. The transaction was completed and was now official.

Boaz then said to the ten official witnesses and those standing around that he purchased all the property belonging to Elimelech and his sons Kilion, and Mahlon. “And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.” (Ruth 4:10 nlt) The Levirate law of marriage was enacted. Ruth would have a husband. The family name and inheritance of her late husband, Mahlon, would continue in the birth of her first son. And all the people around rejoiced asked for blessings on their home and for Ruth to be as fruitful as Rachel and Leah. There is much more in this story for us to glean from. It is not just a happy ending of a family name restored, a widow married and Naomi being full again as we will see next week as we conclude with the Story of Ruth the Moabites.

Read: Ruth 3:1-13 NLT – Ruth at the Threshing Floor – One day – Bible Gateway

“One day Naomi said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for.’” Ruth 3:1 NLT

Chapter 3 of the book of Ruth begins with Naomi fulfilling an obligation to find security in marriage for Ruth. In chapter 1 as both Ruth and her sister-in-law were going to Bethlehem with Naomi, Naomi encouraged them to back to their home and find security, “May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” (Ruth 1:9 nlt) Ruth’s sister-in-law went back but Ruth promised to stay with Naomi and go to Bethlehem. Naomi now says to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for.” (Ruth 3:1 nlt) The stage is set.

Boaz had proven he was a protector of Ruth in caring for her while she was working in his fields. The levirate custom of marriage is in play here. One who is considered a redeemer, a close relative, would protect a family in need as well as marrying the widow of the deceased to continue the family name. It would make sense to approach Boaz because of his past deeds and concern for Ruth and Naomi. Although Boaz was indeed one of their closest relatives there was one closer, but it made perfect sense to consider Boaz.

Naomi instructs Ruth to get dressed in her finest clothes, put on perfume as if preparing for a wedding, which was the case. She tells her to go to the threshing floor. The harvest season is ending, the final threshing is being done, and the grain is being stockpiled. Ruth is told to not make herself known but to notice where Boaz lays himself down after the festive meal. Boaz, as other landowners, would sleep nearby their harvest until they are secured to prevent robbery during the night.

Ruth is to wait for this moment of opportunity seeing where he lays down and go uncover his feet. “So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.” (Ruth 3:6 nlt) This may seemed a little strange in our time, even look and sound like immorally, but Naomi and Ruth had nothing but the purist of motives. Scripture says after Boaz finished eating and drinking after the exhausting day he laid down on the grain and fell asleep. Then Ruth went and uncovered his feet and laid down herself. One thought as to why Ruth uncover his feet is this; think of yourself when part of covers during the night move away from you, you feel it and wake up. Boaz felt the cool breeze and woke up and found a woman lying at his feet. ‘“Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she replied. ‘Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”’ (Ruth 1:9 nlt)

The spreading of a garment over a woman was a token of marriage. Some still practice this today in the Arab world. Ruth was actually proposing marriage to Boaz through the Levirate custom. She identifies herself  as a humble servant and simply relates to the fact she is widow and asks Boaz to marry her. Yes, strange in our day, but acceptable and proper during that time. Boaz being a redeemer relative could have asked her, but he was a generation older than Ruth and would not have done that. Boaz commends her for her action and loyalty. She did not go after younger men, or refused to marry again into the family, but chose to do what was right and honoring to the God she now serves, the Lord God.

Boaz assures Ruth of his intentions and would do what she asks for. He knows of the good reputation she has among others and he has seen it for himself. Unfortunately there is an important piece of business that must be done for the matter to be right. “Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. But while it is true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.” (Ruth 3:11-12 nlt) The very closes relative in the family is the one to redeem. We do not know Boaz’s relation to Naomi’s husband exactly. It is thought Elimelech was Boaz’s uncle. The closer relative to Naomi may be another one of Elimelech’s brothers or Boaz’s older brother. Boaz wants to be sure to do it the right way.

Boaz says he would take of this the first thing in the morning. He tells her to stay until morning. (at his feet, there is nothing immoral here, remember Ruth has nothing but the purist motives) If the other relative agrees to marry her, Ruth should do so, but if not, Boaz promises to redeem and marry her ‘as surely as the Lord lives,’ the strongest vow an Israelite can make. Next week the matter is settled.