11) What did Ruth's nearest kinsman take off to give Boaz permission to redeem Naomi and Ruth and their land? This interpretation is proposed in a comment (below) on this post. Wings are spoken of as a covering, and a place of safety in the O.T. 5) How did Boaz treat Ruth when he saw she was gleaning behind the harvesters? 13) What was the name of Obed's grandson (great-grandson of Boaz)? 1. They have a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David and the ancestor of Jesus Christ. So while the wine is indeed flowing freely at this harvest celebration (the book tells us that when Boaz went to sleep, his “heart was merry,” and this was no doubt true of the others), this deep sleep only makes it possible for Ruth to slip in unobserved and enact the symbolic proposal ritual. I hope you’ve found what you were looking for. Ruth was a Moabite woman had come to Israel as the widow of an Israelite man. It seems to have been love at first sight for him, and he ordered his workers to treat Ruth well when she worked in his fields. 10) In the end, which of Ruth's kinsmen redeemed her and Naomi and their land? I’m wondering if you know where these words come from in Hebrew culture? A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons." I’ve encountered it before, and that’s why in my study guide to Joshua-Judges-Ruth I explain that “by lying down next to Boaz at night,” Ruth is only “symbolically proposing marriage to him,” and that “all of this is done honorably, within the customs of this culture.”. 31. Let me now address another claim that is made in favor of a sexual interpretation of this episode. What is a levirate marriage? Israelite law allowed a near kinsman to purchase the land so that parcels would remain in the same family. And although the events and the actions and the details seem distinctly strange to our twenty-first century way of thinking, nevertheless, here God providentially overrules all of this for the well-being of his people. What are your thoughts about this? In the next several posts I’ll respond to this interpretation by addressing the various claims it’s based on. To give another example, David’s promise to Bathsheba about who will succeed him is also spoken in poetry, and it’s quoted several times at crucial points in the succession narrative: Solomon your son shall reign after me, Boaz responded favorably, but he knew of an even closer male relative who would be first in line to redeem Ruth … How long did Ruth glean from Boaz's fields? A better understanding of Hebrew idiom and Israelite customs shows that Ruth is not having sexual relations with Boaz when she “uncovers his feet.”  I’ll continue to address the claims that are made in support of a sexual interpretation of this passage in the book of Ruth in my next post. Ruth 4:13,17 (WEB), "Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David." 2 Ruth meets Boaz. Boaz speaks of a “kindness” that Ruth has done by showing attention to him rather than “running after the younger men.”  It is sometimes argued that he is referring to a sexual favor that Ruth has just granted. . How old was Jesus at his presentation at the temple? I have two questions for your, a little more in depth. Let me begin in this post with the claim that the statement that Ruth “uncovered his feet” is a euphemism meaning that she had sexual relations with Boaz. 12) Boaz and Ruth had a son, whose name was ____? The interpretation you describe, that Ruth seduced Boaz, has been making the rounds for years. Her words are loving, kind and respectful, both to Naomi and to Boaz. Darkness, light, and water in the Genesis creation account. According to Jewish tradition, laying at the feet at a man, was a way of asking … Ruth is both a professor (“your God will be my God” 1:16) and possessor who returned to Bethlehem with Naomi (1:19). The passage also says that some significant time later (“in the middle of the night”), Boaz woke up and discovered Ruth “lying at his feet.”  This clearly refers to a location, and it suggests strongly that “feet” means literally feet throughout the passage. Question: "Why did the first kinsman redeemer refuse to marry Ruth?" (Part 2), Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? Why is it so difficult to reconcile the mind and heart regarding faith in Jesus Christ? Ruth “uncovered” Boaz’s feet, pulling back his garment, specifically so that she then could ask him to “spread his garment” over her, meaning to assume the responsibility for her care, as her husband. Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions to the letter. Why did the first kinsman redeemer refuse to marry Ruth? So the commandment in the law of Moses for a close relative to marry a widow, even if he was already married himself, was a compassionate provision for her needs and those of her current and future children and dependents. Ruth is also a type of the Gentile Bride of Christ. or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, © 2020 Hope From The Bible | Header designed by. Before Tristan and Isolde, before Romeo and Juliet, and even before Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth of Pride and Prejudice, there were Boaz and Ruth.Their love story, dating from approximately 1000 BC, is still powerfully relevant in the twenty-first century. "She answered, 'I am Ruth your handmaid. Ruth and Boaz: The Story of the Kinsman-Redeemer. Ruth 1:1 (WEB), "Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons... Mahlon and Chilion both died." 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. 7) Where did Ruth go to tell Boaz that he was her kinsman redeemer? (Part 3), on Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? God is providentially looking out for them and arranging circumstances for their blessing unseen to them. The book of Ruth ominously warns us of the dangers an unprotected young woman faced during the period of the judges, but it also introduces Boaz as a God-fearing man who respects and protects women. BARLEY BETHLEHEM BOAZ ELIMELECH FIELDS FOOD GRAIN HARVEST MARRY MOAB NAOMI RUTH. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Ruth 2:3 (WEB). (Part 1). Scholars are divided over this question. How long did the baby Jesus stay in the manger in the stable? He says, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.”. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced the heartache of losing a spouse and having no one left to carry on their family line. For more fun Bible quizzes like this, visit www.HopeFromTheBible.com/bible-quizzes. See also Ruth 2:8-9. Here goes: 1) Having translated the book of Ruth, I’m curious about the poetic lines that Ruth recites to Naomi when she makes her pledge in chapter 2. If anything, she’s making other values and commitments a priority as she approaches a new marriage. A Study of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. Ruth 4:22 (WEB). There are over 400 other posts here, on a wide range of biblical topics. (Part 2), on Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? on Did Boaz already have another wife when he married Ruth? This is in keeping with his characterization in the book as a godly and honorable protector, and so it is quite unfair to him to assert that he took advantage of Ruth when no one was looking. on Why does Ruth speak in poetry when she pledges loyalty to Naomi? What did Jesus mean by "night is coming, when no one can work"? on Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? How old was Joseph when he married and when he died? But we should not expect this of Boaz’s threshing floor. But since this interpretation, as I said in my first post, reflects an inadequate understanding of Hebrew vocabulary and idiom, of the thematic development of the book of Ruth, and of ancient Israelite customs, I think it’s important to set the record straight. It’s significant, for one thing, that Naomi tells Ruth to “uncover his feet and lie down,” and that the narrator then reports that she “uncovered his feet and lay down.”  If this really were a euphemism for sexual relations, she would instead lie down first and then “uncover his feet.”. Question: "Why did Ruth and Orpah make different decisions?" Perhaps you were brought here by a search engine or by a link to one of the posts. and your God my God; where you die I will die, She had returned with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had also lost her husband. These small group studies of Ruth contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, teaching points, and applications. Answer: In Ruth 3:4, Naomi encouraged Ruth to go to Boaz at night, saying, “When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. And since readers are expected to understand as well, this conversation must have been recorded in the book. A second argument I’ve heard in favor of a sexual interpretation of the threshing floor episode is that Ruth was in desperate circumstances but powerless, so we can’t blame her for using sex, the only tool at her disposal, to ensure her survival. [Some questions on the text are here.] Having translated the book of Ruth, I’m curious about the poetic lines that Ruth recites to Naomi when she makes her pledge in chapter 2. We need to appreciate that in this culture, women were dependent on male relatives for provision and protection. Why do Matthew and Luke seem to disagree about the circumstances of Jesus' birth? Accuracy: A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group. But Boaz is a ‘man of standing’ who’s in an adequate position to help out financially in this way.”, This explains why Boaz is the right husband for Ruth. "[Ruth] said to him, 'Why have I found favor in your sight...?'" I’ve heard the interpretation that she seduced him in order to get him to marry her. He could reject her, spurn her, spit upon her, or he could take her and receive her. If we argue instead that out of desperation she adopted expedients and compromised herself–but, we hasten to add, “we understand, because of her situation”–we are condescending to a woman whose trust in God may well be greater than our own. Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? If he did have another wife, which is possible (although again, not mentioned in the book, so we should not assume it), this would raise the further question of polygamy. Why does Ruth speak in poetry when she pledges loyalty to Naomi? Some might argue that this passage in Ezekiel is a “smoking gun” that proves the expression “spread the corner of one’s garment,” for its part, is a euphemism for sexual activity:  “When I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body.”  But we need to understand this statement in the context of Ezekiel’s parable, in which the woman is represented as naked because she was abandoned as a baby and has never been cared for or provided for. And also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her” (Ruth 2:15, 16). and you became mine.”. Every man to his tent, Israel! In the ancient oral culture, this would make the saying memorable and repeatable (kind of like an advertizing slogan today). In my first post in response to this question, I answered the claim most commonly advanced in support of this… So Ruth “set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Examples like these show that poetry was used for important pronouncements in Hebrew narrative, probably reflecting the actual customs of the culture. The hope is that, as the law intends, a goel (family guardian) will ‘redeem’ this property, buying it from Naomi, but also on her behalf, so that she has both the money from the sale and the field’s produce year by year. Title: Ruth and Boaz Word Search Created Date: It follows the life of Naomi and Ruth as they struggle through difficult trials. The fact is that by this point in the book, Ruth is no longer desperate. Ruth 3:11-12 (WEB), "[Boaz] took ten men of the elders of the city..." Ruth 4:2 (WEB). What were some advantages, besides the food, they all received from the extended gleaning? The other family guardian is initially willing to make this sacrifice. This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi) In the Bible,the story of Ruth and Boaz can be found on the book of Ruth.Ruth, a Moabite woman, was married to an Israelite man named Elimelech who was sojourning with his parents in the land of Moab.Unfortunately the man, his brother, and father died in the land of Moab. She should lay down at the feet of Boaz. Bible like in the Psalms. This, Boaz recognizes, is a “greater kindness,” an even more significant personal sacrifice than the one she’s already made by leaving her homeland. As I explain in my Joshua-Judges-Ruth study guide: “To get enough money to live on, Naomi is selling the portion of the fields around Bethlehem that belonged to her late husband Elimelek. The precise age difference between Boaz and Ruth is unknown. Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? Any insight on this? It was still a tribal community. You may want to look for further items of interest by using the resources below: the search bar; the lists of posts; and the list of categories. To respond to this second question of yours, you’re right, Ruth’s words to Naomi really do stand out as Hebrew poetry, in parallel couplets. 8) How did Boaz respond to the request for him to fulfill his role as kinsman redeemer? Ruth 3:9 (WEB), "[Ruth] went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her." How long did the baby Jesus stay in the manger in the stable? In my next post I’ll consider some further claims that are made in support of a sexual interpretation of the threshing floor episode in the book of Ruth. So Ruth is not using sex to catch a new husband. The two women were destitute when they arrived back in Bethlehem, but now, after the barley and wheat harvests, they have plenty of food to make it through the winter. Thank you for visiting my blog Good Question. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your Boaz was a landowner where Ruth … The bible does offer some clues to determine that Boaz was a bit older than Ruth as seen here in verse 10, referring to Ruth not going after young men: Ruth 3:9 He said, “Who are you?”. Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I." I’m wondering if you know where these words come from in Hebrew culture? Did God cause or permit Absalom to have sexual relations with David’s concubines? Seven Questions About the Story of Ruth. So the commandment in the law of Moses for a close relative to marry a widow, even if he was already married himself, was a compassionate provision for her needs and those of her current and future children and dependents. “To get enough money to live on, Naomi is selling the portion of the fields around Bethlehem that belonged to her late husband Elimelek. Bible references taken from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain. What does it mean to say that Jesus is the Messiah? He will tell you what to do.”. Ruth 3:1-14 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? (Part 3), Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? The story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz in the book of Ruth in the Bible teaches us that God loves to bless his people. 30. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. Who was Ruth in the Bible? The specific incest laws that follow use this same idiom. He took off his shoe." This is the part of the book of Ruth where Naomi devises a plan for Ruth’s future, and Ruth and Boaz go along with it. He later assures Ruth that he’s ordered his men not to lay a hand on her. Ruth 1:3,5 (WEB), "Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her... Ruth said, 'Don’t entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go…'" Ruth 1:14,16 (WEB), "[Ruth] went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." If this is not a marriage proposal I do not know what you would call it. Ruth and Boaz Word Search Find the words on the list that are hidden in the puzzle. Can Christians kneel at an elder’s grave or celebrate Halloween? But whether or not “feet” is ever used in Hebrew as a euphemism this way, we need to understand the meaning of term in this passage in Ruth based on the context there. I've heard the interpretation that she seduced him in order to get him to marry her. But this also means that as young widow, Ruth is sacrificing the opportunity for a new love match with a man closer to her own age. When they first meet, Boaz explains why he is showing her such favor. 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