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The Book of Ruth, Chapter Three <>< <>< ><> ><> 1. What did Naomi ask her daughter-in-law Ruth one day, wanting to know if he was a kinsman of theirs, whom did Naomi ask Ruth about, what did Naomi say Boaz would be doing that night, what did she tell Ruth to do, what did Ruth say to Naomi, what did Boaz do after he had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, what did Ruth do at that time, what happened in the middle of the night, and what was Ruth's reply when Boaz ask who she was?
______________________________________________________________________________ As widows, Ruth and Naomi could only look forward to difficult times. But when Naomi heard the news about Boaz, her hope for the future was renewed. Typical of her character, she thought first of Ruth, encouraging her to see if Boaz would take the responsibility of being a "kinsman-redeemer" to her. <>< <>< ><> ><> ORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers." <>< <>< ><> ><> A kinsman-redeemer was a relative who volunteered to take responsibility for the extended family. When a woman's husband died, the law provided that she could marry a brother of her dead husband. <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> But Naomi had no more sons. In such a case, the nearest relative
to the deceased husband could become a kinsman-redeemer and marry the widow. The
nearest relative did not have to marry the widow. If he chose not to, the next
nearest relative could take his place. If no one chose to help the widow, she
would probably live in poverty the rest of her life because in Israelite culture
the inheritance was passed on to the son or nearest male relative, not to the
wife. To take the sting out of these inheritance rules, there were laws for
gleaning and kinsman-redeemers. <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> The threshing floor was the place where the grain was separated
from the harvested wheat. The wheat stalks were crushed, either by hand or by
wheat stalks were crushed, either by hand or by oxen, and the valuable grain
(inner kernels) separated from the worthless chaff (the outside shell). The
floor was made from rock or soil and located outside the village, usually on an
elevated site where the winds would blow away the lighter chaff when the crushed
wheat was thrown into the air (or winnowed). Boaz spent the night beside the
threshing floor for two reasons: (1) to prevent theft and (2) to wait for his
turn to thresh grain. (Threshing was often done at night because daylight hours
were spent harvesting.) 2. What did Boaz say Ruth had shown him, what did he say she had not ran after, what did he tell her not to be, what did he say he would do for her, and what did he say all the townsmen knew?
______________________________________________________________________________ Boaz was flattered by Ruth's kindness in seeking him out. If
there had been doubt earlier about his age, it is now clear that Boaz was much
older than Ruth. It pleased him that she turned trustingly to him rather than to
a younger man, "whether rich or poor." It is increasingly clear that Boaz
interpreted Ruth's bold actions as a request for marriage. (NIV
Commentary - Zondervan) <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> He assured her that all would know there was nothing wrong in the fact that Ruth had come to him with the request to marry him. (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) 3. Whom did Boaz say was nearer than him although it was true that he was near of kin, what did he tell Ruth to do for the night, what did he say would happen in the morning, and what did he say he would do if the kinsman-redeemer was not willing?
______________________________________________________________________________ Ruth and Naomi must have assumed that Boaz was their closest
relative. Boaz, too, must have already considered marrying Ruth because his
answer to her shows he had been thinking about it. He couldn't have considered
marrying Naomi because she was probably too old to bear any more children. One
man in the city was a nearer relative than Boaz, and this man had the first
right to take Ruth as his wife. If he chose not to, then Boaz could marry Ruth. 4. How long did Ruth lay at Boaz's feet, what did Boaz say it should not be known, why did he tell her to bring him the shawl she was wearing, and where did he go?
______________________________________________________________________________ Ruth remained at Boaz's feet till morning but arose to leave before daybreak with Boaz's encouragement, lest it be known that "a woman" had spent the night there. Town gossips would put the worst construction on the incident, thereby destroying Ruth's reputation and perhaps his own. But before Boaz allowed her to leave, he asked Ruth to hold out the "shawl" she was wearing. He filled it with six "measures" of barley. Then she returned to the city. 5. What did Naomi ask Ruth when she came to her mother-in-law, and what did Ruth tell Naomi?
______________________________________________________________________________ Ruth told her mother-in-law all that had happened. She pointed to the barley Boaz had given her and repeated his admonition, "Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed" (her "empty" days were about to end; cross-reference 1:21). These are the last recorded words of Ruth in the book. (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) 6. What did Naomi say to Ruth?
______________________________________________________________________________ Naomi implied that Boaz would follow through with his promise at once. He obviously had a reputation for keeping his word and would not rest until his task was completed. Such reliable people stand out in any age and culture. Do others regard you as one who will do what you say? Keeping your word and following through on assignments should be high on anyone's priority list. Building a reputation for integrity, however, must be done one brick, one act, at a time. <>< <>< ><> ><> 1. "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where
you will be well provided for?..."...Boaz, with whose servant girls she had
been...winnowing barley on the threshing floor...to wash and perfume herself,
and put on her best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but not to let
him know she was there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies
down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie
down. He will tell her what to do..."I will do whatever you say."...he went over
to lie down at the far end of the grain pile...she approached quietly, uncovered
his feet and lay down...something startled Boaz, and he turned and discovered a
woman lying at his feet..."I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner
of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer." 4. Until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized...that a woman came to the threshing floor...he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her...back to town 5. How did it go, my daughter"...everything Boaz had done for her and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.' " 6. "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." <>< <>< ><> ><> |