Ruth 2: Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz
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Verses 1 - 7: Boaz first learns of Ruth

Verse 1: Who was Boaz? Boaz's name means: "fleetness; a swift runner."
1. A man of Bethlehem.
2. A man of wealth and influence: an important landowner. According to tradition, Boaz's field was next to the "Shepherd's Field" (about a mile from Bethlehem) where the angels announced (1250 years later) to the shepherds the good news of Jesus' birth.
3. Kinsman of Naomi's husband Elimelech.
4. Son of Salmon and Rahab the harlot. (See Matthew 1: 5.)
5. King David's grandfather and in the direct line that produced the Messiah. (As shown in Matthew 1 and Luke 3.)
6. He was an older man (40's, 50's??). (See Ruth 3:10.)
7: He was a keeper of the Law. A good observant Jew.

Verse 2: What was gleaning? (See Leviticus 19: 9, 10 and esp. Deuteronomy 24: 19 - 22.) What does this tell us about Naomi and Ruth's economic condition?

Verse 5: After coming in from Bethlehem, Boaz asks about Ruth: whose damsel is this? Damsel is from the Hebrew na-ah-rah, which means a girl between the age of infancy to late adolescence. Obviously, Ruth was a very young woman, who could be mistaken for an older girl. What does Boaz's presence tell us about him?

Verse 6, 7: The chief of the reapers tells Boaz that the girl is Ruth who came with Naomi from Moab. He also tells him why she is there and tells of her industriousness. "She has worked from dawn until now with but a little rest."



Verses 8 - 13: Boaz meets Ruth and makes a generous offer.

Verse 8: Boaz here calls Ruth "daughter," which is from the Hebrew bath, which can be any female relative except sister who is younger than you. We see this word in names like Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) and Bathrabbim (daughter of many).

Verse 9: Boaz places Ruth under his protection. Why? (His reasons.)

Verse 10: Ruth wonders at his kindness. "I am a stranger." This word stranger can have many different meanings, such as "not a relative," a "foreigner," or "someone you do not know." Ruth has no idea that Naomi is a near relation of Boaz, and he does not inform her of the relationship. Another thing is apparent: Naomi's idea to be known as Mara is never realized. (Remember from chapter 1?)

Verses 11, 12: Boaz knows of Ruth's reputation, and how she cared for Naomi who was his kinsman. He says that God will reward her for her great actions, and that she is already under God's protection. What does this tell us about Ruth's spiritual life?

Verse 13: Ruth thanks Boaz for his kindness. If there is one attribute that Boaz is remembered for, it is his kindness. A man's greatness can be measured by his kindness to those less fortunate than he.



Verse 14 - 16: Boaz breaks bread with Ruth and instructs his servants about her.

Verse 14: Boaz invites Ruth to dip her morsel in his vinegar. A sign of complete acceptance. This signified to all observing that she was a close friend or relative of Boaz's. The word used here for vinegar is the Hebrew chomets which means wine which has turned to vinegar (non-alcoholic). The Hebrew words for wine are yayin (fermented), tirosh (unfermented grape juice), and asees (fresh grape juice). This makes sense, as this was clearly the midday meal, and it would not do to let the workers get drunk or sleepy before the whole day's work was done.

Also we should realize that the ancient Israelites never grew corn as we know it. They grew barley, rye, oats, and wheat. This was the first harvest (the barley harvest) so they ate roasted barley, NOT corn on the cob.

Verse 15, 16: Boaz tells his workers that Ruth may pick from the full sheaves, not just the leftovers from the harvest. He also suggested that they pull stalks of grain out of the bundles and leave them for her to pick up.



Verse 17 - 23: Ruth has a prosperous day in the fields.

Verse 17: When Ruth beats out the barley, she had gathered about an ephah. An ephah was somewhere between 4½ and 8½ gallons (½ to 1 bushel). Enough to sustain two people for several days. Commonly the gleaners gathered hardly more than would suffice for a single day.

Verses 18, 19: Naomi is impressed with Ruth's big haul. She realized someone must have helped Ruth.

Verses 20 - 22: Naomi tells Ruth who Boaz is and tells her it is good that he is looking out for her, lest "they meet thee . . . in any other field." IE: so strange men do not molest her. An obvious reference to the violence of the times, especially rape or murder at the hands of infidels.

Verse 23: Ruth continues to glean from Boaz's field through the barley and wheat harvests. But she continued to live with Naomi.

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