Ruth 2

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

2:1 Boaz was a relative of . . . Elimelech and thus was qualified to be a family redeemer for the two widows, Ruth and Naomi (see study note on 2:20).

Verse 2

2:2 to pick up the stalks of grain left behind: Harvesters were to leave some grain for the poor to glean (see Lev 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut 24:19-22). God provided the poor with food.

Verse 3

2:3 as it happened, she found herself: Ruth seemingly selected at random the field in which she would glean; God works through ordinary choices to provide for those who trust him.

Verse 5

2:5 Boaz recognized Ruth as a marriageable young woman (Hebrew na‘arah).

Verse 7

2:7 in the shelter: Many farmers in Israel’s hill country erected shelters beside their fields for use during the harvest. Workers used these shelters for shade during lunch or other break times during the long, hard workday. Such shelters can still be seen in parts of the hill country.

Verse 8

2:8-9 Boaz gave Ruth the special privilege of gleaning right behind the young women. After the men cut the grain and tied it in small bundles, the women gathered the bundles into larger sheaves. The Torah did not require farmers to allow gleaners into the fields until the sheaves had been taken to the threshing floor. • I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly: Boaz assured Ruth that no one under his authority would taunt her or try to drive her away from his fields even though she was present before the proper time for gleaners to come in. • help yourself to the water: Boaz’s generosity saved Ruth the trouble of drawing her own water.

Verse 13

2:13 your workers (literally your maidservants): By her use of this term, Ruth placed herself lower on the social scale than Boaz’s servants.

Verse 14

2:14 By sharing his meal with Ruth, Boaz extended hospitality far beyond the call of duty.

Verse 15

2:15-16 Boaz’s instructions to his reapers as they returned to work after lunch made Ruth’s gleaning a great deal more productive. Boaz provided for Ruth much more than the law of gleaning required of him.

Verse 18

2:18 In giving Naomi the roasted grain that was left over, Ruth was conscientious and generous.

Verse 19

2:19 all this grain: Ruth could not normally have gleaned nearly as much as an ephah of barley (about two-thirds of a bushel).

Verse 20

2:20 family redeemers (Hebrew go’el): The law specified that the go’el, the nearest male kinsman, was to help a relative who fell into economic difficulty (see “The Family Redeemer” Theme Note; see also study note on Lev 25:25).

Verse 21

2:21 The author refers to Ruth as (literally) “Ruth the Moabite” five times (1:22; 2:2, 21; 4:5, 10), reminding us repeatedly that Ruth was not an Israelite.