2:1
Boaz was a relative of Elimelech, so he could be a family redeemer for the widows Ruth and Naomi (see study note on Judges2:20).
Study notes
Ruth 2
2:1–23 Section
Before Naomi’s family went to Moab, her husband had owned land. But now Naomi no longer owned it. She and Ruth had no way to grow food to eat.
Ruth was willing to work hard to gather food for them to eat. This showed how kind and committed she was to Naomi.
Ruth gathered barley in the fields of a successful farmer named Boaz. He was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah who lived in Bethlehem. Successful farmers were to allow needy people to gather food from their fields.
The Law of Moses talked about this practice in Leviticus 19:9–10 and Deuteronomy 24:19–22. Ruth was surprised at how kind Boaz was to her. Since Moses’ time, people from Moab weren’t allowed to fully be a part of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3–6). This was because the Moabites had caused problems for the Israelites. They did that when the Israelites were travelling from Egypt to Canaan.
But Boaz recognised that Ruth was fully committed to the Lord. He understood that Ruth trusted God to take care of her.
Naomi realised that the farmer who was kind to Ruth was one of their family protectors. This was very good news for Naomi. It changed the way she talked about God. She no longer talked about God as the one making her suffer. Naomi recognised that God was showing faithful love and kindness to her.
2:2
glean heads of grain: Harvesters were to leave some grain for the poor to gather (see Leviticus 19:9–10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19–22). God ensured the poor had food.
2:3
she happened to come to: Ruth chose a field seemingly at random to gather leftover grain. God uses ordinary choices to help those who trust him.
2:5
Boaz saw Ruth as a young woman suitable for marriage (Hebrew na‘arah).
2:7
in the shelter: Many farmers in Israel's hill country built shelters next to their fields for the harvest. Workers used these shelters for shade during lunch or other breaks in the long, hard workday. You can still see these shelters in parts of the hill country.
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 they took the sheaves to the threshing floor.
I have ordered the young men not to touch you: 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 there before the proper time for gleaners.
go and drink from the jars: Boaz’s generosity saved Ruth the trouble of drawing her own water.
2:13
your maidservant: By using this term, Ruth showed she was lower in status than Boaz’s servants.
2:14
Boaz showed great hospitality by sharing his meal with Ruth, going above and beyond what was expected.
2:15–16
Boaz's instructions to his workers after lunch made Ruth's gleaning much more productive. Boaz gave Ruth more than the gleaning law required.
2:18
Ruth was careful and generous when she gave Naomi the leftover roasted grain.
2:19
glean: Ruth usually could not gather as much as an ephah of barley, which is about two-thirds of a bushel.
2:20
kinsman-redeemers (Hebrew go’el): The law required the go’el, the closest male relative, to assist a family member facing financial difficulties (see “The Family Redeemer” Theme Note; see also study note on Leviticus 25:25).
2:21
Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources