Last week we left Naomi with a plan forming in her mind ... will she implement her plan or abandon it all together? Let's find out ...
Ruth 2:18 - 3:18
Upon hearing how Ruth’s day of gleaning had gone Naomi urged Ruth to do as Boaz had said for her own safety and possibly for another reason. Naomi also informed Ruth that Boaz was one of their relatives, one of their closest relatives. This is an important fact that Naomi uses in Ruth’s favor a little later. Naomi is clearly forming a plan for Ruth’s future.
Ruth 3:1 … “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you; that it may be well with you.”
Ruth 3:3-4 … 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
By the end of barley season Naomi, knowing the customs and law regarding marriage among God’s people (Deuteronomy 25:5), seizes the opportunity to secure Ruth’s future. She tells Ruth to make herself up, put on her best dress and go down to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley along with others.
Deuteronomy 25:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB) ... 5 “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.
She instructs Ruth not to make herself known until Boaz finished eating and drinking and had gone to bed. Once he had lain down Ruth was to quietly slip in, uncover his feet and then lie down at his feet.
Ruth did as Naomi said and in the middle of the night when Boaz awakened startled to find a woman lying at his feet, he inquired who she was.
Verses 9 – 15 gives us Ruth’s and Boaz’s conversation:
Ruth 3:9-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) ... 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.” 10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. 12 Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
The next morning when Ruth returned home to Naomi, Naomi inquired how it all went. Surely, Naomi had spent a restless night wondering if she had done the right thing in making such a bold move on Ruth’s behalf. Surely, she was anxiously awaiting Ruth’s account of the night.
Questions:
1. What
is Naomi’s plan for Ruth’s future?
2. In Ruth 3:3-4, Naomi gives Ruth a series of commands: “wash … anoint … put on … go down … do not make yourself known … notice … go … uncover … lie down.” It seems that Naomi’s reasons for these instructions might be that she is telling Ruth it’s time to lay aside her period of mourning after her late husband’s passing. It might also be that Naomi was preparing Ruth to give the signal to Boaz that she was ready to lay aside her widow’s garments and that she was available.
Under line the words “wash … anoint … put on … go down … do not make yourself known … notice … go … uncover … lie down” in the Scripture below.
Ruth 3:3-4 .... 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
3. From another perspective Naomi, a native Israelite, could have been instructing Ruth, a foreign Moabitess, on proper procedures in their land. It seems that Naomi has definitely taken charge of the situation. Do you think she had any doubts about what she was doing?
4. Boaz was quite a bit older than Ruth so it was possibly important to Naomi that Boaz realize Ruth would be interested in becoming his wife. It seems that Naomi’s plan was to plant the idea of marriage between Boaz and Ruth in Boaz’s mind. Was she successful?
5. Mostly likely the first thing out of Naomi’s mouth the next
morning when Ruth returned home was something along the lines of ‘how did it
go?’
How did it go?
Next week, all Naomi and Ruth can do is wait!
Until then!
patsy @ From This Heart of Mine
~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~
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