RUTH LESSON 2


     We will begin this lesson in Ruth 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of
her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and
his name [was] Boaz."

     In the last lesson, we found that Naomi takes her son's wife,
Ruth and returns to Bethlehem. This is a continuation of that. Boaz
was a near kinsman of Elimelech. The name "Boaz" means fleetness, or
to be nimble. It seems to have been a Hebrew name. It seems that, Boaz
was a wealthy man, but was, also, held in high esteem by the people of
Bethlehem, as well.

     Ruth 2:2 "And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go
to the field, and glean ears of corn after [him] in whose sight I
shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

     We remember that, the Hebrews were never to harvest the last of
the crop. They were to leave enough for the widows and orphans to
glean. All the poor had the right, as well as the privilege of
gleaning from the field after they were harvested. This was a
humiliating experience, especially for Naomi, who had been a proud
Hebrew herself.  Perhaps, that is why it is mentioned, again, that
Ruth was a Moabitess. She is a Moabitess by birth, but a Hebrew by
marriage to a Hebrew. In this particular instance, the gleaning seemed
to be of ears of corn.  Ruth is not to concerned about what the
workers feel, but wants to find favor in the owner of the field's
sight. Ruth seeks and receives permission from Naomi to do this.

     Ruth 2:3 "And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after
the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field
[belonging] unto Boaz, who [was] of the kindred of Elimelech."

     "Hap" is speaking of her fortune. She was fortunate that she went
to the field of Boaz to glean. This seems as if this was by chance,
but we know the LORD arranged this circumstance.

     Ruth 2:4  "And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto
the reapers, The LORD [be] with you. And they answered him, The LORD
bless thee."

     The fields were just out of Bethlehem. It seemed that, Boaz lived
in the city, but owned fields, here, where Ruth was gleaning. Just by
his greeting, we know that Boaz was a man of God. He was not cruel to
his workers. They seemed to have a respect for him, as well. They
answered him "The LORD bless thee". This was an ideal relationship
between the owner of the land and his workers.

     Ruth 2:5 "Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the
reapers, Whose damsel [is] this?"

     Ruth has caught the eye of Boaz. We may safely assume, from this,
that Ruth was beautiful. She did not look like the other paupers in
the field, and this is why he asked who she was. He thought she might
be one of the Hebrews caught on bad times.

     Ruth 2:6 "And the servant that was set over the reapers answered
and said, It [is] the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out
of the country of Moab:"

     Probably, word had gotten to Boaz that Naomi had brought a
beautiful damsel back with her from Moab. Now, Boaz has seen her with
his own eyes. Perhaps, Ruth had told the servant in charge who she
was, He, probably, made it his business to know who was gleaning in
his master's field.

     Ruth 2:7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after
the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even
from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

     We see from this that, she had asked permission to glean. She had
worked diligently all morning gathering food for herself and for
Naomi. It appears, there were little huts {called a house here}, where
they went to rest after gleaning in the fields. It seems, Ruth spent
very little time in this house. She worked diligently.

     Ruth 2:8 "Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my
daughter?  Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence,
but abide here fast by my maidens:"

     It seems that Boaz sought her out and spoke to her. She would not
have been with the other harvesters. She would have been in the rear
picking up what they had left. He had to seek her out specifically.
"My daughter" was usually an expression of an older person for a young
lady. It seems that, Boaz immediately wanted to help this beautiful
maiden, who was related to him by marriage. He tells her to not seek
other places to glean. He wants to help her. She would be very near
the young women, who were harvesting the corn. In fact, she would be
the first to glean. This would be an advantage for her.

     Ruth 2:9 "[Let] thine eyes [be] on the field that they do reap,
and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they
shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels,
and drink of [that] which the young men have drawn."

     It seems that Boaz, has given orders to the young men not to
touch Ruth. She is to drink of the water, they have drawn. She is not
to be treated with disrespect by anyone. She is Boaz's kins-woman. She
is to stay near the women harvesters. It appears that, Boaz has
already taken an interest in Ruth.

     Ruth 2:10 "Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the
ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I [am] a stranger?"

     She humbly says, she does not understand why he has chosen her to
bless. She bows herself before him to show her humbleness. She
realizes that Boaz is showing her special favor. She has never met him
before, so it is difficult for her to understand.

     Ruth 2:11 "And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully
been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since
the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and
thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people
which thou knewest not heretofore."

     Besides her being a very beautiful woman, who caught his eye, he
has great admiration for her attitude toward Naomi. He realizes that
Ruth had given up much to come to this strange land to help her
mother-in-law.

     Ruth 2:12 "The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be
given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come
to trust."

     Boaz is aware, and is telling the beautiful maiden, that God is
with her. He knows that God is blessing Ruth in every way. It appears,
to me, that Boaz has special feelings toward Ruth already. He not only
thinks she is beautiful, but is appreciative of her character, as
well. Boaz speaks a blessing upon her, when he says, "The LORD
recompense thy work". One of the words that could have been
translated, here, for recompense is prosper. It seems that, Ruth has
learned to put her trust in the LORD.

     Ruth 2:13 "Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my
lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken
friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine
handmaidens."

     She thought it was an advantage to be an handmaiden of so kind a
person as Boaz. She wanted to please Boaz. She knew that he had power
to help her and Naomi in their need. She, also, was not assuming that
she would get the same treatment as the Hebrew handmaidens.

     Ruth 2:14 "And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither,
and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat
beside the reapers: and he reached her parched [corn], and she did
eat, and was sufficed, and left."

     This was an invitation to eat with Boaz and the reapers. She
accepted, and ate with them. It seemed, at the meal Boaz passed the
parched corn to her to eat with the bread. She left as soon as the
meal was over. The vinegar, here, is speaking of the sour wine.

     Ruth 2:15 "And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his
young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach
her not:"

     Boaz was making sure that Ruth could get all she needed for
herself and for Naomi. His instructions for her to be allowed to glean
of the sheaves, was the place where there would be more to glean. It
really was instructions, so she would have no problems, regardless of
where she gleaned. He is showing great partiality to Ruth.

     Ruth 2:16 "And let fall also [some] of the handfuls of purpose
for her, and leave [them], that she may glean [them], and rebuke her
not."

     He instructed his harvesters to leave some extra for her to pick
up. Boaz is getting more and more generous to Ruth as the day goes on.
The harvesters are instructed to make sure she has all she can carry.

     Ruth 2:17 "So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out
that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley."

     They beat the grain with a stick, or beat it against a rock to
get the barley out. An Ephah would be 3 pecks of grain. This would
feed these two ladies for a good while. She did not quit, until the
job was done. She was industrious, as well as of good character.

     Ruth 2:18  "And she took [it] up, and went into the city: and her
mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and
gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed."

     It seems, when Ruth had eaten the corn that Boaz had given her,
she saved some back to take to Naomi to eat. She gave that to Naomi,
and brought the ephah of barley, as well.

     Ruth 2:19 "And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou
gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take
knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had
wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day [is]
Boaz."

     The mother-in-law is so pleased with what Ruth has brought back,
she wants to know the details of her gleaning. She is aware that
Ruth was greatly blessed with so much from one day's gleaning. Naomi
would well remember the name of Boaz. He was a close relative of her
husband.

     Ruth 2:20 "And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed [be]
he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and
to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man [is] near of kin unto
us, one of our next kinsmen."

     Naomi speaks the blessing of God upon Boaz. She thinks Boaz has
befriended Ruth in memory of her husband, Elimelech. She is
undoubtedly aware that part of the reason he was so kind, is because
he is struck by the beauty of Ruth. She is not only physically
beautiful, but has inward beauty and manners, as well. This is the
first time that Ruth is aware that Boaz is their near-kinsman.

     Ruth 2:21 "And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also,
Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my
harvest."
     Ruth hides nothing from Naomi. She tells her what Boaz said unto
her. We see that Ruth was very pleased by the kindness Boaz has shown
her. She appreciates him allowing her to come again and glean from the
field, until harvest is over. She is especially pleased of being able
to glean so near the harvesters, until the entire harvest is over. She
will be able to get a great deal of needed food for herself and Naomi.

     Ruth 2:22 "And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, [It is]
good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet
thee not in any other field."

     Naomi realizes what Boaz is trying to do for them and encourages
Ruth to stay and glean in that field, until harvest is completely
over.
Ruth does just as her mother-in-law tells her. Naomi wants her to stay
by the maidens to stay out of danger.

     Ruth 2:23 "So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto
the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her
mother in law."

     Ruth did just as she was instructed of Naomi. The wheat harvest
would extend this harvesting by over a month.  It appears that, Ruth
spent a lot of time in the field of Boaz.  Perhaps, Ruth, Naomi, and
Boaz would all welcome the opportunity of a casual meeting now and
then. Ruth would undoubtedly see him, as he came to inspect the
fields. We are not told of any home visits, but it would have been in
order, since he was a near relative. She lived with Naomi, and gleaned
for both of them.

























                          Ruth 2 Questions


1.  Who was the wealthy kinsman of Naomi's husband?
2.  What does "Boaz" mean?
3.  What did Ruth say to Naomi, that she wanted to do to get them
    something to eat?
4.  What is Ruth called in verse 2?
5.  What was gleaning?
6.  Who was allowed to glean?
7.  Ruth was a Moabitess by _________, but a Hebrew by _________.
8.  Who does Ruth want to find favor with?
9.  What is "hap", in verse 3, speaking of?
10. Boaz came from _____________.
11. How did he greet his workers?
12. What did Boaz ask the servant that was over the reapers?
13. What can we safely assume about Ruth?
14. How did the servant answer Boaz?
15. She had asked permission to ________.
16. What does Boaz call Ruth in verse 8?
17. What does he tell her to do?
18. What instructions does Boaz give the young men about Ruth?
19. Who is Ruth to stay near?
20. What humble statement does Ruth make in verse 10?
21. What has been told Boaz, that makes him admire Ruth?
22. What blessing does Boaz speak on Ruth?
23. What did Boaz invite her to eat with him?
24. What special favor did Boaz tell his young men to show Ruth?
25. How long did she glean in the field that day?
26. How much barley did she get?
27. What special thing had Ruth saved for Naomi?
28. What questions did Naomi ask Ruth about her gleaning?
29. When does Ruth become aware that Boaz is their near-kinsman?
30. What does Naomi tell Ruth to do?
31. How long did Ruth glean from Boaz's fields?
32. What were some advantages, besides the food, they all received
    from the extended gleaning?
33. She lived with _________.