RUTH LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in Ruth 3:1 "Then Naomi her mother in
law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that
it may be well with thee?"

     Naomi had great love for Ruth. She had worked hard to furnish a
living for herself and Naomi. Ruth's mother-in-law wanted to see Ruth
do well. She probably had seen Ruth and Boaz together from time to
time on a friendship basis. She, probably also, knew that they cared
for each other.

     Ruth 3:2 "And now [is] not Boaz of our kindred, with whose
maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the
threshingfloor."

     Naomi knows that Boaz will be at the threshingfloor, because that
is what they do at end of harvest. Boaz is their near-kinsman. Ruth's
husband had died without having a child. The law of their land was
that the brother would marry the wife, and give the first child the
name of the dead brother. In this case, the brother is dead, also.
Boaz is the nearest of kin. This is found in Deuteronomy chapter 25
verses 5 and 6. "Winnowing" was when the grain was thrown up in the
air several times to separate it. This removed the chaff from the
grain.  They sometimes remained all night with their grain on the
floor of the threshingfloor.

     Ruth 3:3 "Wash thy self therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy
raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not
thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and
drinking."

     Ruth was to prepare herself by washing and smelling good. She was
to dress attractively, and go down to where Boaz was working. She was
not to interrupt his work by letting him know she was there. She
should wait, out of sight, until all of the workers have eaten and
gone to their respective homes for the night.

     Ruth 3:4 "And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt
mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover
his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt
do."

     This seems that Naomi has figured out a way to trap Boaz into
marrying Ruth. I think Naomi has realized, during these months that
Boaz has known Ruth, that they love each other. This particular
marking of the spot where he lay, and also, Ruth uncovering his feet
has to do with him being her near-kinsman redeemer. She is making it
clear to him that she wants to marry him. Boaz was, possibly, a bit
shy in making his feelings about Ruth known, so Naomi has figured out
a way for Ruth to show her feelings for Boaz. Boaz can accept her, or
reject her, as she lies down beside him. In their customs, it was not
out of line for Ruth to expect him to become her husband. He is the
nearest kin of her husband. We can assume, from this, that Ruth
already knew the feelings of Boaz, even if he had not expressed those
feelings in words. It will, now, be up to Boaz to tell her to go, or
stay.

     Ruth 3:5 "And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I
will do."

     Ruth follows the advice of Naomi.

     Ruth 3:6  "And she went down unto the floor, and did according to
all that her mother in law bade her."

     Ruth, probably, was not as familiar with the law of the near-
kinsman redeemer as Naomi was. She followed Naomi's instructions
exactly.

     Ruth 3:7 "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was
merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she
came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down."

     It appears that, after he had eaten and drunk he was tired and
lay down to rest. He, probably, went to sleep. It appears that, while
he slept peacefully, Ruth slipped in. She uncovered his feet and lay
down beside him.

     Ruth 3:8  "And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was
afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet."

     When Boaz lay down, there was no one at his feet. He was
startled, when he realized someone had lain down at his feet. He
realizes it is a woman. He would have been even more frightened, if
this had not been Ruth.

     Ruth 3:9 "And he said, Who [art] thou? And she answered, I [am]
Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid;
for thou [art] a near kinsman."

     In the dark, he could not see who this was, so he asked? What a
pleasant surprise for him, when he discovers this is Ruth. She is at
his feet, because she feels she is his handmaiden. He still can accept
her, or reject, her at his time. "The spreading of his skirt over her"
would show he had accepted his duty as her near-kinsman. He would be
her protector as her husband.

     Ruth 3:10 "And he said, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD, my
daughter: [for] thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than
at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether
poor or rich."

     He had observed that Ruth was not a loose woman. She had not
sought a husband of the young men, whether rich or poor. He had great
admiration, as well as love, for Ruth. He is saying that, the blessing
that came upon him by her choosing him, was the greatest of the
kindness she had shown. He was very pleased.

     Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all
that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou
[art] a virtuous woman."

     Everyone was aware of the fact that Ruth was a virtuous woman.
Ruth would have been a wonderful wife for anyone, because of her
strength of character. Boaz is willing to accept her as his wife.

     Ruth 3:12 "And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman:
howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I."

     This is certainly not what Ruth wanted to hear. She wanted Boaz
to be her husband. There is someone closer related than Boaz, however.

     Ruth 3:13 "Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning,
[that] if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let
him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman
to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, [as] the LORD
liveth: lie down until the morning."

     Boaz and Ruth loved each other, and they wanted to marry. They
had to live by the law God had given, though. She spent the night with
him, but did not become his wife that night. They would wait for the
answer from the other near-kinsman.

     Ruth 3:14  "And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she
rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be
known that a woman came into the floor."

     She must leave early to keep her good name. No one was to know
she spent the night at his feet on the threshing-floor. They each
wanted to protect the honor of the other.

     Ruth 3:15 "Also he said, Bring the veil that [thou hast] upon
thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six [measures] of
barley, and laid [it] on her: and she went into the city."

     The veil, here, was more like an apron than a face covering.
Regardless of what it was, he filled it with barley for her to take
back with her. The amount of barley was all she could conveniently
carry.

     Ruth 3:16 "And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who
[art] thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to
her."

     Naomi asked her if she was now Boaz's wife? Ruth really did not
know how to answer this, except to tell her exactly what happened.

     Ruth 3:17 "And she said, These six [measures] of barley gave he
me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law."

     She had brought back all the barley she could carry, to show
Naomi of his good intentions. Ruth had, probably, told Boaz of Naomi
encouraging her to do this thing. He wanted to show appreciation to
Naomi, also. Naomi had approved of the  possibility of Ruth being his
wife.

     Ruth 3:18 "Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know
how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he
have finished the thing this day."

     Naomi knows that Boaz will get this settled as quickly as
possible, because he wants to marry Ruth. Ruth is undoubtedly a little
concerned, because she wanted Boaz for a husband, not the other near-
kinsman. Naomi feels in her heart that this will work out for Ruth and
Boaz. She knows they love each other. She, also, knows that God
blesses those who keeps his commandments. Boaz had already proved he
was a godly man.





































                          Ruth 3 Questions


1.  Naomi had great love for _________.
2.  She tells Ruth that Boaz is their __________.
3.  Where would Boaz be that night?
4.  What was the law of their land about a near kinsman?
5.  What is "winnowing"?
6.  What did Naomi tell Ruth to do to herself, before she goes to
    Boaz?
7.  Why was she not to go in, until he had finished eating and
    drinking?
8.  After Boaz went to sleep, what was Ruth to do?
9.  Why is Naomi trying to get Boaz to marry Ruth?
10. How does Ruth answer these suggestions of Naomi?
11. When Boaz went to sleep, what did Ruth do?
12. When did Boaz wake up?
13. What did he realize, when he woke up?
14. What question did Boaz ask the woman at his feet?
15. What would "the spreading of his skirt over her" show?
16. What had Boaz noticed about Ruth's character?
17. He called her a __________ woman.
18. How did he feel about Ruth choosing him?
19. What bad news does Boaz give her in verse 12?
20. What does Boaz ask Ruth to do?
21. Is Boaz willing to marry Ruth?
22. Why did she rise very early in the morning?
23. What did Boaz give her to take with her?
24. What did Naomi ask Ruth, when she saw her?
25. What did this question mean?
26. How did Ruth answer her?
27. What was the gift of barley for?
28. What did Naomi tell Ruth to do about the situation?
29. Why is Ruth concerned?
30. Why does Naomi believe this will work out for Ruth and Boaz to
    marry?