Ruth 3:1-9 NLT
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
3:1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”,br>5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”
Examine the Scriptures
Ruth 3:1-9 NLT
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
3:1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for.
Note the positive relationship between Naomi and Ruth.
Ruth has been looking out for Naomi, by working in Boaz’s fields.
Now Naomi takes the initiative, looking out for Ruth.
Naomi recognized the need to plan for the future.
- Naomi feels responsible, just as she did in chapter 1 verse 9, for Ruth’s future husband and home.
Ruth 1:9 NLT
9 “May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.”
It was customary for Hebrew parents to arrange marriages for their children.
2 Boaz is a close relative of ours,
Ruth 2:20 NLT
20 “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.”
- Boaz met the criteria for being a family redeemer for Naomi and Ruth.
and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women.
Boaz had been very kind and generous to Ruth.
Boaz was treating Ruth like a daughter.
Ruth 2:8 NLT
8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter.”
- Boaz was treating Ruth like a daughter.
What has Boaz not done?
As a contemporary of Elimelech and Naomi, Boaz is a generation older than Ruth.
- Boaz had not done anything to initiate marrying Ruth.
Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.
After the harvest, the grain is separated from the straw. This was followed by winnowing the grain. Winnowing is the process of tossing the grain into the air to finish separating the grain from the chaff. This process usually took place in late afternoon when the Mediterranean winds prevailed. The work would have carried over past dark.
Boaz would be sleeping near the grain to protect it.
3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes.
Prepare yourself for a very special occasion.
Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go
Ruth was to be at the threshing floor observing Boaz without being recognized.
Go under the cover of darkness unseen by Boaz or anyone else.
and uncover his feet and lie down there.
- The meaning of “uncovering of the feet” is unclear but it is certainly proper.
The act most likely took place in the dark so that Boaz had the opportunity to reject the offer without the whole town knowing about it.
He will tell you what to do.”
(more about this phrase in the next lesson)
5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied.
Again it is clear that Naomi and Ruth had a great mother-in-law, daughter-in-law relationship.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.
- Ruth followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits,
Boaz was in good spirits.
He had worked hard.
He enjoyed a good meal.
The famine in the land was over.
God was giving His people in Judah good crops.
Ruth 1:6 NLT
6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again.
- Boaz was in good spirits.
he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet!
Afraid
Startled
Shuddered
Troubled
Terrified
- Boaz woke up and found a woman lying at his feet.
9 “Who are you?” he asked.
When Boaz woke up he knew a woman was laying at his feet, but he did not know who it was.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”
Boaz’s previous prayer for Ruth
Ruth 2:12 NLT
12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”
- Ruth had already put herself under the wings of God.
Other scriptures using “wings” of God.
Psalm 36:7 NLT (David)
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 57:1 NLT
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
Psalm 61:4 NLT (David)
4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
The request was clear.
Ruth identified Boaz as her family redeemer, and asked him spread his covering over her.
The corners of your covering is translated as wings of your covering. (Both signify protection.)
- Ruth was now asking to be put under the wings of Boaz.
Ruth was proposing marriage to Boaz.
“Spread the corner of your garment over me” was a request for marriage. A similar custom is still being practiced in some parts of the Middle East today.
To be continued.
