Boaz Makes His Decision
Ruth 3:10-18 NLT
10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”
14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town.
16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”
Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
Examine the Scriptures
Ruth 3:10-18 NLT
Boaz Makes His Decision
10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed.
This is Boaz’s initial response to Ruth’s “proposal”.
Compare this to:
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.”
Again Boaz addresses Ruth as “my daughter”.
- Boaz’s initial response to Ruth’s proposal was a blessing: “The Lord bless you, my daughter.”
“You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before,
Ruth was looking out for the welfare of Naomi.
for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor.
Ruth made a decision that was good for her family, by doing something that would continue the family line and provide an heir to the land.
Ruth 4:5 NLT
5 Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”
- Boaz recognized Ruth’s kindness and loyalty.
11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary,
- Boaz continued to look out for Ruth’s welfare.
Ruth 4:5 NLT
5 Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”
for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31 – A Virtuous (excellent) Wife.
See also 2:1 ESV, NIV, & NLT for Boaz
ESV
Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
NIV
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
NLT
Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.
- Ruth was known as a virtuous woman.
- Boaz was known as a wealthy and influential man, a worthy man, and a man of standing.
12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.
Boaz knew that Ruth had a relative who was more closely related to her than he was.
- Boaz was committed to do the right thing.
13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you.
- Boaz was willing to let the closer kinsman redeemer redeem Ruth.
In Boaz’s mind, marriage was a part of redemption.
But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives,
The phrase “as the Lord lives” makes this a solemn oath from Boaz.
I will redeem you myself!
- If the nearer kinsman was not willing to redeem Ruth, Boaz would surely do so.
Now lie down here until morning.”
14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.”
- Boaz is concerned for Ruth’s and his reputation.
Boaz wanted to avoid any chance of gossip.
15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back.
- Boaz continued to look out for the needs of Ruth and Naomi, even before becoming the family redeemer.
Boaz is going beyond anyone’s expectations in giving Ruth this generous amount of gain.
Some commentators say this could be as much as 60 pounds of grain.
Boaz had the “heart” of a family redeemer.
Then he returned to the town.
16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”
Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
Naomi’s “matchmaking” seemed to be working out well.
18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens.
Naomi knew that Boaz was a man of integrity and would fulfill his promise.
“Just be patient.”
The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
- At this point, the outcome of this matter is in Boaz’s hands.
Boaz will follow through.
“I will do what is necessary” Quoting Boaz’s comment in verse 11.
