RANDEL | Ruth 2:1–7

Ruth 2:1–7 LSB

1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a mighty man of excellence, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one whom I may find favor in his eyes.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she went. And she came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And it so happened that she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” And they said to him, “May Yahweh bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The young man in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab. 7 “And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

OBSERVATION:

The text written is all about Ruth wanting to work hard in the fields of Boaz

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Outline

Ruth begins gleaning barley in the field of Boaz, who happens to be Naomi’s kinsman.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Genre

The book of Ruth is a concise story that narrates the tale of two female protagonists; it is best classified as a novella—a “type of prose narrative that stands between the novel and the short story, sharing characteristics of each”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Date

The exact date of the book of Ruth is unknown. Possible dates range from the premonarchic period to the fourth century BC (Sasson, Ruth: A New Translation, 240). The opening line of the story sets it in the time of judges; also, the book concludes with a genealogy leading to David, indicating the final form must have been set after the time of David. Campbell proposed a time frame from 950–700 BC, classifying the language of the book as the language of the monarchic period

CROSS REFERENCES

Leviticus 19:9–10 LSB

9 ‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 ‘Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the afflicted and for the sojourner. I am Yahweh your God.

Ruth 1:22 LSB

22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the fields of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Leviticus 23:22 LSB

22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the afflicted and the sojourner. I am Yahweh your God.’”

Numbers 6:24 LSB

24 Yahweh bless you, and keep you;

Ruth 1:2 LSB

2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they came to the fields of Moab and remained there.

Systematic Theology: Biblical & Historical Providence and Chance

The Hebrew word for ‘chance’ or ‘hap’ (literally, a meeting) is used of Ruth’s undesigned (as far as she was concerned) gleaning in the field of Boaz (

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:4

2:4. The spiritual tone of Boaz and his workers was warm and vigorous. When he greeted them with the blessing, The LORD be with you, they responded similarly, The LORD bless you. Faith in the Lord was active in their lives. Boaz spoke the language of faith. Would his actions also fit his words?

2:5–6. When Boaz noted a new young woman in his field among the gleaners, his interest was stirred. When he asked who she was, the foreman identified the new gleaner as the Moabitess who had returned from Moab with Naomi. Some have felt that the foreman’s reference to Moab was intended as a derogatory statement, but the text does not indicate this.

2:7. The foreman added that Ruth had asked permission to glean … among the sheaves (i.e., bundles of barley grain). He said she had worked steadily from the time she came in the morning … except for a short rest in the shelter that apparently was provided for the workers. He noticed that she was a diligent worker.

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 2

2:1–23 Two widows, newly at home in Bethlehem after Naomi’s ten year absence, needed the basics of life. Ruth volunteered to go out and glean the fields for food (cf.