Now that Ruth has left her home in Moab and arrived into Bethlehem, she needs to figure out how to fit into the society, care for her mother-in-law, and survive. In our Bible study on the first chapter of Ruth and our memory verse from Ruth 1:16-17, Ruth had made a solemn pledge to Naomi to stay with her and make the God of the Israelites her own. The second chapter of Ruth shows how this pledge is put into action.
Finding Sustenance
First, Ruth is in a difficult situation and knows that she needs to do something so that the two women can be fed. Ruth and Naomi have arrived into the Judean town of Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest (Ruth 1:22), so the logical solution to their poverty is to glean from the fields.
1 Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.”
She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
Ruth 2:1-3 (WEB)
Gleaning was a practice where Israelites land owners were commanded to only pick through their fields once. Any grain that remained was to be left for the poor and foreigner to go and gather. Ruth was both.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10 (WEB)
Fortunately for Naomi, Ruth was a very dedicated daughter-in-law and she volunteered to do this job. Ruth was not afraid to do as she promised and at her first opportunity, she went out and did it.
Discussion Question #1: Have you kept your promise to provide care and support to someone? Did you approach it with a positive or negative attitude?
Meeting Naomi’s Relatives
Bethlehem was a fairly small town, so it is unsurprising that Ruth quickly meets one of the people closely related to Naomi.
3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.”
They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”
6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.”
Ruth 2:3-7 (WEB)
Ruth managed to find herself working in the field of Boaz, who was related to her dead father-in-law, Elimelek. Boaz notices Ruth and asks about her. While it could have been because of her beauty or her hard work, my guess is simply that Bethlehem is a small town and Boaz doesn’t recognize Ruth. When you are a prominent land owner in a town of just a few thousand people, you should probably make it your business to keep tabs on the comings and goings of the people in the area.
Discussion Question #2: What kind of worker is Ruth?
The answer Boaz receives from his employees is quite favorable. First, Ruth arrived in the morning, which means she is not a lazy slug-a-bed. Second, she did not force Naomi to come with her. While the two of them probably could have gathered barley faster together, Ruth is shielding the older woman from hard work in the hot sun until she knows whether she will be able to glean enough for the two of them. Third, she only takes a short break from the work, which indicates that she is capable, healthy, and a hard worker. As a poor foreigner in a strange land, Ruth does the best she can with the opportunity that has presented itself.
Discussion Question #3: How do you approach your work? Do you put in maximum effort or try to cut corners?
Boaz Decides to Watch Over Ruth
At this point, Boaz decides to introduce himself to Ruth and let her know that she is being watched over. Gleaning can be dangerous business for a young woman. The other gleaners and even some of the employees may or may not have strong ethics and a vulnerable young woman would have little power to stop an attack once it started. If she was attacked, either she would be forced to marry her attacker or she would be discarded and disgraced. By allowing Naomi to stay at home, Ruth is also protecting her mother-in-law. In any case, Boaz decides to make it known to Ruth that his workers are reliable and will protect her.
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. 12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”
Ruth 2:8-13 (WEB)
Discussion Question #4: What kind of man is Boaz?
People in poverty often have to endure many indignities, but Ruth was protected from these things. By offering his care and protection, Boaz has shown himself to be a man of character. He is confident in the men that he employs and does not tolerate any evil from them. He respects hard work and rewards it with dignity. He understands what Ruth has left behind and offers her a blessing from the Lord.
In return for his blessing, Ruth expresses gratitude at the kindnesses Boaz has offered. The ability to stay with his women employees as she gleans means that she won’t be alone in the fields and an attack would be unlikely to happen. She is also offered freedom to get water from the employees water source and assurance that the male employees will not harasses her.
Boaz Extends Even More Kindnesses
14 At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.”
She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it. 15 When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her. 16 Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”
Ruth 2:14-16 (WEB)
Discussion Question #5: How do you treat the poor and disadvantaged around you? Do you offer them sources of dignity and hope, harassment, or something else?
As the day goes on, Boaz decides to offer even more kindness and compassion. First, he decides to invite Ruth into the social circle of his workers and asks her to join the harvesters for lunch. Second, he gives his permission for her to do more than just pick up the leftovers. Typically, the men will go through the field and cut the grain. The women will follow, collect the grain, and bundle it. The gleaners will then be able to pick up anything that was missed. Ruth is being given permission to go into areas that may not have been completely finished by the harvesters, which would give her more food to take home to Naomi. Even more, Boaz has instructed his workers to leave grain out for her so that her task will be even easier!
Discussion Question #6: Have you experienced poverty or disadvantage? Was there anyone who treated you with kindness and compassion?
Discussion Question #7: Which person in your life could use a kind action? Can you think of something that would offer them hope and dignity?
Ruth Returns to Naomi
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 She took it up, and went into the city. Then her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she had enough.
19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.”
She told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”
21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.” 23 So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Ruth 2:17-23 (WEB)
Ruth finishes a full day of work and then returns with about 30 pounds of barley to a very surprised Naomi. Given that 1 pound of barley will provide about 1,600 calories, this was enough food to feed the two of them for about 2 weeks! Naomi is right to assume that someone “took notice of Ruth”. At this point, Ruth’s character is developed even more. With a 2 week supply of barley, she could have been tempted to minimize her work, but instead she shows foresight and continues to build up a supply of food for the winter.
When Naomi receives more information, she learns that the man is Boaz, a very close relative. In fact, he is close enough to be considered a guardian redeemer, also known as a kinsman redeemer, and had a responsibility to care for both Naomi and Ruth. Naomi wisely instructs Ruth to take Boaz’s advice and continue to go to his fields.
Discussion Question #8: How might Boaz’s kindness be changing Naomi’s attitude after her past disappointments?
Discussion Question #9: Have you ever struggled with bitterness? What caused you to change your attitude?
Naomi has had a lot of disappointments in life. First she felt like she needed to move away from her home into a foreign land. Then her husband dies and her two children take foreign wives that may not know God. These sons then die and one of her daughter-in-laws abandon her. Ruth chooses to make Naomi’s God her own and follows Naomi to Bethlehem with the pledge to stay with Naomi and and care for her. Now Boaz is starting to show interest in helping both Ruth and Naomi. It seems that this could be the start of Naomi letting go of her bitterness and allowing her heart to soften!
Choose the joy of Christ over the bitterness of circumstance!
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As you considered the themes of care and compassion, were there any Bible verses that came to mind? If so, add a comment at the end of this post!
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Related Resources
Read: Ruth 1 – A Bible Study about Choosing God
Read: Ruth 2:12 – A Memory Verse with Reflection Questions
Read: Musings about Helping the Refugee
Read: A Prayer for the Foreigner and Refugee
Read: Ruth 3 – A Bible Study about Taking Action while Remaining Humble and Respectful
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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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