Ruth: Chapters 3 & 4

We will see in these chapters that loving and faithfully serving the Lord will never be forgotten, but will be rewarded in this life and in the forever life to come.

A new concept is provided to us that appears rarely in scripture which is the “kinsman redeemer”. The Hebrew word in this matter is “go el”, meaning one who delivers or rescues. This concept is introduced to us in Genesis 48 & Leviticus 25 and 27.

The name of the man who fulfills this position in Ruth is Boaz. The redemption provided by Boaz is in two parts, first in buying (redeeming) the land left behind when Elimelech left for Moab, and second, in accepting Ruth as his wife and Naomi into his family.

Boaz knew there was a relative of closer kin to Naomi, and he will not execute this duty without first offering the opportunity to the nearer kinsman, who remains nameless to us.

Such redemption reflects the work of Jesus Christ among all whom He redeems by welcoming each one into His holy family and His kingdom, at great cost to Himself.

As these chapters begin the harvest time is ending and the grain is being threshed to secure the grain and to remove the husks, all of which is done on a threshing floor.

Ruth has been shown to be a hard working widow, engaged in bone weary manual labor throughout the harvest time, providing a meager existence for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.

She has been carrying a heavy load, and in verse 1 of chapter 3, Naomi recognizes her work and says it is time to seek rest for Ruth. Up to this point, Ruth has resigned herself to live out her life with Naomi. She must think she will be required to shoulder the burden for both of them for years to come.

Little does she know she is about to enter a time and place of rest, having her burden lifted, and enter a relationship that will change her life.

Our first two chapters have provided clues that both Ruth and Boaz have fondness for each other. Boaz has repeatedly complimented Ruth on her work, and has made serious efforts to arrange her to receive added grain, as well as food from his own table.

To this point, Ruth’s relationship with Boaz has been one of servant and master.

Naomi now reveals her own wisdom and begins the process to change the relationship with Boaz for Ruth. This change will require Ruth’s cleansing, her clothing, her fragrance, and her conduct.

Naomi reminds Ruth that Boaz is a relative, and he will serve to be the kinsman redeemer for both Ruth and Naomi, acting as “go el”.

Because he is a relative, he can be recognized as the ‘go el”, or redeemer, for the family of Elimelech which still remains.

Scripture is very clear on God’s commands and allowances in this situation.

(Here we see God’s social security plan)

Leviticus 25:48

The kinsman redeemer was responsible to buy a fellow Israelite out of slavery.

Numbers 35:19

He was responsible to be the “avenger of blood” to make sure the murderer of a family member answered for the crime.

Leviticus 25:25

He was responsible to buy back family land that had been forfeited.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10

He was responsible to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow and then providing children in the name of the man who had died.

We see how strongly the Lord, through His Law, wished those in this situation to safeguard the persons, the property, and the posterity of the remaining family.

In those days, women were considered almost as property, and a widow without a kinsman or children would many times become destitute and have to resort to begging, or worse, to survive.

Naomi prepares Ruth properly and advises her to look her best, smell her best, and act her best toward Boaz. Naomi tells Ruth not to make her presence known on the threshing floor until Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and had begun his sleep.

Ruth was to approach in darkness, find Boaz where he slept, uncover his feet, and lie down with him.

This was not a sexual offer.

In the culture of that day, this behavior was seen as total submission, and Ruth had come in a quiet and humble way.

We must not lose sight of the larger picture that this passage teaches. Ruth came to claim her right under the Law.

She had the right to expect him to marry her and raise up a family to continue the name of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) and Mahlon (Ruth’s husband).

But Naomi did not send Ruth with demands, but rather, as a humble servant, trusting in the goodness of her kinsman redeemer.

Notice how sensual is the description given to us of this moment in chapter 3, verse 7:

“… she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.”

Past midnight Boaz awakens and is startled to find Ruth lying at his feet. He asks who she is. She said she is Ruth, thine handmaid: for thou art a near kinsman.

Boaz pays her a most high compliment and says he will do to thee all that thou requests.

He also tells her a nearer kinsman exists and that he will take on the project of finding him and resolving all of the needs Ruth has.

Ruth and Boaz both wanted Ruth to leave before the morning so that no shadow could be brought against them for improper behavior.

The spreading of his clothing skirt over Ruth was a way of claiming her as his wife. Even in our day, when a Jewish man takes a wife, he partially covers her with his prayer cloth in the wedding ceremony to fully claim her.

God Himself uses this same term and behavior through His prophet, Ezekiel, in Ezekiel 16:8 when He said:  

“… I have spread my wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered a covenant with you, and you became mine.”

We notice how carefully Samuel phrases this encounter, and does not in any way lean us toward improper thoughts on this meeting on the threshing floor.

But we cannot read or study this moment without understanding that regardless of how we may see the meeting, we cannot ignore the beautiful intimacy of this moment, which seems to seal the love of both people.

Boaz gives Ruth more extra barley and sends her home to Naomi.

Early Christian writers say that Boaz gave Ruth the six measures of barley which represents all six pious men who would later descend from Ruth:

DAVID, DANIEL, HANANIAH, MISHAEL, AZARIAH, & of course, JESUS.

Naomi welcomes Ruth home and assures her that Boaz will settle this matter this very day.

In chapter 4, Boaz does exactly as Naomi mentions.

He goes to the city gates, where business is conducted, and we are told that “BEHOLD”, the nearer kinsman appears. 

The will of the Lord is active and working for the marriage of Ruth and Boaz.

The situation is explained to the nearer kinsman and he, at first, agrees to redeem the land. But Boaz reveals that if he does so, he must also accept Ruth as his wife and Naomi must be accepted as well into his family. These are the costs to the kinsman redeemer.

The added information changes the mind of the nearer kinsman, who explains that bringing home another wife with possible children will impair his inheritance, so he declines the offer.

Boaz announces to all the elders present that they are witnesses to this proceeding, and that he has acquired Ruth now as his wife, fully redeeming all matters of this opportunity.

In verse 4:13, we are given the news that the Lord had arranged the conception in Ruth and she bore a son, who was named Obed.

Ruth and Boaz are now the great grandparents of David, as Obed will beget Jesse who will beget David.

From the beginning of all things, God had planned to bring Ruth and Boaz together, thereby making Bethlehem the place where our kinsman redeemer, Jesus, would be born.

We remember the voices of angels who announced the birth of Jesus had taken place in the city of David, which recognizes the greatness of King David, whose rule was considered as golden for Israel.

God had taken many pains to arrange the presence of Ruth many centuries before David, so that this great king would spring from her and Boaz, his great grandparents.

But far beyond that fact, which displays the will of God working through man’s history to implement His will, is a greater fact.

The kinsman redeemer we see in Ruth is more than a type or shadow. It was placed within the days of Ruth to teach us of the far greater kinsman redeemer coming in the person of Jesus Christ.

How do we know that?

In Luke 24:27, when Jesus spoke to the two on the road to Emmaus, He said:

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

We clearly see Jesus proclaiming that ALL the scriptures written before were concerning Him.

He is the greater kinsman redeemer from whom, in faith, all the eternal family of God will be redeemed for His kingdom.