Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drank and was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down. (New Revised Standard Version)
Naomi and Ruth were two widows – a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law – living in an ancient time when women were dependent upon men for survival.
Ruth had been out in the barley fields during harvest, gleaning as much as she could by walking behind the harvesters. It was what people in need did back then.
The owner of the land, Boaz, had heard of Ruth and took notice of her. He was kind and made sure she had enough for herself and Naomi.
So, Naomi, although too old to be out in the fields gleaning barley, could still use her wisdom. She decided to help Ruth have some security for the future. Naomi wanted to help her daughter-in-law, so she instructed Ruth to make herself available to Boaz.
Boaz was a kinsman, connected to Naomi’s extended family. Naomi intended on using this connection to bring Ruth and Boaz together in marriage, thus settling her daughter-in-law in a good and secure life.
The approach of Naomi underscores her thoughtfulness, creativity, and limited resources. Most of all, however, Naomi’s plan rests entirely on the goodwill and generosity of Boaz. Naomi was observing Boaz, and assessed him as a person she could put her faith into.
Would Boaz be willing to act in Ruth’s favor, as a near kinsman to Naomi? Would he take up the mantle of kinsman-redeemer and enter a levirate marriage with Ruth?
A “levirate” is reference to an ancient marital system which involved in-laws. If a man died without children, the dead man’s name could be perpetuated through the widow’s marriage with a man related to the dead person.
Israel and Judah had a strong sense of community and family solidarity which is evidenced in God’s law. Members of the family and the community had a duty to watch out for each other and care for one another. For example:
“If anyone of your kin falls into difficulty and sells a piece of property, then the next of kin shall come and redeem what the relative has sold. If the person has no one to redeem it but then prospers and finds sufficient means to do so, the years since its sale shall be computed and the difference refunded to the person to whom it was sold, and the property shall be returned. But if there are not sufficient means to recover it, what was sold shall remain with the purchaser until the year of Jubilee; in the Jubilee it shall be released, and the property shall be returned. (Leviticus 25:25-28, NRSV)
Naomi did her best to try and prepare for a marriage to happen. And her best chance was with Boaz on the threshing floor after the barley harvest. Considering that arranged marriages were the norm, none of this was weird at the time.
She wanted to stir up this sense of duty in Boaz, and help him take responsibility for the family, so that Ruth could be properly cared for.
Israelites had a strong theological sense that their God had redeemed them out of Egypt, and therefore, they themselves were to act as redeemers, whenever needed, within their families and communities.
Another way of putting the matter, is that Israel’s covenant with Yahweh their God was to have the wider implication of covenanting to help and care for each other as Israelites. And this was especially true for one’s family.
Boaz was related to Naomi through her late husband Elimelech; and related to Ruth through Elimelech’s son Mahlon, who was Ruth’s late husband.
As you can imagine, not every scenario in Judah which involved redeeming one’s in-law’s actually happened. The question was whether Boaz would do anything. And Naomi was betting on the farm that he would care and help. Hence, Naomi’s advice to Ruth concerning Boaz.
Naomi instructed Ruth to make clear to Boaz that she wanted him to marry her. All of the preparation for the nighttime visit was designed to spark within Boaz that Ruth is asking for a levirate marriage.
Ruth did exactly what her mother-in-law told her. I believe that not only was Naomi looking out for her daughter-in-law, but Ruth was also looking out for her mother-in-law.
Neither one of them had to do what they did. Naomi didn’t have to make arrangements for Ruth to be cared for. But she did. And Ruth, as a foreigner from Moab, didn’t have to succumb to any Jewish covenantal understandings of things. And yet, she did.
Individualistic Western societies reflexively think of personal interest first, and often only think of the personal implications to just about everything – even concerning family. Many persons abandon their families and take up a sort of surrogate family.
They may feel no duty or responsibility to biological family connections. Even more persons move from place to place without much thought to the communities they leave, nor to how they might contribute to the wellbeing of their new community.
A careful reading of the Book of Ruth ought to challenge those types of approaches to family and community. Although none of us are living in the covenant society of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, there is an inherent universal ethic of caring for those closest to us, especially family.
Each day is an opportunity to act in redemptive ways which lift up and help others in whatever their need may be. I pray we all to have the sensibilities of persons like Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi.
Gracious God, enable us to understand and care about the needs of others. May your way of love open up for all those who suffer or are in any kind of trouble. Thank you for your steadfast love and abundant mercy. Help us to both accept your love and mercy, and to give it. Amen.
Rev. Tim Ehrhardt 