Brief summary: After Ruth and Naomi got back to Bethlehem, Ruth starts gleaning in the fields to help provide food for both of them. The fields she ends up working in belong to Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband. Boaz notices the young woman immediately and allows her to glean in his fields treating her like one of his servant girls. He even tells his men to not touch her and allows her to share water and food with all the workers. Ruth herself is very surprised about the special treatment especially since she is a foreigner. After her first day gleaning, she returns home to Naomi with an ephah (~22 liters) of barley and some left-over food from lunch. Naomi is impressed and tells Ruth to return to Boaz’ fields since he has taken such good care of her.
Spotlight on Ruth – how does she behave? what does she feel? Ruth seems to be a very determined but also humble person. She is determined to help provide a living for Naomi and herself. She is humble when Boaz talks to her and praises her for her good deeds. And she is a loving and kind person, saving some of her food for Naomi and doing as her mother-in-law instructs her.
Spotlight on Boaz and Naomi – what do they do? how to they interact with Ruth?
- Boaz is a very caring man who cares deeply about Ruth’s well-being. He tells his men to not harm her and instructs her to stay in his fields where he can ensure her safety. He allows her to remain in his fields and gives her the standing of a servant girl even though she is a foreigner. He seems to be impressed with her actions towards her mother-in-law and asks the LORD to bless her richly for it. Thus, Boaz also seems to be a faithful believer in the LORD.
- Naomi seems to be worried about Ruth’s well-being and relieved when she finds out that Ruth has been treated well by Boaz. As we were discussing Naomi’s role in this story, we were wondering what she was doing all day long and how she would have made a living without Ruth.
Spotlight on God – what role does he play in the text? The LORD does not seem to directly act in this story, his actions are rather through people like Boaz. Boaz seems to be aware that the LORD has blessed Ruth and that he is needed to help fulfill the LORD’s blessing. In general, the LORD is depicted as a blessing, loving, providing God who also provides for the foreigner. Even though the Israelites think of themselves as the chosen people, the idea that other people can be saved through God’s love, too, appears in this passage.
Other thoughts, surprises…: In contrast to chapter 1, chapter 2 provides the reverse motif: Naomi and Ruth arrive empty-handed and are left with plenty of food at the end of the day.
How can we relate to the people in the text? What can we learn from them?
- Don’t give up in the face of misery – the LORD will show you his way out.
- Ruth’s determinism to act instead of giving in to their misery and waiting for Naomi or somebody else to help them reminds us that we cannot just sit around and wait for good things to happen.
