Chapter 3

In the first five verses, Naomi suggest a plan to get Ruth even closer to Boaz.  We don't know if she devised this herself, or God revealed the plan to her.  MSB indicates that the sleeping at Boaz's feet was some sort of "social convention" of the time and place.  It seems to have been designed to inform Boaz that Ruth was available for marriage.  Being a good man, and much older than Ruth, it is unlikely that Boaz would ever have made overtures to Ruth had she not made him aware of her willingness.  So Ruth sleeps at Boaz's feet.  He is flattered that she sleeps near him and not near the young men, and promises to redeem her if a nearer kinsman does not.  Ruth could have laid down at the feet of any strong young rich man with potential.  Or she could have picked the best looking.  But with Naomi's advice, she lays at Boaz's feet, and he accepts her - was likely wishing for some way to take Ruth in - and promises to both redeem her, redeem Elimelech's land very possibly so that Naomi would have a source of income, and to marry Ruth.  Another very good day for Ruth.

9/29/24 - Per Charles Braden's Sunday School lesson today the first redeemer symbolizes the Law, and Boaz, the second redeemer symbolizes Christ.  Ruth was a Gentile, and the Law was given to save Israel, not Gentiles.  A New Covenant was needed for the Gentiles, and thatbecame the church.  So in this little book from which I have garnered so little in the past, comes this prophecy of Jesus work on earth, of the gospel being applied to the whole world, and of the debt we owe Jesus for offering salvation  to us all.