Ruth 2017

Ruth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Naomi wanted security (or rest) for Ruth. She initially wanted that for both of her daughters-in-law. Ruth 1:9 “May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. Since Ruth is the only daughter-in-law with her now, she is going to help her get a husband. Ruth 3:4 "And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do." Boaz already told Ruth that he prays for Elohim to take her under His wings of protection Ruth 2:12). The Hebrew word for "wings" is kanaph. 3671. kanaph, kaw-nawf'; from H3670; an edge or extremity; spec. (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle:-- + bird, border, corner, end, feather [-ed], X flying, + (one an-) other, overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part, wing ([-ed]). This is also a reference to the edge of a garment where a man would wear his tzit-tzit. He would wear them on his kanaph. Ruth was to uncover his feet and use that edge of his garment to cover herself. This is to tell him that she wants to be protected under his wings according to the law in Torah concerning the kinsman-redeemer. These laws are described in Leviticus 25:25-55 and concern the redemption of a close relatives land and also of a relative themselves if they fall into poverty and needed help. Ruth fits both of these categories. Her husbands land needs to be redeemed and she herself has fallen into extreme poverty. Ruth 3:5 And she said to her, "All that you say I will do." Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. Boaz says she is a woman of excellence due to her actions. There are many that teach that Ruth was doing something immoral this night. Those who teach that are teaching purely out of their ignorance of Torah. Ruth 4:1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. The identity of the closest relative is not given. We also do not know the relation that this unnamed man is to Elimelech. The term translated as "friend" actually means "A certain unnamed guy." Boaz is following protocol here. He is discussing property reclamation and wife reclamation. Torah states that if a man is NOT going to marry his brothers wife, he is to be taken to the gate of the city in front of the elders of that city. Ruth 4:6 And the closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it." Why does getting Ruth as a wife change his inheritance change his mind? There are a couple possibilities. The traditional Christian explanation is that his inheritance would be jeopardized because his father would look at his belongings as being greater than that of his brothers, and then give him less of an inheritance. Another explanation come from the Targum: "I cannot redeem it, because I have a wife already; and it is not fit for me to bring another into my house, lest brawling and contention arise in it; and lest I hurt my own inheritance. Do thou redeem it, for thou has no wife; which hinders me from redeeming it." Both explanations are wrong. According to Torah, his first born son would not carry his name, but the name of his dead relative and he thought then the lion's share of his inheritance (the inheritance to the first born) to go to that family name instead of being handed down to his heirs. According to Torah, the firstborn son from his marriage with Ruth would be in Naomi's family (Deut. 25:5-6). This man was not even his "brother." He was just a close relative.. He was afraid of his inheritance (birthright) would go to Naomi's family when he dies. Boaz wants Ruth. He wants her badly. But he cannot take her unless this closest relative turns her down. Keep in mind that he is not under obligation to do so. But it is proper for Boaz to give him this opportunity first. Boaz was brilliant in making that a package deal. If he redeems Naomi's land he must also redeem the name of Naomi's dead husband in the person of Ruth.

Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. When we left the last chapter Naomi returned to Judah and Ruth came back with her, desiring to be a part of Israel and to serve Elohim. Naomi's husband had a wealthy relative named Boaz. According to the Targum, which is an ancient Aramaic paraphrase of parts of the Tanakh, Boaz is the same is Izban. Judges 12:8-10 Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him. 9And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem. This is possible but cannot be verified for certain. Ruth 2:3 So she departed and went 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. The text states that Ruth "happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz." But we know that this was not a haphazard incident. It is because she "happened" to go into that field that King David was born. Elohim is in complete control of this situation, as He is in all others. Ruth 2:9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw." If Ruth was searching for a man to find favor with her, then it appears she found him. Boaz gives her special privileges and tells her to stay on his land. He has already commanded his servants not to touch her or give her a difficult time. Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. Boaz knows all about Ruth. He knows that she is forsaking her family and the false gods of her people. He knows she is taking care of her mother-in-law. He greatly admires her for these things. Just as Boaz shows great character in dealing with his servants and with the poor, Ruth shows great character in dealing with her mother-in-law and with the false gods she had previously been raised with. This looks like an excellent match.

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. The faithfulness of Naomi was witnessed by her daughters-in-law and especially by Ruth. Apparently her desire to be among Israel and to follow Elohim made a strong impression on Ruth. Ruth makes a declaration of obedience. She proclaims her desire to be a part of Israel and for Elohim to be her Elohim. By saying she wants to be a part of Israel and to Elohim, she is saying she will be obedient to the Torah of Elohim also. Ruth 1:19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came about when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" It would appear that Naomi was well known and highly respected in Bethlehem. The text states that all the city was stirred because of her return. Elimelech was apparently held in high esteem.