Honorable

1) Why does it matter that Boaz is a relative?
Ruth and Naomi are both widows.  Being a widow during Old Testament days meant a life of poverty. Expositor’s Bible Commentary describes their life this way, “lonely, with no prospect before them but hard toil that would by and by fail, unable to undertake anything on their own account, and still regarded with indifference, if not suspicion, by the people of Bethlehem.” Their life would have little to no hope unless someone stepped in to provide. God, in His wisdom, had provided for this reality within Israelite culture by means of a relative. Ruth and Naomi needed a “kinsman redeemer”, who was typically the closest male relative, in order to have assurance of provision for their future. While Boaz was not the closest relative, he was the closest relative willing to take on this responsibility. As long as the closest relative agreed, the next in lineage, would have the opportunity to step in as “kinsman redeemer”.

2)Why would Ruth uncover his feet and lie down?
When we read Naomi’s instructions to Ruth they seem inappropriate, at best, within our modern context. However, Expositor’s Bible Commentary helps us understand what Ruth is truly doing. “Ruth is to go to the threshing floor on the night of the harvest festival, wait until Boaz lies down to sleep beside the mass of winnowed grain, and place herself at his feet, so reminding him that, if no other will, it is his duty to be a husband to her for the sake of Elimelech and his sons.” (Expositors) Ruth is presenting herself to Boaz in hopes of redemption. This was not a scandalous action, rather, it was common for a servant to lay at the feet of their master.  Naomi is encouraging Ruth to present herself in hopes that Boaz will marry her, or find another relative to do so, therefore redeeming her (and Naomi). Matthew Henry says, “Naomi herself designed nothing but what was honest and honourable, and her charity (which believeth all things and hopeth all things) banished and forbade all suspicion that either Boaz or Ruth would attempt anything but what was likewise honest and honourable. If Naomi’s instructions were as indecent and immodest (according to the usage of the country) as they seem to us now, we cannot think that if Naomi had had so little virtue (which yet we have no reason to suspect) she would also have had so little wisdom as to put her daughter upon it, since that alone might have marred the match, and have alienated the affections of so grave and good a man as Boaz from her. We must therefore think that the thing did not look so ill then as it does now.”

3) Why does Ruth agree in verse 5?
If Naomi’s instructions seem strange to us, then what must we think of Ruth’s agreement! Surely, it speaks to Ruth’s character. Matthew 1:5 includes Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus which speaks greatly of her faith and character. By no means was she perfect, but she was chosen much like Abraham, Noah, Moses, and so many others because God knew their heart and chose to work through them, despite their weaknesses. Matthew Henry says, “We may be sure, if Ruth had apprehended any evil in that which her mother advised her to, she was a woman of too much virtue and too much sense to promise as she did (verse 5), “All that thou sayest unto me I will do.” Thus, must the younger submit to the elder, and to their grave and prudent counsels, when they have nothing worth speaking of to object against it.” Ruth found no objection in Naomi’s instruction and therefore agreed to follow it.