“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Philippians 1:20-23 ESV, to be continued)
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Sedona, Az
Sedona, Az
Ruth 3
Ruth’s Request
• When Naomi says that she seeks “rest” for Ruth, she is implying the rest that comes from being secure in marriage.
• Naomi suggests to Ruth that she should go speak to Boaz because he is a relative.
• The idea being the old Hebrew custom of kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman’s responsibilities were as follows:
• (1) Reclaiming family property that had changed ownership, (2) Marrying a childless widow to raise children in the dead husband’s name.
• When Naomi says that she seeks “rest” for Ruth, she is implying the rest that comes from being secure in marriage.
• Naomi suggests to Ruth that she should go speak to Boaz because he is a relative.
• The idea being the old Hebrew custom of kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman’s responsibilities were as follows:
• (1) Reclaiming family property that had changed ownership, (2) Marrying a childless widow to raise children in the dead husband’s name.
Ruth’s Request Cont.
• Hebrew order of succession of heirs (kinsman): Sons, daughters, brothers, uncles on father’s side, and finally the nearest relative in general.
• Naomi tells Ruth to get herself ready to go down to the threshing floor that Boaz would have been at but to wait to go and talk to him after everyone was asleep.
• Please do not read too much into that part about uncovering his feet- uncover his feet so as to eventually wake him up gently.
• When Ruth got to the threshing floor she kept herself to the outside in order to observe the happenings.
• During harvest time in ancient Israel there would have been a lot of celebration regarding the successful harvest (hence the eating and drinking until their hearts were merry) and then they would have slept with the grain in order to protect it from thieves.
• When he talked to Ruth in the middle of the night she mentioned that he spread his wings over her because he was a redeemer. This was to be like the image of Yahweh spreading his wings over his people to protect them and be their Redeemer.
• When Boaz responds he mentions 2 kindnesses: the 1st kindness was staying with her mother-in-law to take care of her, the 2nd kindness was Ruth seeking to marry Boaz (who was older) instead of going after younger men.
• Boaz responds that he will live up to his redeemer role and marry her, but that there is another kinsman closer in relation than him.
• He has Ruth leave in the morning so she doesn’t get caught in gossip about visiting Boaz out of marriage.
• Hebrew order of succession of heirs (kinsman): Sons, daughters, brothers, uncles on father’s side, and finally the nearest relative in general.
• Naomi tells Ruth to get herself ready to go down to the threshing floor that Boaz would have been at but to wait to go and talk to him after everyone was asleep.
• Please do not read too much into that part about uncovering his feet- uncover his feet so as to eventually wake him up gently.
• When Ruth got to the threshing floor she kept herself to the outside in order to observe the happenings.
• During harvest time in ancient Israel there would have been a lot of celebration regarding the successful harvest (hence the eating and drinking until their hearts were merry) and then they would have slept with the grain in order to protect it from thieves.
• When he talked to Ruth in the middle of the night she mentioned that he spread his wings over her because he was a redeemer. This was to be like the image of Yahweh spreading his wings over his people to protect them and be their Redeemer.
• When Boaz responds he mentions 2 kindnesses: the 1st kindness was staying with her mother-in-law to take care of her, the 2nd kindness was Ruth seeking to marry Boaz (who was older) instead of going after younger men.
• Boaz responds that he will live up to his redeemer role and marry her, but that there is another kinsman closer in relation than him.
• He has Ruth leave in the morning so she doesn’t get caught in gossip about visiting Boaz out of marriage.
Ruth 4
Relative of David
and Jesus
• As mentioned before the events of the book of Ruth take place during the time period of the Judges, but like Judges the books were not written during that time. Judges talks about a time when Israel didn’t have kings and Ruth talks about customs that the Israelites didn’t practice anymore.
• Boaz finds the nearest relative of Elimelech and calls ten men to witness the following business transaction. When the transaction involved Naomi selling a piece of land because she was destitute the relative was all for the transaction.
• Next Boaz tells everyone present about how when the field is bought that Ruth comes with it as part of the inheritance. The relative is then not interested in the transaction any more.
• As mentioned before the events of the book of Ruth take place during the time period of the Judges, but like Judges the books were not written during that time. Judges talks about a time when Israel didn’t have kings and Ruth talks about customs that the Israelites didn’t practice anymore.
• Boaz finds the nearest relative of Elimelech and calls ten men to witness the following business transaction. When the transaction involved Naomi selling a piece of land because she was destitute the relative was all for the transaction.
• Next Boaz tells everyone present about how when the field is bought that Ruth comes with it as part of the inheritance. The relative is then not interested in the transaction any more.
Relative of David
and Jesus Cont.
• When the man handed over his sandal to Boaz it was to symbolize the handing over the right of redemption to Boaz. This tradition was not followed by the time of the writing of this book so the author felt inclined to explain the tradition.
• When Ruth was married to Mahlan she was barren and childless so marrying Boaz and having a child is most definitely a miraculous act, a gift from the Lord above.
• Notice that the genealogy stops at David- if it had been written latter than the time of David it would have included Solomon.
• When the man handed over his sandal to Boaz it was to symbolize the handing over the right of redemption to Boaz. This tradition was not followed by the time of the writing of this book so the author felt inclined to explain the tradition.
• When Ruth was married to Mahlan she was barren and childless so marrying Boaz and having a child is most definitely a miraculous act, a gift from the Lord above.
• Notice that the genealogy stops at David- if it had been written latter than the time of David it would have included Solomon.