Day 160

Saturday, February 16

Read Ruth 3

Think About It:

It is possible to think that Naomi plotted with Ruth to make her a man-trap, to go out and hunt down a reluctant Boaz for marriage. Not at all; Naomi’s suggestion to Ruth was rooted in a peculiar custom in ancient Israel – the meaning behind the Hebrew word goel.

This was the point in Naomi’s question about Boaz: Is he not our relative? She reminded Ruth that Boaz was their family goel. The goel – sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer – had a specifically defined role in Israel’s family life.

• The kinsman-redeemer was responsible to buy a fellow Israelite out of slavery (Leviticus 25:48).
• He was responsible to be the “avenger of blood” to make sure the murderer of a family member answered to the crime (Numbers 35:19).
• He was responsible to buy back family land that had been forfeited (Leviticus 25:25).
• He was responsible to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

In this, we see that the goel, the kinsman-redeemer, was responsible to safeguard the persons, the property, and the posterity of the family. “Words from the root g’l are used with a variety of meanings in the Old Testament, but the fundamental idea is that of fulfilling one’s obligations as a kinsman.” (Morris)

At the appropriate time, Naomi instructs Ruth to go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. Some might think this was a provocative gesture, as if Ruth was told to provocatively offer herself sexually to Boaz. This was not how this gesture was understood in that day. In the culture of that day, this was understood as an act of total submission.

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

Here, she boldly asked Boaz to take her in marriage. The phrase can also be translated as “spread the corner of your garment over me.” This was a culturally relevant way to say, “I am a widow, take me as your wife.”

“The spreading of a skirt over a widow as a way of claiming her as a wife is attested among Arabs of early days, and Jouon says it still exists among some modern Arabs.” (Morris)

“Even to the present day, when a Jew marries a woman, he throws the skirt or end of his talith over her, to signify that he has taken her under his protection.” (Clarke)

In Ezekiel 16:8, God uses the same terminology in relation to Israel: I spread my wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you and you became Mine, says the LORD God.

1. The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the love of God. Can you see the foreshadowing of Christ as our kinsman-redeemer in this book? Explain.

 

Family Time:

1. Uncovering Boaz’ feet and lying down was an ancient custom to propose marriage. Did Boaz accept Ruth’s proposal? (verse 11) Did they get married right away? (verse 12)
2. Boaz was a man of good character. He did what was right by seeking the closest member of Elimelech’s family to marry Ruth. Again Ruth’s good character brought blessings to her and Naomi. What were those blessings? (verse 15)