Ruth has been working all summer and now it's the harvest party. Naomi told Ruth to dress up for the party, but hide until Boaz lays down, then be there to ask him to be her kinsman redeemer. A bold plan, that could work out either way.
(6) So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
Ruth is courageous and trusting, and does just exactly what Naomi laid out for her to do.
(7) When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
After Boaz is done partying and passes out, that's when Ruth approaches quietly and softly lays herself down across at his feet, like a "T" and covers herself with his cover.
(8) It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
After he slept off most of the wine, he suddenly sits up and finds her at his feet! Surprise, surprise!
(9) He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative."
It's dark, the middle of the night, and they have no lights, so he has to ask. And her reply is asking him to be her kinsman redeemer. She shows tremendous bravery to be so bold as this, she's asking him to marry her!
(10) Then he said, "May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
And he is impressed that she would "settle" for an "old man" instead of setting her skirts for a young man closer to her own age. She is asking him to meet her most basic female need, security, and she is giving him what is his most basic male need, admiration and respect, in choosing him over younger men. This is a very good foundation to base their relationship on.
(11) "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.
He tells her not to worry, that he will take up the ball and carry it, to do everything she needs, because of his admiration of her for her sterling reputation.
(12) "Now it is true I am a close relative; however there is a relative closer than I.
But he warns her that there is another man who would have first dibs on her, before Boaz.
(13) Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning."
He says that only if this other man would refuse, would he be able to do this for her, but if the other guy wants to, then he has the right. In any case, Boaz will do everything he can for her, so just relax, rest until morning, and he will take care of her. No matter what happens, she will be cared for.
(14) So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."
So they both quietly lay back down, and get up while it's still dark, so no one will know the risk she took that could tarnish her reputation.
(15) Again he said, "Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it." So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
And before he let her go, he made sure she had plenty. He gave her six measures of barley, an uncertain amount, as the epaph measure varied. It was probably as much as her shawl would hold.
(16) When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done for her.
When she got home, she told Naomi every detail of what went down between her and Boaz, and how everything had been done in the dark so no one else was even aware of her being there, the whole scoop!
(17) She said, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"
And she emptied out her shawl showing his generosity to them.
(18) Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."
And Naomi assured her that Boaz will do exactly what he said he would do, as soon as possible, that same day, just as she expected.
Naomi had most likely explained the levirate law to Ruth, but in any case, Boaz certainly understood it, and was willing to do whatever he could to help these women, especially after watching Ruth all summer working in his field. And he was flattered by her performance last night.
Ruth has been living in Israel now for a while, and has been having interactions with the people of Judah in Bethlehem and in the field, and her reputation among these Jews that she has acquired was golden. She had accepted these people as her own, and she has recognized the God of Israel to be God, and is doing her best to follow His ways, even when she may not fully understand it all.
And even when it means boldly and courageously stepping out of convention and asking for help. And she was willing to do whatever was right, even if it meant marrying an old man!
O my Father, this is such a good story! I love reading the drama and the suspense of "what will happen next?" even when I know the story! Both Naomi and Ruth were very godly women, Naomi having been born into the Chosen People, and Ruth having been married into this family and converted to the True Faith.
O Father, You told Israel not to marry women who were not of Israel, because their pagan religions would draw Your people away from you. But when individual people opened their eyes and recognized You, You accepted them, no matter where they were from, even back in those days (both Ruth and Rahab are even in the bloodline of King David and Jesus of Nazareth, our Redeemer).
Today, Father, You are calling to Yourself people from every nation of the world to be in Your own family. And one day soon, all Israel will be saved, too, when they see their Messiah coming through the clouds to set His feet on the Mount of Olives!
O Father God, You are not willing for anyone anywhere at any time to be destroyed, because You made this human race to be Your children. But You are kind and gracious to not force us into Your will, because You don't want puppets! Yes, you can pull our strings as you wish, but You want us to want to love You back. So You will not interfere with our free will, to choose to turn toward You or away from You. And many will turn away, being deceived.
But there will be so many that will turn toward You, that You will fill Your great house with children that are too many to even be counted! However, You know each one by name!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ Messiah, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over the whole World; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
