Ruth 2:8-9

Ruth 2:8-9

Ruth 2:8 Then In Strength (Boaz) said to Companion (Ruth), 

“Listen carefully, my daughter.

Do not go to glean in another field;

furthermore, be careful not cross over from this one, but stay here with my maids.

⁹ “Let your eyes be on [the portion of] the field which they work, and follow behind them.

Indeed, I have commanded the young men not to touch you. 

When you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the servants draw.”

Introduction

Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.

Notice then the story thus far: Ruth has gone out to a local field in order to glean/scavenge grain so that she and Naomi can eat. In the process of gleaning, she has inadvertently wandered into a section of the field where she does not have permission to glean.

When Boaz (the owner of that section of the field) arrives from town to check on the progress of his workers, he sees an unknown woman on his land. Therefore, he asks his young field watcher who she is and why she is in his field.

The young watcher informs Boaz that she is the young Moabite woman that they have all heard about, who returned with Naomi from Moab. Not only that, he goes on to report to his master that she has worked hard all day without causing any trouble.

In our text this morning, we hear Boaz’s response to the watcher’s report.

Verse 8

Notice at once the resolve: with verse 8 we have the first face to face encounter/ interaction between Boaz and Ruth ^FN#1&2. Not only that, notice before we even get to the specifics of this encounter, verse 8 very quietly presents us with the turning point of the whole book (and not just of the book but everything riding on the book: the Davidic dynasty, the messianic line, and the whole of redemptive history- it is all set in motion right here in the beginning of verse 8). How? Notice Boaz does not run Ruth off. However, neither does he simply give a nod of consent with no further thought about Ruth ^FN#3. Instead, notice the extraordinary surprise (and with it, the turning point of the book): Boaz, the wealthy Judean landowner goes over to Ruth, the impoverished, dirty, foreign gleaner and talks to her personally. Importance: every detail of verses 8-9 shows us that Boaz’s kindness to Ruth is completely beyond any of the norms or customs of the day. It is lavish and unheard of/unexpected.

Next, notice what Boaz says to Ruth: first he tells her to listen carefully. In other words, Boaz is not there for small talk or to make a polite introduction. Instead, he has come to tell Ruth something of the upmost importance and therefore he sternly advises her to heed his words. However, that said, notice the way Boaz addresses Ruth. Boaz calls Ruth “my daughter”, which is a common term of endearment/affection. In other words, even though Boaz’s words are stern, they are not negative or hostile. Instead, Boaz is there to look after Ruth’s wellbeing (which is a positive but serious matter). Importance: remember, Boaz has just learned that Ruth is his kinswoman’s daughter-in-law ^FN#4. In other words, Boaz is looking out for Ruth as a kindness to Naomi. In fact, it needs to be made crystal clear that there is no Hallmark music playing in the background here; nor is there a blush, or a spark of love, or a moment when their eyes meet. Instead, the solitary object of Boaz’s help and care is Naomi, who he is assisting by assisting Ruth, her daughter-in-law. 

Next, notice the instructions that Boaz gives Ruth: first, he tells her not to go glean in another field ^FN#5. Importance: at once verses 8-9 confirm our understanding of the risk that Ruth is taking by going out to glean. Thus, even though allowing foreigners to glean is required by Old Testament law (Deut 24:19), in practice, it was often unsafe (esp. for a foreign woman). Therefore, Boaz’s instruction is given to prevent Ruth from running into potential harm in another field. Not only that, it also points to the cover/protection that Boaz is directly providing Ruth. In other words, the reason she is to stay in his field is because he will insure her safety while she is there. Importance: notice at once, behind every detail of Boaz’s instruction is his extraordinary commitment to help Naomi through Ruth. As such, Boaz tells Ruth not to glean elsewhere, (not simply for safety reasons but) because there is no need for her to take such risk. Why? Boaz is going to insure that both Naomi and Ruth have plenty to eat.  

Next, notice right after Boaz tells Ruth not to go glean in another field, he goes on to say, furthermore be careful not to cross over into another field. However, please note, Boaz is not being repetitive here. Instead, after telling Ruth that there is no need to seek out grain in other fields, he also warns her to be careful not to mistakenly wander into another person’s portion of the field (which is exactly how she got onto Boaz’s land). Not only that, to insure that this sort of mistake will not happen again, Boaz tells her to stick close (lit cling) to his maidservants ^FN#6. Importance: remember the maidservants were the young women who would come along behind the male reapers and bundle up the grain after the reapers had cut it. Notice the result: staying close to the bundling girls not only kept Ruth in the right field, it also allowed her to collect more grain than would normally be possible. In fact, Boaz has not just moved Ruth up from being last in the gleaning line to being first, she is now in a place that is closer than even the native gleaners were allowed to be. Ruth is now with the bundle girls, instead of having to wait for them to clear out ^FN#7. 

Verse 9

Next, notice Boaz tells Ruth not only to stay close to his maids but also to keep her focus on the portion of his field that they are working. Why? Gleaning tends to be less methodical than reaping (which goes row by row and section by section so as not to miss anything). However, if a gleaner sees a nice bunch of grain a row or two over, they might well break from the reapers they have been following and go gather it before another gleaner gets it. Thus, Boaz tells Ruth not to do this. Instead, she is to stick in formation with his workers. Why? Frist, wandering off is a good way to find yourself in another, potentially less friendly field. Second, there is no need for Ruth to scamper from place to place and morsel to morsel. Instead, Boaz has not only set her in the optimal place to glean, he will also insure that she and Naomi have plenty of grain (more than even the best gleaner could acquire).

Next, notice Boaz goes on to assure Ruth that he has commanded his young men not to touch her. Importance: first, Boaz’s assurance underscores the uncommon and extraordinary nature of his kindness to Ruth. Think about it: normally if a worker saw a gleaner (especially a foreign one) pushing their way forward and standing with the bundlers, they would beat that gleaner and run him/her off. In fact, no one would ever dream that the landowner gave any gleaner such permission/privilege. Therefore, Boaz assures Ruth that he has made it explicitly clear to his workers that her placement is his doing and they are not to bother her. Not only that, verse 9 also confirms our understanding of the very real danger that gleaning presented to a woman (especially a foreigner). Thus, not only is there the danger of being physically mistreated and run off by a landowner and his workers, there is also the danger of being sexually assaulted or abused by unscrupulous workers. However, Boaz assures Ruth that, in his field, she is under his direct protection and care ^FN#8.  

Finally, Boaz tells Ruth that whenever she is thirsty, she is to go to the vessels and drink from what the servants draw ^FN#9. Importance: first, to be granted to drink from what a landowner has supplied for his workers was a privilege not extended to gleaners. Not only that, notice the contrast: not only has Boaz commanded his workers not to harm Ruth, he now instructs them to actually serve her. Simply put, when you consider this privilege, together with her position with the bundle girls, along with the cover of protection that she has received, what you realize is that Boaz has made Ruth as close to equal with his other workers as is possible. 

Bottom line: every detail of verse 8-9 underscores the lavish and unheard of nature of the kindness that Boaz has shown Naomi and Ruth. However, please make no mistake about it, at this point in the text, Ruth is not overjoyed by Boaz’s kindness. Instead, she is utterly baffled. She can’t begin to understand what has just happened or why. She feels dizzy; her ears are ringing; in fact, I think she is about to faint. So for now, we leave Ruth in the middle of a field speechless and way too overwhelmed to be overjoyed. And as we go our way, we are left to ponder a picture of God’s deliverance as swift, unstoppable, and at times, unnerving.

Footnotes

1] We have been waiting for this encounter on the edge of our seat. However, until verse 8 it has all been hit and miss. For example, Naomi and Ruth arrive in town but Boaz seemed to pay it little attention. Ruth shows up in Boaz’s field but Boaz isn’t even there. But now in verse 8 they finally meet.

2] As we prepare to watch this encounter unfold, we are reminded of all the extraordinary unnoticed things that God did to bring this meeting about in exactly this manner: Ruth just happened to wander into Boaz’s field; Boaz just happened to come check on his workers; and Ruth just happened to be taking a break in a place where she was easily noticed. Things could have turned out very different, but they didn’t. And the reason they didn’t is because God’s hand never stops working for His children (even when we don’t notice it at first). God has Ruth exactly where she needs to be, when she needs to be there.

3] Notice that both scenarios (be it running Ruth off or letting her glean with no further thought about her) would have been equally devastating to the account. Why? In either case, we would not have had the encounter between Ruth and Boaz, along with all that came out of that encounter.

4] We should point out that even though Boaz knows who Ruth is, Ruth has no idea who Boaz is or the reason for his kindness. Instead, Naomi will have to explain all of this to her later (2:20). Such then explain the absolute surprise and bafflement that we will see in Ruth going forward (e.g. 2:10). Think about it: Ruth is a foreigner in a field without permission. She sees the landowner heading towards her. Her heart sinks and all she can think is Oh no. But when Boaz reaches her, he does not run her off or grill her with harsh questions. Instead, with a gentle voice, he addresses her with a common term of affection. He calls her my daughter. Importance: in just a few seconds Ruth has gone from “oh no” to “wait what?” In other words, at this point in the account Ruth is not overjoyed, she is utterly baffled. In fact, everything Boaz is going to say to her is so extraordinary and unexpected it literally leaves Ruth’s head swimming. Why? She is missing the one key factor that makes sense of all of this. She doesn’t yet know that Boaz is a close kinsman.

5] It is important to accurately track the emotions in an emotionally filled passage like this. One of the best ways to do so is by paying attention to the specific language that is being used. Notice then when Boaz says “Listen carefully my daughter”. He is not giving Ruth a command. He is in no position to do so. She is neither his daughter or worker. Thus, instead of using an imperative (command) Boaz uses an instantaneous present followed by a jussive form verb. Now if that makes no sense to you, don’t worry. All you need to know is that the forms of these verbs combine to express a strong, sober, and sincerely given word of advice/instruction/urging. In other words, Boaz is looking out for Ruth’s best interest and doing all he can to help her. Therefore, he strongly warns/advises her to do the following.

6] Note: the language that Boaz uses here says more than simply that Ruth was to keep an eye on the maidens and follow behind them (any gleaner would have done that anyway- they followed behind the workers). Instead, the notion of clinging or sticking close indicates a direct company with the workers that was closer than anything allowed to gleaners. Thus, Ruth would be with the actual workers, only she would be gleaning not harvesting.

7] This is probably one of the reasons that in verse 9 Boaz tells the young men (the majority of whom would be reapers) not to touch Ruth. Normally, the reapers would ruff up and run off any pushy gleaner that crowded in on their work and tried to snatch good grain before it could be bundled. Instead, gleaners were to follow behind at a distance and wait to glean only after the bundlers’ work was done and they had moved on. But Ruth is with the bundle girls and is to cling/stay close to them.

8] Importance: Remember YHWH is the strength of In Strength (Boaz). Thus, in a very real sense, in Boaz’ kindness, care, and provision, we see YHWH’s kindness, care, and provision. Boaz is YHWH’s servant and His chief instrument of deliverance.

9] Two points: first it is interesting to note that nowhere in the text is water mentioned. We just assume that the vessels contained water. However, the nondescript nature of the text (“draw from what the servants draw”) indicates that it is quite possible that these vessels contained water mixed with wine- which quietly shows us Boaz’s heart. Boaz is providing his workers with more than is either required or expected. Not only that, he is now extending this generosity to Ruth. Simply put, as a genuine follower of YHWH, we see Boaz’s heart time and time again reflecting YHWH’s heart; and YHWH’s heart time and time again using Boaz’s heart as His instrument of deliverance.

            Second, notice the picture that the end of verse 9 provides: like the young field watcher in verse 5, the young male servants here have been assigned a specific task. Their job is to man the several pots containing the wine-water mix for the workers. Thus, when the workers come in, they provide them with drink. They also would carry the pots (like a water boy during a football game) to the workers in various spots in the field to prevent the workers from having to stop and come all the way in to get something to drink (thus saving time and labor). The result is that there would be a plurality of vessels and thus a plurality of water boys.