Ruth 3

10/12/2025

Chapter 3: Naomi decides that it would be best for Ruth's security and well being that Ruth and Boaz should be together. She lays out a plan for Ruth to approach Boaz. Ruth is to get dolled up and go to the threshing floor where Boaz is working into the night. She is to lay in wait, unnoticed until Boaz has his evening meal and settles in for to sleep for the night. Then she is to uncover his feet and lay down there and sleep at his feet, waiting for him to tell her what to do.

This really sounds to me like an old custom that Boaz would have recognized, but sounds strange to us. Perhaps this was a way of saying I am interested, if you are. Or, it could just be a way of talking to him privately, where no one would know. A way for both to save face if it didn't go as hoped.

Anyway, He wakes up around midnight and is startled to find her at his feet. It is dark, so he doesn't recognize her. He asks, "Who are you", and she says, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative." Basically, she proposed to him.

According to John MacArthur, Boaz was probably of a similar age as Naomi, old enough to be Ruth's dad. He was too much of a gentleman to propose himself, as it could be seen as an old man taking advantage of a younger women. Also, you can tell by the way they talk about each other that they respect and are impressed with each other, and have probably already fallen in love.

He assures her that he will do all she asks of him. Basically, he will be her near-kinsman in a levirate marriage.

5“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6“And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. Deut. 25:5,6

However, there is a hitch to the plan. Boaz informs her that although he is more than willing to do this for her, there is yet one who is an even closer relative. He will go find him and put it to him, and if he will do this, then good, let him. But if he will not, Boaz says he will. He lets her sleep there the rest of the night, makes sure she leaves before anyone notices she was there and sends her off with a large load of grain for her and Naomi.

When she returns home and tell Naomi what happened, Naomi tell to sit back and wait. Boaz will not rest until he has concluded this matter today.

This story doesn't spell it out for you, but you can tell by the way they handle themselves and each other and the whole situation that they have great feelings for each other and are going to do nothing to mess it up. When you go through proper channels, you are allowing God to bless it. If you try to short-cut it, you are bypassing God's blessing by chasing your own desires.