Ruth 2:21-22
Ruth 2:20 Then My Peasant One (Naomi) said to her young daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by YHWH because he (Baoz) has not abandoned his loyalty to the living or the dead.” And My Pleasant One (Naomi) said to her, “This man is our close relative, he is one of our family guardians.”
21 Then Companion (Ruth) the Moabitess said,
“Indeed, he even said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my servants
until they have finished my whole harvest.'”
22 And My Pleasant One (Naomi) said to Companion (Ruth) her young daughter-in-law,
“It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids,
so that others do not fall upon you in another field.”
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Notice then the story thus far: Ruth has returned home after spending the entire day gleaning/scavenging for grain. To Naomi’s amazement she comes home with a 50 pound sack of grain.
However, by the end of last week’s passage both Naomi and Ruth are all up to speed. As such, Naomi knows how Ruth got so much grain (she was gleaning in Boaz’s field). In turn, Ruth knows that Boaz is a close relative of the family.
At the same time, we too as readers have gained some vital information that we will need moving forward in the account. That is, we have been introduced to the notion of a family guardian and with it the ideas of future, inclusion, and the redemption of a family line, which are all so central to the remainder of the book.
In our text this morning the conversation between Naomi and Ruth continues and with it the growing excitement over the possibility that maybe, just maybe, God’s hand is at work in their situation after all.
Verse 21
Notice at once, immediately after Naomi informs Ruth of Boaz’s tie to their family, Ruth in rapid fire exuberance goes on to tell Naomi about yet another instance of Boaz’s amazing kindness to her. In other word, to Ruth the additional information she supplies here is meant to reinforce Naomi’s excitement that Boaz is a guardian to their family. That is, Ruth demonstrates that Boaz wasn’t just nice to her, it seems that he was looking out for their wellbeing (like a guardian would). Notice then, you can feel the excitement and the energy build as the light of possibility/hope begins to shine brighter for both women (Naomi has exclaimed, Boaz is our family guardian. Ruth immediately interjects “Oh my gosh, guess what else he did”).
However, notice the surprise: in a book that is all about names and in a section of the text that constantly plays these Hebrew names off of the more general descriptions (like mother-in-law); it is significant that (after spending an entire chapter on YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth) that the author goes out of his way to refer to her as a Moabitess. Why? At first glance this description seems completely unnecessary and out of place. We have seen Ruth’s conversion and understand the significance it will serve moving forward in the account. However, up till now, the two women have not shared this insight. Notice then the point: with the single word, “Moabitess” the author skillfully pulls us back to the level of those in the account. That is, he does not let our understanding of things override what the participants in these events are actually thinking and feeling at this stage in the text. Instead, the author allows us to hear and share the wonder and bafflement of the women’s discovery as it occurs. Simply put, up till now Moabite is how both women have viewed Ruth FN#1. However, every detail of this passage indicates that things have changed and the women are just now coming to see it. Ruth is no longer a Moabite. Instead, she is Hebrew Companion. Notice then, the opening of verse 21 sets these two conflicting notions (Moabite and Hebrew) before us side by side even as their resolve is just beginning to take shape in the women’s mind FN#2. In other words, we are watching as the women come to grasp the extreme importance of Ruth’s conversion and her oath to YHWH (1:15-17).
Next, notice what Ruth tells Naomi: Not only that, notice the joy and excitement we hear in her voice: Ruth begins her disclosure with not one but two emphatic conjunctions. She says to Naomi, Indeed, he even said to me. In other words, every detail of this conversation points to the growing exuberance of two destitute women who are coming to see the hope of a possible deliverance. Importance: in a very real sense the joy we are to feel/share as we engage with the text, reflects the joy that our heavenly Father has to deliver. In other words, God is not miserly with His kindness. Rather, He rejoices to deliver. Notice then, in the same way, at just the right time for you, God rejoices to deliver you (just like He did with Naomi and Ruth). Thus, in a very real way, Naomi and Ruth’s joy anticipate your own.
Next, notice what Ruth says: Ruth tells Naomi the way that Boaz not only allowed her to glean in his field but also instructed her to stay close to his own workers. In other words, Ruth’s addition underscores that this “family guardian” placed her in the first and best place to gather and at the same time also provided for her safety. Furthermore, notice that Ruth adds a detail that we did not hear in her conversation with Boaz back in 2:8-16. She says that Boaz told her to remain in his field and with his workers until the workers have finished his whole harvest. In other words, this family guardian’s kindness was not just a one and done gesture. Instead, his kindness points to a larger willingness/commitment to provide for his kin women’s wellbeing. Importance: as the women talk, Naomi is beginning to see more clearly the path of deliverance that YHWH just might be providing FN#3. However, as of yet she is not certain. So for now, she will wait and watch how things develop before she acts on any possibility FN#4.
Verse 22
Notice at once Naomi’s response to Ruth: however, first notice the way the author refers to Ruth: in a book that is all about names and in a section of the text that constantly plays these Hebrew names off of the more general descriptions notice the author refers to Ruth as Naomi’s daughter-in-law. Why? By now we already know Ruth’s relation to Naomi. However, the author is not being needlessly repetitive nor does he have a low view of his readers. Instead, the author is skillfully preparing us to see what follows. Thus, by reminding us that Ruth is only Naomi’s daughter-in-law we are prepared to see the genuine and deep affection Naomi has for Ruth when in contrast she calls her “my daughter”. Not only that, we see Naomi regaining a bit of her composure. As such, or the first time in this conversation we hear Naomi speaking (not from sheer wonder) but as the matriarch and head of the family. Notice then, by reminding us that Ruth is a young marriage age girl, we are prepared to see Naomi’s genuine concern for her safety.
Next, notice what Naomi says to Ruth: she says it is good/fitting my daughter, that you go out with his young maidservants so that others do not fall upon you in another field FN#5. Importance: verse 22 confirms our reading thus far: first, we hear Naomi’s genuine love and affection for Ruth in the contrast between mere daughter-in-law and Naomi’s expression here “my daughter”. In other words, the fellowship and bond between these women is genuine and deep. Second, in Naomi’s concern for Ruth’s safety, we again see the real danger that Ruth has undertaken by going to glean. Remember, to glean as a young foreign woman is to risk being beaten and run off by impatient landowners or to be molested and attacked by unscrupulous workers. Thus, the very real risk that Ruth was willing to take underscores her character and her deep love for Naomi. In other words, the bond between these two women is mutual and deep FN#6. Finally, we see Naomi regaining her composure and acting as the authority figure of the family. Thus, Naomi, out of real love and concern for Ruth, turns to instruct Ruth to do exactly as Boaz offered FN#7. Simply put, Naomi assures Ruth that she is not being presumptuous or taking advantage of Boaz’s kindness. Instead, Boaz has offered exactly what he intended to offer. Therefore, it is good/right for Ruth to stay in his field and with his workers where Naomi knows she will be safe.
Bottom line: by the time the women’s conversation winds down it is late in the night and Ruth has a long day of gleaning ahead of her. However, as the two women head off to bed, their hearts are full of wonder and hope. Naomi is beginning to see that she is not abandoned but is pleasant to YHWH. Ruth is not a Moabite but Hebrew Companion and an accepted child of YHWH. And Boaz, Boaz has shown the care of a family guardian. Thus, as sleep comes to the house, there is the joy that just maybe God’s hand is truly at work in their situation.
Footnote
1] In real time, Naomi until now has comply missed the significance of Ruth’s conversion. In turn, Ruth is still trying to wrap her head around all that just happened and is still coming to terms with the reality of the acceptance that is now hers. She doesn’t yet have the spiritual categories to understand her acceptance. For this she will need Naomi’s spiritual maturity and mentorship as her mother in faith.
2] In a very real sense as we ask why is Ruth still being called a Moabitess, the women are asking how will all of this work out if Ruth is just a Moabitess? At the same time, the play between Hebrew names and general descriptions alerts us that the author’s use of these Hebrew names in this section is largely reflexive. That is, it mirrors the women’s self-understanding of themselves. Thus, the persistence and predominance of the Hebrew names in verses 21-22 underscore that both women are coming to see that God’s hand and favor are the true defining reality of who they are. Naomi is “My Pleasant One” and Ruth is Hebrew “Companion”. Notice then the outcome: by the time we get to 3:1, Naomi has realized Ruth’s conversion and its significance. Therefore, she is seeking security for Ruth through marriage (something not possible among God’s people unless Ruth was God’s child). Simply put, it is here in verses 20-21 that the reality of Companion’s conversion is beginning to sink in.
One final point: in 2:2 Ruth is described as “Ruth the Moabitess” (we do not hear her name again until verse 21). In 2:6, the young field watcher identifies her to Boaz as “the young Moabite woman”, who they all have heard returned with Naomi. Thus, while everyone views Ruth as a Moabite, the entire main body of chapter 2 underscores her acceptance by YHWH as His child. Notice then, this same contrast and discovery that played out in the first part of chapter 2 is repeated here in condensed form as the two women experience the same discovery. Ruth is Hebrew Companion and a genuine child of YHWH.
3] Boaz is acting like a family guardian and showing genuine concern for the two women; even though he does not have to (there is another even closer relative 2:20). Thus, maybe, just maybe he might be willing to redeem their family line.
4] Verse 21 is in all likelihood a summary of everything that Boaz said to Ruth in 2:8-16. However, since we just listened to the whole account, the author gives us the crucial highlights of Ruth’s report to Naomi. That said, we have to imagine the thousand questions and countless details that were a part of this conversation between two excited and overjoyed women, details which carried their talk long into the night.
5] Note: the idea that verse 21 gave us only the highlights of Naomi and Ruth’s conversation is further supported by verse 22. Thus in verse 21 Ruth told Naomi that she was to stay with Boaz’s servants (which was a masculine plural noun that served as a collective whole). However, in the very next verse (22) we see that Naomi is clear that Ruth was to stay with his young female servants (bundling girls). In fact, the word used by Naomi to describe these girls is the very same word used by Boaz in 2:8 when he gave Ruth this instruction, a detail that points to a wider disclosure than the simple highlights that were reported here by the text (since we have already heard them earlier in the chapter). Importance: understanding the nature of what the text is telling us here (just highlights) keeps us from truncating the conversation and reducing it to a flat, lifeless set of bullet points. Instead, we are allowed to share in the joy and excitement of the full scene, while noting that the author’s selection of the highlights that he has included is intentional and allows us to track the key factors in the women’s discovery as it unfolds in real time.
6] The very real risk that Ruth takes by going to glean underscores the very real desperation of the women’s situation, which motivated such a risk. That Ruth was willing to go and that Naomi consented to it, shows us just how bad things had gotten for them. They were at rock bottom and out of options. Importance: our rock bottom is not rock bottom for God. However, like Naomi, it is at this very point that we too often feel hopeless and abandoned by God. However, just as with Naomi, God’s hand has never stopped working in our situation, even though (like Naomi) we don’t always see it or like the course it takes.
7] This dynamic of Naomi’s genuine love and matriarchal authority, which has just reemerged is going to be vitally important as we move forward. It is this dynamic (love/authority) that provides the framework and emotive context for what takes place beginning in 3:1. Remember, Ruth is a book that is all about legal transactions.