History · Chapter 2 of 4

Ruth 2

Ruth, a poor Moabite widow, goes out to glean barley and happens upon a field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy relative of her dead husband. Boaz notices her, protects her, invites her to eat, and orders his workers to leave extra grain for her. When Ruth tells Naomi, her mother-in-law rejoices, for Boaz is a near kinsman who could redeem their family.

What happens in Ruth 2

Naomi has a kinsman named Boaz, a man of wealth from Elimelech's family. Ruth asks to glean in the fields, gathering leftover grain as the law allowed for the poor and the foreigner, and providentially she ends up in Boaz's field. Boaz arrives from Bethlehem, greets his reapers, and asks about the young woman. Learning she is the Moabite who returned with Naomi, he speaks to her kindly, tells her to stay close to his workers, and promises she will be safe and given water.

Ruth bows, amazed that a stranger should find such favor. Boaz answers that he has heard of her loyalty to Naomi and prays that the LORD, under whose wings she has come to trust, would reward her. At mealtime he feeds her, then secretly commands his men to let grain fall on purpose for her. She gleans an ephah of barley and brings it home, and Naomi recognizes God's kindness at work.

Ruth 2 in context

The book of Ruth is set during the days of the judges, a dark and lawless era, yet it tells a quiet story of faithfulness and grace. Naomi had returned to Bethlehem from Moab bereaved of her husband and two sons, accompanied only by Ruth, who had pledged undying loyalty.

As widows they are destitute, dependent on the gleaning laws that let the poor gather what reapers left behind. This chapter begins their unexpected turn toward hope.

Main themes of Ruth 2

Ruth 2 (KJV)

1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 14And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 16And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 21And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. 22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Verses to carry from Ruth 2

“And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.”Ruth 2:3

“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”Ruth 2:12

“And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.”Ruth 2:20

Reflection

Ruth teaches us to keep taking the next faithful step even when life looks bleak. She went to work, trusted God, and found grace waiting. Consider where God may be quietly at work in your ordinary days. And rest in this, that like Ruth you are welcomed by a Redeemer who gives you far more than you could ever earn.

A prayer from Ruth 2