20140316 Sunday, March 16 2014
Ruth 03: The Threshingfloor Proposal

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth"

Naomi (see Ruth 1: Elimelech and Naomi) was well-aware that the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) was the actual "matchmaker" of Boaz and Ruth (see Ruth 2: The Meeting Of Ruth and Boaz).

"2:20 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 KJV)

With their first meeting accomplished, Naomi then confidently arranged for the proposal. As we will read, it wasn't merely some sort of sly scheme of marriage on the part of Naomi. Just as Naomi had done with the gleaner's law and custom (see The Gleaner's Law) that enabled Ruth to harvest grain anywhere, including, as she chose, in the field of Boaz, Naomi was assisting the newcomer-immigrant Ruth to claim her legal marriage right as a widow in Israel.

"3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 3:2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3:3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 3:4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

3:5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do." (Ruth 3:1-5 KJV)

Once again, all went well. There remained only the matter of the legal custom pertaining to widows: "I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I." Boaz then pledged to attend to the matter with the man, "it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth."

"3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

3:7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

3:9 And he said, Who art thou?

And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

3:10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 3:13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

3:14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

3:15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

3:16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter?

And she told her all that the man had done to her. 3:17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

3:18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." (Ruth 3:6-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: How were John the Baptist and the apostle John actual kinsmen of the Messiah?
See The Kinsfolk Of Jesus Of Nazareth