Let's begin our Bible Study on the Book of Ruth by looking at the World Book Encyclopedia. Let’s look at the definition of ‘Shavuot’, which is the Hebrew word for the Feast of Weeks. In the New Testament the Feast of Weeks is known as Pentecost. Quoting from the World Book Encyclopedia, "Shavuot is a Jewish festival that celebrates the day the Ten Commandments – the foundation of Jewish written law – was revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. It falls in May or June, on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside Israel observe Shavuot for two days. The holiday is also called the Feast of Weeks, because it comes seven weeks or a week of weeks, after the first day of Passover.

The ancient Hebrews celebrated Shavuot as a harvest festival. They made pilgrimages to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple. During the festival today, Jews read the Book of Ruth from the Bible."

The Book of Ruth is set during the spring harvest. This Festival, the feast of weeks, is commanded in Leviticus 23 versus 15 through 22. Verse 16 talks about counting 50. In the New Testament this festival is called Pentecost and in the Greek the word Pentecost means count 50.

The feast of weeks, pictures harvest which makes the Book of Ruth a good book to read during this festival. The Book of Ruth is about a woman who gleans. Notice in Leviticus 23 verse 22 it says to leave the corners of their fields for the poor. Ruth pictures the poor. We are going to begin reading the Book of Ruth and as we do, we will try to bring in some New Testament teaching.

Open your Bible to Ruth chapter one and verse one.

1-1. Did these events take place when the judges ruled? Was there a famine in the land? Did this family sojourn to the country of Moab?
Comments: The book of Ruth is placed after the book of Judges, because the story of Ruth occurs during the time of the book of Judges in the days right after Joshua. Moab was located to the east of Judah and the land of Israel. Moab was inhabited by the descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham

1-2. What was the name of the man, his wife and 2 sons?
Comments: The names of the people in this book are important: Elimelech means ‘My God is king’, Naomi means my ‘delight’, or ‘delightful one’ or ‘beautiful’. Mahlon means ‘sickly’ or ‘infirmity’. Chillion means ‘vanishing’ or ‘vanity’, ‘finished, completed’.

1-3 Did Naomi's husband die?
Comments: One commentary says that Elimelech probably died a short time after he arrived in Moab.

1-4 Did Naomi's two sons take wives of the women of Moab? What were their names? How long did they dwell there?
Comments: In Deuteronomy 7:1-4 God tells His people not to marry the people of other nations. This had nothing to do with race, but religion. Verse 4 says: "For they will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods"

The name Orpah means ‘gazelle’ or ‘one that runs quickly’. Ruth means a ‘female friend’.

1-5 Did Naomi's two sons die?

1-6 Did Naomi plan on leaving the country of Moab? Had she heard the famine was over in the land of Judah and the Lord had given them bread?
Comments: Notice the phrase "the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread." This meant that the famine was over. The famine was the reason they had left Israel to go to Moab. Since the famine was over Naomi wanted to go home to the land of Judah to her people. We New Testament Christians are to eat of the bread of life that Jesus Christ gives us (John 6).

1-7. Did Naomi leave with her two daughters-in-law with her? Were they returning to the land of Judah?

1-8. What did Naomi tell her two daughters-in-law?

1-9. Did Naomi kiss her two daughters-in -laws good bye and did they weep?

1-10. Did both of the daughter-in-law's say they would return with Naomi to her people?

1-11. What did Naomi say to her two daughters-in-law?
Comments: Naomi knew she had nothing to offer her daughters-in-law. She was thinking
of their welfare.

1-12. Did Naomi encourage her daughters-in-law again to go their way, and that she was too old to bear sons?
Comments: Naomi was to old to bear sons and husbands for her two daughters-in-law. Deuteronomy 25 verse five mentions the law of a woman taking a dead brother's brother for a husband to rear children for her dead husband.

1-13. Did Naomi say that the "hand of the Lord is gone out against me"?

1-14. Did they lift up their voices and weep again? Did Orpah kiss Naomi and leave? What did Ruth do?
Comments: Orpha left quickly like a gazelle and Ruth was a real friend who stayed by Naomi's side.

1-15. Did Naomi encourage Ruth to follow her sister-in-law back to her people, and to her gods?
Comments: Notice that Orpha returned to her people and her gods. Moab's god was Chemosh.

1-16. What did Ruth say? Did Ruth say "Where you go I will go?" Did she say "Your people shall be my people?" Did she say "Your God will be my God?" Comments: This was an extraordinary attachment and bond that Ruth had for Naomi.

1-17. Did Ruth also say "Where you die, I will die?"
Comments: Ruth showed commitment and was willing to forsake all she had in order to go and be with Naomi. Ruth was willing to go all the way, even to death.
Luke 14 verse 33 says "We are required to forsake all we have in order to be a disciple of Jesus." A disciple is a follower. Ruth wanted to follow Naomi.
Ruth was committed to Naomi. We also must be committed to Jesus Christ. Luke 9 verse 62 quotes Jesus as saying, "No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." We must be committed to Jesus Christ unto death.

1-18. When Naomi saw that Ruth had set her mind to go with her did she then quit
trying to tell her to leave?
Comments: Ruth had counted the cost. We must count the cost as it says Luke 14 verse 28, and also verse 33 where it says to "Forsake all." When Naomi saw Ruth's determination she allowed her to follow. As a Christian it takes determination of a disciple of Jesus to follow God's way of life.

1-19. Did Naomi and Ruth leave the country of Moab and come to Bethlehem in the land of Judah? Was all the city of Bethlehem excited to see Naomi?
Comments: It appears that in Bethlehem Naomi was very well known and highly respected which indicates that her husband Elimelech was also very well known and highly respected in Bethlehem.

The word 'Bethlehem' means house of bread. Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus Christ, who was the 'bread of life' (John 6).

1-20. Did Naomi tell the people not to call her Naomi, but Mara? Why did she want them to call her Mara?
Comments: The word 'Naomi' means my ‘delight’ or ‘pleasant’. 'Mara' means bitter. In effect, Naomi was saying, that her experience in Moab had brought her so much grief that she should not be called Naomi.

1-21. Did Naomi feel that the Lord brought her home empty? Did she feel the Almighty had afflicted her?

1-22. Did Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest?

Comments: Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley
harvest. This would've been around Passover. The wave sheaf offering was cut after the Saturday Sabbath during the days of unleavened bread. It was prepared during the night and then offered on Sunday morning. It was 'waived' or 'lifted up' as an offering to God. Then, the barley harvest officially began. After the barley harvest came the wheat harvest at Pentecost.

2-1. What was the name of Naomi's kinsman who was a mighty man of wealth?

2-2. Did Ruth ask Naomi to let her glean ears of barley grain?
Comments: The Feast of Weeks, which is called Pentecost in the New Testament, was ordained in Leviticus 23:15-22. Notice what God commands in verse 22,
"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not make clean riddance of the corners of your field when you reap, ... you shall leave them for the poor, and the stranger." It was a part of the law of God that poor people could go into the harvest fields and glean the corners of the fields. So Ruth was asserting her right to glean as being poor and a stranger. This was God’s welfare plan. Notice that the poor had to work at gleaning. It was not just handed to them.

2-3. Whose field did Ruth glean in? Comments: This verse reads: "And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." Notice the word ‘happened’ which implies being accidental. It was more providential because it seems that God was leading the events and the genealogy leading up to David’s birth.

2-4. What did Boaz say to the reapers?

2-5. Did Boaz notice Ruth gleaning?

2-6. What did the servant tell Boaz?

2-7. How long had Ruth been gleaning?
Comments: Notice that Ruth asked if she could glean. Notice the phrase "though she rested a little in the house." The ‘house’ was probably a ‘shelter’ or ‘hut’ erected in the field to get out of the sun and for rest and refreshment.

2-8 Where did Boaz tell Ruth to glean?
Comments: Boaz found grace and favor in Ruth and wanted her to remain faithful to him and only glean in his field. God expects us to remain faithful to Him once He gives us grace and favors us.

2-9. What did Boaz tell his young men? Whose water was Ruth to drink?
Comments: Boaz accepted Ruth as a gleaner and offered her protection and to
drink of his water. In John 7:37 Jesus said "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink." In a sense Boaz pictures Jesus Christ.

2-10. Did Ruth humble herself before Boaz? Did she ask why he had found favor
with her?
Comments: Ruth asked, "Why me?" John 6:44 says that only God can call us, and
most of us have probably asked, "Why did God call me?"

2-11. Did Boaz's answer pertain to Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi? 
Comments: Leaving the land of one’s birth was a real sacrifice.

2-12.Whose wings were Ruth trusting in?
Comments: Notice the words 'full reward' in this verse. Ruth had accepted God as
her God. She was a proselyte.

2-13. Did Ruth ask Boaz to find favor in his sight for her?
Comments: Boaz’s kindness to Ruth was pure grace. Notice the phrase "you have comforted me" in this verse. Jesus gave us God’s Holy Spirit as a Comforter (John 14:16).

2-14. Did Boaz tell Ruth to eat with him and his reapers at mealtime? Did Boaz tell Ruth to "dip your piece of bread in the vinegar?"
Comments: The Hebrew word for ‘vinegar’ is ‘chomets’ and this seems to have been some kind of refreshing acid sauce which both cooled and refreshed them. Notice that Ruth was invited to eat bread with Boaz. Also notice in John 6:48-58 that we are to eat of the bread of Jesus Christ.

2-15. Did Boaz tell his young men that Ruth could even glean among the sheaves?

2-16. Did Boaz tell his young men to drop grain on purpose for Ruth?
Comments: Boaz had his young men to drop grain for Ruth on purpose to encourage her so she would be rewarded for her efforts. God encourages us in our effort in our Christian life. He rewards us along the way with different blessings.

2-17. Did Ruth glean until evening? 
Comments: Ruth gleaned about an ephah of barley which was enough to support Naomi and Ruth for about 5 days.

2-18. Did Ruth show Naomi her gleanings?

2-19. Did Naomi ask Ruth where she gleaned that day?
Comments: It is amazing how God worked it out that Ruth went to the field of Boaz.

2-20. Did Naomi tell Ruth that Boaz was a near kinsman?
Comments: A kinsman redeemer had the right to redeem that which belonged to another relative . (Leviticus 25).

2-21. Did Ruth tell Naomi that Boaz told her to stay close to his young men until the end of the harvest?

2-22. Did Naomi tell Ruth to stay in the fields of Boaz and glean?
Comments: Naomi admonished Ruth to be faithful to Boaz even though there might be another field that might look tempting. The Church should encourage us to remain faithful to God. The Church should be a helper of our joy.

2-23. Did Ruth stay in the fields of Boaz unto the end of the barley and wheat harvest? Did Ruth continue to live with Naomi?
Comments: Notice that Ruth remained with Boaz throughout the barley and wheat
harvest. Ruth also remained close to Naomi her mother-in-law. We must remain close and faithful to God and Jesus Christ and remain in the Church. The spiritual Church of God is not a church corporation. It is a spiritual entity.

Also notice that the barley and wheat harvest is over. Our time frame here should be around Pentecost.

Let's ponder what's going on. Naomi is going to play matchmaker. We see a romance developing between Boaz and Ruth. Spiritually, we should see a romance developing between Jesus and the Church. The Church is to be the Bride of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14).

3-1. Did Naomi ask Ruth, "Shall I not seek rest for you?"
Comments: Naomi was concerned about Ruth's welfare. The 'rest' or 'security' in
some translations is probably referring to a husband.

3-2. Did Naomi tell Ruth that Boaz was going to be winnowing barley that night?
Comments: Naomi is encouraging Ruth to seek out Boaz as a husband. Spiritually, we are to marry Jesus. The Church is the bride and Jesus is the groom.

Winnowing barley – they would throw the barley in the air and the wind would blow the chaff away and the grain would fall to the floor. This was done usually at night, when the winds from the sea would blow. Spiritually Jesus will winnow or separate the wheat from the chaff (Matthew 3:12).

3-3. Did Naomi tell Ruth to bathe and anoint herself and put her best raiment on? Was she to wait until Boaz had finished eating and drinking?
Comments: She was to bathe and put on some perfume to smell good. She was to put on some clean attractive clothes that would attract Boaz's attention.
Spiritually, we are to repent and bathe in the waters of baptism and be anointed with oil and receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). We are to be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:7-8).

3-4. Did Naomi tell Ruth to watch where Boaz laid down and for her to go and uncover his feet and lay there? Was Boaz to tell her what to do?
Comments: To "uncover his feet" was a custom at that time to remind the kinsman redeemer of his duty.

3-5. Did Ruth agree to do as Naomi said to do?
Comments: Ruth had a good attitude and was going to do as Naomi instructed her.
We disciples of Jesus Christ need to be obedient to His words. A good place to start is with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.

3-6. Did Ruth do everything Naomi, her mother-in-law, told her to do?

3-7. Was Boaz's heart merry from his eating and drinking? Did Ruth uncover his feet and lay down?
Comments: It was a custom at that time to sleep on a threshing room floor during the harvest. There was a lot of people in the room and nothing immoral was going on.
3-8. What happened at midnight? Was Boaz startled to find a woman at his feet?

3-9. What did Boaz say? What did Ruth say?
Comments: The term 'under your wing' or 'under your skirt' was symbolic of denoting protection. In a sense Ruth was proposing to Boaz.

3-10. What did Boaz say that Ruth showed? What did he say about her following the young men?
Comments: Let's look at the following phrase: "For you have showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning." Boaz is probably referring to Ruth wanting to obey God in the law regarding the kinsman redeemer, where she would marry a relative of her dead husband to carry on his heritage, rather than desiring to marry a young man. There is a tradition that Boaz was 80 years old when he married Ruth.

3-11. Did Boaz say that the whole city knew that Ruth was a virtuous woman? 
Comments: Read Proverbs 31 to see the virtues of a Virtuous Woman. Ruth had many of these virtues and character traits.

3-12. Did Boaz acknowledge that he was Ruth's near kinsman? But what else did
Boaz tell Ruth? 
Comments: A Levirate Marriage (Hebrew: yibbum) is mandated by Deuteronomy 25:5-6 of the Hebrew Bible and obliges a brother to marry the widow of his childless deceased brother, with the firstborn child being treated as that of the deceased brother, (see also Genesis 38:8) which renders the child the heir of the deceased brother and not the genetic father.

3:13. Did Boaz tell Ruth to wait until morning and that he would talk to the relative that was a closer kinsman?
Comments: Boaz vowed to take Ruth as his wife if the closer kinsman relinquished his right. Spiritually we have a prior claim over us before Jesus Christ
can take us. It is the claim of death because of sin. We must repent (Acts 2:38, John 3:16).

3-14. What did Boaz tell Ruth?

3-15. Before Ruth left, how much barley did Boaz give Ruth? What did he put the barley in?

3-16. Did Ruth tell her mother-in-law Naomi everything that happened between
her and Boaz?

3-17. What did Ruth tell Namoi that Boaz said?

3-18. Did Naomi tell Ruth that Boaz would not "rest until he had finished the thing this day.
Comments: Naomi is telling Ruth that when Boaz says he will do something, he will do it. We need to trust and have faith in God in what He says and that He will do it.

4-1. Did Boaz go up to the gate and meet with the kinsman who was closer to Ruth that he was? 
Comments: The gate or entrance to a town was the place where the court of justice was ordinarily conducted.

4-2. How many elders of the city did Boaz ask to be witnesses
Comments: Ten people was probably required to constitute a court. Jewish law required 10 witnesses for a marriage or conveyance of property.

4-3. Did Boaz tell the kinsman Naomi had a parcel of land to sell?

4-4. Did Boaz tell the near kinsman to redeem the property? Did Boaz tell the kinsman that if he would not buy the property then he would buy it?
Comments: Notice that Boaz tells the near kinsman about redeeming the land first.

4-5. Did Boaz then tell the near kinsman that if he bought the field from Naomi he would also have to take Ruth, the wife of the dead, and raise up an inheritance?
Comments: Boaz now reveals that there is a catch to the deal, the near kinsman must marry Ruth.

4-6. How did the near kinsman answer? What was the reason for his answer? Did
he tell Boaz that he could redeem it?
Comments: The near kinsman declined the offer.

4-7. What was the custom in the days of Boaz for confirming things?

4-8. What did the kinsman say to Boaz? What did the kinsman do then?
Comments: The sandal was the method of legalizing a transaction. You gave your neighbor one of your sandals and you kept the other sandal. A carbon copy in the presence of the 10 witnesses.

4-9. Were the elders of the city witnesses of Boaz's purchase of the property of Elimelech at the hand of Naomi? 
Comments: Boaz stated publicly that he had taken possession of the property and assumed the responsibility for Naomi and Ruth.

4-10. Did Boaz testify that he purchased Ruth to be his wife? Did he also testify that he would raise up children for the inheritance for the dead husband of Ruth?
Comments: Boaz says that he bought the property and was acquiring Ruth as his wife. Spiritually Acts 20:28 says, "The Church of God has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ."

4-11. Were all of the people at the gate witnesses for Boaz's legal case? Did the people desire Boaz and Ruth to have many children? Did they also desire that Boaz be famous in Bethlehem?
Comments: This verse mentions Rachel and Leah. These 2 women had 6 children
between them which was half of the 12 sons that Jacob had with his 4 wives. Notice the word ‘Ephrathah‘ in this verse. Bethlehem is in the region of Ephrathah.

4-12. Did the people mention the house of Pharez?
Comments: Judah had married a Canaanite woman and had a son Er who married Tamar (Genesis 38). Er was wicked and the Lord killed him. Judah had Er's brother Onan marry Tamar but he did not want to have a child with Tamar for his brother's inheritance, so the Lord killed him. After the death of two husbands Tamar took the manner into her own hands. In the disguise of a harlot, she enticed Judah into a sinful relationship which produced twin boys, Pharez and Zarah. This was appropriate, for from Pharez, the son of Judah, came the family of the Bethlehemites and that of
Elimehech, who was Naomi’s husband.

4-13. Did Boaz take Ruth as his wife? Did the LORD help her to conceive and have a child?
Comments: When Ruth married Boaz she became an inheritor of all that Boaz had.
Paul said in Romans 8:17 that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, because of our marital relationship with Jesus Christ.

4-14. Did the women of the city say to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel?"

4-15. Did the women of the city say to Naomi, "Your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons?"

4-17. Who recommended the name for the child? What name did they suggest? Who was this child's son and grandson?
Comments: Obed means ‘servant’. Ruth was David's great-grandmother.

Comments: Notice the genealogy from Boaz to David. In Luke 3:23-32 and in Matthew 1:1-17, we can see the genealogy continues on from Boaz to David and then on to Jesus Christ.

In Conclusion: We have looked at the Book of Ruth and have seen that there is
great substance to this book. It is more than a book of poetry.
Physically this book is about firstfruits. Spiritually we, the saints, are the firstfruits.
Physically Boaz was a redeemer. Spiritually Christ is our redeemer.
Physically Naomi pictures the Church. Spiritually we, the saints, are the Church.
Physically Ruth showed commitment to Naomi. Spiritually we must show commitment to Jesus Christ.
Physically Ruth was the bride of Boaz. Spiritually we are the Bride of Christ.

Let’s close with Revelation 14:1, "I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
{4} These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."

Revelation 19:7, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

Let's remember Ruth's example and what we have learned from the Book of Ruth.

Elimelech's Family Goes to Moab

(Ruth 1 KJV) Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. {2} And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. {3} And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. {4} And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. {5} And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Naomi Returns with Ruth

{6} Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. {7} Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. {8} And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. {9} The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. {10} And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. {11} And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? {12} Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; {13} Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. {14} And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. {15} And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. {16} And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: {17} Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. {18} When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. {19} So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? {20} And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. {21} I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? {22} So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.


Ruth Meets Boaz

(Ruth 2 KJV) And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. {2} And 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. {3} 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. {4} And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. {5} Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? {6} And 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: {7} And 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. {8} Then 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: {9} Let 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. {10} Then 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? {11} And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed 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. {12} 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. {13} Then 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. {14} And 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. {15} And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: {16} And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. {17} So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. {18} And 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. {19} And 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 showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. {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. {21} And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. {22} And 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. {23} So 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.


Ruth's Redemption Assured

(Ruth 3 KJV) 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? {2} And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. {3} Wash thy self 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. {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. {5} And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. {6} And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. {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. {8} And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. {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. {10} And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. {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. {12} And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. {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. {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. {15} Also he said, Bring the veil 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. {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. {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. {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.


Boaz Redeems Ruth

(Ruth 4 KJV) Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. {2} And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. {3} And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: {4} And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. {5} Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. {6} And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. {7} Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. {8} Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. {9} And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. {10} Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. {11} And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: {12} And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Descendants of Boaz and Ruth

{13} So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. {14} And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. {15} And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him. {16} And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. {17} And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. {18} Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, {19} And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, {20} And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, {21} And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, {22} And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.