King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 7 notes
1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
When did she make this statement of seeking rest for her daughter? I am sure Ruth had worked hard all harvest, and her mother-in-law was touched at her sincerity of heart in helping her all this while.
And now she becomes a destiny helper for the young lady and opens a door of rest for her.
2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
How did Naomi, who was not in the fields, know what Ruth, who was in the fields, ought to do?
This shows the power of experience and true mentorship.
She knew a Good Man like Boaz, if you give him a thousand years, would not make the move, though he was interested.
So the move had to be made for him.
These good men.
3Wash 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.
4And 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.
5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7And 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.
Obviously alcoholic, a drink 🍻 that maketh merry ought to be fermented.
Or?
8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9And 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.
10And 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.
Boaz was a near kinsman to the dead. It was famine that drove them to go to Moab, so how come Boaz was now rich? I suspected he kept some seed and was one of the first to have planted, and he reaped mightily because he had corn, or wheat rather. Then he raked in the returns and planted big the next year, and the Lord rained mightily upon his land and blessed him.
And now out of famine came a mighty man of wealth. This is my conjecture, my thoughts.
She showed her true kindness and love for her husband and his family by still seeking that children be raised up in the name of the dead, as required by custom.
11And 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.
Boaz, he was interested but 'feared'.
These kind of men. Hmm
12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13Tarry 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.
14And 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.
15Also 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.
16And 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.
17And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
Oh, a wise woman and mentor for Ruth.
She knew when to make a move and when to stay put and be quiet.
Another wisdom piece for us.
18Then 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.