Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1: Continuing the Messianic Line

Thoughts

Ruth 3

Naomi instructs Ruth to wash, put on her best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor (where grain was processed) where Boaz will be winnowing barley.

Naomi tells her to note where Boaz lies down, then uncover his feet and lie there. Ruth agrees. 

After Boaz finishes eating and drinking, he lies down near the grain. Ruth quietly uncovers his feet and lies down.

Around midnight Boaz wakes startled and finds her.

Ruth identifies herself and asks him to “spread your garment (wing) over me” because he is a kinsman-redeemer גֹּאֵל (go’el) – same word used throughout Torah as someone who redeems slaves, property, avenges, etc.

Boaz blesses her for showing kindness in not going after younger men. He mentions there is a nearer kinsman-redeemer than him, but promises to resolve the matter.

Ruth lies at his feet until morning, then leaves before daylight so people will not gossip.

Boaz gives her six measures of barley to take back as a sign of his commitment. Ruth returns to Naomi and reports everything.

Ruth 4

Boaz goes to the town gate and meets the nearer relative. He first offers the relative the chance to redeem Naomi’s land. The man agrees.

But when Boaz adds that redeeming the land also means marrying Ruth the Moabite to raise up offspring for the deceased, the relative declines (fearing it would harm his own inheritance).

In front of the elders, he gives Boaz his sandal as a legal symbol of renouncing his right. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

Boaz then declares before witnesses that he will redeem the land and take Ruth as his wife.

The elders and people bless Boaz and Ruth:

• That Ruth may be like Rachel and Leah, who built up Israel.
• That Boaz’s house may be like that of Perez (Judah’s son), linked to Tamar’s story (another widow who secured her family’s line).

Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord enables her to conceive. She gives birth to a son, Obed.

The women tell Naomi that the child is a redeemer for her – look how God has blessed her!

1. Perez (son of Judah and Tamar)
2. ↓ Hezron
3. ↓ Ram
4. ↓ Amminadab
5. ↓ Nahshon (leader during the Exodus, Num 1:7)
6. ↓ Salmon (maybe married Rahab of Jericho, per tradition)
7. ↓ Boaz (married Ruth)
8. ↓ Obed
9. ↓ Jesse
10. ↓ David

1 Samuel 1

We are introduced to Elkanah, an Ephraimite who has two wives:

• Hannah (loved but barren).
• Peninnah (had children, but provoked Hannah).

Peninnah mocks Hannah for being childless. Elkanah tries to comfort Hannah, but she weeps and does not eat.

Every year they go to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. At Shiloh, Hannah prays ”deeply distressed” weeping greatly.

She vows: If God gives her a son, she will dedicate him to the Lord all his life, and no razor will touch his head (a Nazarite-like vow).

• Hannah’s prayer uses the word שָׁאַל (sha’al) “to ask,” which ties to both Samuel’s name and Saul’s later name (שָׁאוּל, Sha’ul = “asked for”). 

Eli the priest sees her lips moving silently and thinks she is drunk. She explains she is pouring out her soul before the Lord. Eli blesses her, saying God will grant her request.

Hannah conceives

• She gives birth to Samuel  (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shemu’el) = “Heard by God” or “Asked of God.”
• Hannah decides not to go up until the child is weaned, since she intends to leave him in the Lord’s service.

When Samuel is weaned, Hannah brings him to Eli at Shiloh, along with offerings. She reminds Eli of her prayer and vow.

She dedicates Samuel to the Lord: “For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”

Questions

Where did Naomi get the plan for Ruth? Did God tell her? Did she just have a hunch?

What was the point of uncovering his feet?

Why don’t they mention the other redeemer?

What were Boaz and Ruth’s ages?

Why does Peninnah mock Hannah for being childless?

Why did Eli automatically assume a woman praying fervently was drunk?

How old was Samuel when given to Eli? Was that an awful transition for the child? Were there women to help care for him?

Application

Ruth needed a kinsman-redeemer, and Boaz stepped into that role for her. Hannah also needed a Redeemer to restore her broken situation, and God heard her cries. Just like Ruth and Hannah, we are in need of a Redeemer. Life is full of broken, bitter situations, but God has given us Jesus who steps in when we cannot save ourselves. He alone will turn sorrow into joy.

Threshing floor