C E 3:1-12. Claim of kinsman.
F 3:13. Promise made.
F 3:14-18. Promise waited for.
E 4:1-13. Claim of kinsman. Fulfilled.
1326 B.C.
Ruth 3)
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley to night in the threshing-floor. (This was, and is today, the master's work. His servants plowed, sowed, and reaped.)
3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint you, and put your raiment upon you, and you get down to the floor: but make not yourself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and you lie down; and he will tell you what you shall do."
5 And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."
6 And she went down to 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 are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your handmaid: spread therefore your wing over your handmaid (fig. put for protection); for you are a near kinsman.
10 And he said, "Blessed be you of the LORD, my daughter: for you have showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you followed not young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to you all that you shall say: for all the city of my people does know that you art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman: however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform to you 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 you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to you, as the LORD lives: lie down until the morning."
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before a man 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 you have upon you (mantle or cloak, worn by all peasants; only the town-women veiling the face), and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, "Who are you, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 And she said, "These six measures of barley he gave me; for he said to me, "Do not go empty to your mother in law."
18 Then said she, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he has finished the thing this day.