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== The Gleaner == | == The Gleaner == | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:RuthFieldsHughes.jpg|right|250px]]Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem on or about 1 Abib 2692 AM, the beginning of the month of [[barley]] harvest. Ruth seems to have held no illusions about her status in Israel. She and Naomi were destitute, with no assets other than an estate that they could not manage and would probably have to sell. But Ruth familiarized herself with all the laws that the Israelites lived under, including those that made provision for the poor. This included the ''gleaning law.''{{Bible quote|Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger.|book=Leviticus|chap=19|verses=9-10|version=NASB}} | ||
For Ruth, the decision was easy: she would not pretend to be anything other than a destitute foreigner, and would glean grain from a landowner who would allow it. Yet she would do nothing of that sort, or take any other action, without first asking Naomi's permission. So she asked permission, and Naomi granted it. ({{Bible ref|book=Ruth|chap=2|verses=2}}) | For Ruth, the decision was easy: she would not pretend to be anything other than a destitute foreigner, and would glean grain from a landowner who would allow it. Yet she would do nothing of that sort, or take any other action, without first asking Naomi's permission. So she asked permission, and Naomi granted it. ({{Bible ref|book=Ruth|chap=2|verses=2}}) | ||
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The Bible says that Ruth "happened" to come to a portion of the lands of [[Boaz]], who was the richest landowner in Bethlehem. The role of [[randomness]], both in human affairs and in natural processes, has always been controversial. The story of Ruth, and in particular how Boaz made her welcome and what came of that welcome, illustrates well that ''nothing'' actually happens at random, and that God maintains a detailed and exacting control over natural and human events. | The Bible says that Ruth "happened" to come to a portion of the lands of [[Boaz]], who was the richest landowner in Bethlehem. The role of [[randomness]], both in human affairs and in natural processes, has always been controversial. The story of Ruth, and in particular how Boaz made her welcome and what came of that welcome, illustrates well that ''nothing'' actually happens at random, and that God maintains a detailed and exacting control over natural and human events. | ||
So Ruth "happened" to come onto the property of Boaz, and Boaz "happened" to come to survey his land and confer with his harvesters on that very day. Boaz was as pious as he was wealthy; he greeted his harvesters by saying, "May the Lord be with you," and they answered him in kind. | [[Image:RuthBoazPoussin.jpg|250px|left]]So Ruth "happened" to come onto the property of Boaz, and Boaz "happened" to come to survey his land and confer with his harvesters on that very day. Boaz was as pious as he was wealthy; he greeted his harvesters by saying, "May the Lord be with you," and they answered him in kind. | ||
Boaz noticed her almost at once and asked about her. His foreman told Boaz that Ruth had asked permission to glean in his field, and had been working since the early morning, except that she took a brief rest in the farmhouse. | Boaz noticed her almost at once and asked about her. His foreman told Boaz that Ruth had asked permission to glean in his field, and had been working since the early morning, except that she took a brief rest in the farmhouse. | ||
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Mahlon and his brother were dead, but if levirate marriage were impossible, the ''go'el'' could still intervene. | Mahlon and his brother were dead, but if levirate marriage were impossible, the ''go'el'' could still intervene. | ||
Naomi identified Boaz as the qualified ''go'el''. He was probably Elimelech's great-uncle. On the last night of the wheat harvest, Boaz would be winnowing his barley at the threshing floor (a special area of land reserved for winnowing). Naomi instructed Ruth to wash and anoint herself, dress herself in her most attractive attire, and go to the threshing floor secretly. Boaz would lie down next to a pile of barley, and Ruth was to uncover his feet and lie down beside him. He would then tell her what to do. | [[Image:Soloruth.jpg|200px|right]]Naomi identified Boaz as the qualified ''go'el''. He was probably Elimelech's great-uncle. On the last night of the wheat harvest, Boaz would be winnowing his barley at the threshing floor (a special area of land reserved for winnowing). Naomi instructed Ruth to wash and anoint herself, dress herself in her most attractive attire, and go to the threshing floor secretly. Boaz would lie down next to a pile of barley, and Ruth was to uncover his feet and lie down beside him. He would then tell her what to do. | ||
Ruth did not argue; she told Naomi that whatever she said to do, Ruth would do. Ruth then did exactly as Naomi had told her, but she did not attempt anything so crude or forward as a romantic advance. Instead she uncovered Boaz' feet without disturbing him and then lay down at his feet. In that posture, she still preserved the same distance between herself, as a suppliant, and the generous property owner who had been her source of sustenance for three months. | Ruth did not argue; she told Naomi that whatever she said to do, Ruth would do. Ruth then did exactly as Naomi had told her, but she did not attempt anything so crude or forward as a romantic advance. Instead she uncovered Boaz' feet without disturbing him and then lay down at his feet. In that posture, she still preserved the same distance between herself, as a suppliant, and the generous property owner who had been her source of sustenance for three months. | ||
