1 One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? 2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."
5 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
Much of the noble character of the story has been about Ruth and Boaz, but here is Naomi being faithful to her dauther-in-law.
Lots in this unit of the story that we don't understand and comes across somewhat ambiguous. Our minds could go haywire thinking about intent and motive...but as you prayerfully read it, what are your impressions. Especially important is to keep in mind the story in chapters 1-2.
I don't know what to make of mid eastern courtship and marriage customs of that time .I just can't comment .I would like to believe Ruth's actions were virtuous . Help me out here ?
ReplyDeleteCould question Doc...we'll go into to it a bit more throughout the week, but what's most important is what we know of Ruth so far...and though there have been scholars who have painted a picture of Ruth as a sultry vixon, she has throughout chapter 1-2 been described as a very faithful, noble, hard working woman who does the unreasonably selfless kinds of things.
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