Study Desk

In the days when there were judges to rule, there was a time of no food in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to visit the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

The name of the man was Elimelech. His wife's name was Naomi. And the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the land of Moab and stayed there.

Then Naomi got ready to return from the land of Moab with her daughters-in-law. She had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had brought food to His people.

Then Boaz said to his servant who was watching over those who gathered grain, "Whose young woman is this?"

May the Lord reward you for your work. May full pay be given to you from the Lord, the God of Israel. It is under His wings that you have come to be safe."

When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told his servants, "Let her gather even among the standing grain. Do not speak against her.

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he receive good from the Lord, Who has not kept His kindness from the living and the dead." Then Naomi said to her, "The man is near to us. He is of our family."

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is good that you go out with his women servants, my daughter. Then no danger will come upon you in another field."

Is not Boaz of our family, with whose women servants you were? See, he is dividing the grain from the waste at his grain-floor tonight.

When he lies down, watch where he lies. Go in and take the covers off his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do."

When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was happy, he went to lie down beside the grain. Then Ruth came in secret. She took the covers off his feet and lay down.

The man was surprised late in the night. He turned and saw that a woman was lying at his feet.

Stay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning."

So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor."

Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from Naomi, you must take Ruth, the Moabite woman, also. She is the wife of the dead man. You must keep alive the name of the dead man on his land."

This is what was done before in Israel to show that the buying or trading of land was decided upon. A man would take off his shoe and give it to another. This would make sure what was decided.

So he said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he took off his shoe.

And I have taken Ruth, the Moabite woman who was Mahlon's wife, to be my wife. I will keep alive the name of the dead man on his land. His name will not be forgotten among his brothers or from the gate of his birth-place. You have heard this today."

So Boaz took Ruth. She became his wife, and he went in to her. The Lord made it possible for her to have a child and she gave birth to a son.

The women said to Naomi, "Thanks be to the Lord. He has not left you without a family this day. May his name become known in all of Israel.