Study Desk

And Na'omi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is well, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, lest in another field you be molested."

But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do."

And when Bo'az had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and lay down.

At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."

Then Bo'az said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Na'omi, you are also buying Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the dead, in order to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance."

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel.

So when the next of kin said to Bo'az, "Buy it for yourself," he drew off his sandal.

Also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his native place; you are witnesses this day."

So Bo'az took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Then the women said to Na'omi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next of kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!

Then Na'omi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.

Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were priests of the LORD.

On the day when Elka'nah sacrificed, he would give portions to Penin'nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters;

And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elka'nah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her;

and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

And the man Elka'nah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow.

Elka'nah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.