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Hello again! Has the Spirit shown you awesome treasure from Ruth 2? If you’re willing to share what you’ve discovered, email me at jen@jencason.com, or use my contact form. I’d love to hear about it!
Last Week’s Work
WRITING TYPES
In addition to narrative—the overall type we determined for the Book of Ruth in Ruth 1—I noted indirect references to laws in Chapter 2: gleaning by the poor, foreigners, and widows (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-21); plus several regarding redemption (see specific laws under Interlinear Research below).
I also noticed the line in verse 20 under whose wings you have come to take refuge. What beautiful poetic language! I don’t think Boaz intended to say Ruth was literally hiding under God’s wing. It’s a comparison (I didn’t catch last week, argh!): a metaphor. And I feel like I’ve heard it before in Scripture… more on that below. Remember, writing type is what helps determine whether we understand a passage literally or symbolically. Because it’s narrative, I’m confident most of Ruth should be interpreted literally. Though there’s no way of knowing for sure, the romantic in me thinks Boaz used that metaphor intentionally to impress Ruth.
LITERAL CONTEXT
From our previous study, we know she returned to Bethlehem with Naomi after both their husbands died in Moab. Not having a man in the household meant there was no one to provide for them, so they were forced to rely on gleaning to survive. That’s how Ruth happened to be gleaning in Boaz’s field when he (a “worthy” relative of Naomi’s husband) happened to arrive from Bethlehem. Once Boaz learned who Ruth was, he took special care of her, even though she was a foreigner.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
In the Ruth 1 study, I noted Ruth’s author is unknown, but it’s believed to have been written about 1010 BC. To date the events described in Ruth 2, I checked this Blue Letter Bible timeline of biblical characters’ lives and events. I discovered Boaz’s lifespan is estimated to be from about 1350 to 1250 BC, making him a contemporary of two judges, Othniel and Ehud. You may remember I mentioned Ehud in the Ruth 1 study: in Judges 3:15-3:30, he led a successful revolt against Eglon, the king of Moab.
That means it’s possible Naomi and Ruth returned from Moab to Bethlehem during the conflict, when the Israelites and Moabites were fighting each other, which might have made their journey more difficult and dangerous than it already was.
INTERLINEAR RESEARCH
I reviewed the interlinear text of verses 12 and 20, and these items caught my attention:
- “seek refuge” (v12) – H2620 ḥāsâ. Strong’s indicates the word has been translated trust, seek refuge, and have hope. Here, it appears in the poetic reference Boaz makes when he blesses Ruth. Have hope reminded me of Ruth 1:12, where Naomi tells Ruth and Orpah she doesn’t have hope for more sons who could perform the duty of the levirate with them, though that phrase is rendered from a different Hebrew word, tiqvâ, H8615. I think it still presents an interesting contrast between Naomi in chapter 1 and Ruth in chapter 2.
- “wings” (also in Boaz’s statement to Ruth in v12)– H3671 kānāp̄. Strong’s indicates this use is figurative, referring to God as “protector of his people.” Spoiler alert: it reappears in Ruth 3:9 (only Ruth is saying it to Boaz!).
I also found it used similarly by King David in Psalms 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7 and by another psalmist in 91:4. Makes me wonder if Boaz was actually quoting from those masterpieces of Hebrew poetry. - “the Lord, the God of Israel” (v12) – H3068 Yᵊhōvâ. This is (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God: Jehovah, the Lord, plus H430 ‘ĕlōhîm Israel’s God. The names people call God in Scripture always fascinate me! Here, Boaz is speaking to Ruth, calling God both the Jewish national name of God and Israel’s God. I checked, and Ruth also referred to Him as ‘ĕlōhîm in Ruth 1:16 when she stated her belief in Israel’s God.
- “one of our redeemers” (v20) – H1350 gā’al. This is the only term that stood out to me in verse 20. It’s how Naomi described Boaz after she learned how he’d cared for Ruth that day in the field. The connotation is someone who fulfills obligations of next of kin under Hebrew law, which duties included:
- Marrying a widow and having at least one son by her who would bear the deceased relative’s name and perpetuate his lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)
- Buying back a poor relative who sold himself into slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49)
- Buying back the field of a poor relative sold to raise money (Leviticus 25:25)
- Avenging the murder of a dead relative (Numbers 35:16-19).
I love learning about Scripture this way. I hope you’re learning a lot in your study, too!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, we’re going to wrap up the second half of our Refine step by examining cross-references and other translations.
- Don’t forget to begin with your prayer from Step 1.
- REFINE: Then consult a concordance or online cross-reference study tool (for v12, I’ll start at this blb.org page) to find and read through the available cross-references for the verses you’re most interested in and log what the Spirit shows you.
NOTE: if you’re interested in verses other than 12, follow the above link, then point to the TOOLS button to the left of a verse, and choose Cross-Refs from the menu. - REFINE: Finally, compare at least a few other translations’ version of the same verses and write about what you find in your study journal. I’ll be comparing ESV, AMP, NIV, and GNT using this biblehub.com page. You can compare your own verses from that link by entering them in the Enter Reference or Keyword box at the top of the page and clicking the spyglass icon there.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost through Chapter 2, my friend: just two more weeks! I hope the Lord has used it for His glory and your good! See you next week!