Refuge Under His Wings

Chapter 2 introduces Boaz, a relative of Elimelech and a mighty man of wealth. Ruth asked to glean behind the reapers, hoping to find favor with someone. She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz. The writer uses ordinary language, yet readers see God's hand guiding her steps.

Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted his reapers, May Yahweh be with you, and they answered, May Yahweh bless you. His workplace honored God. Learning that Ruth was the Moabite who came back with Naomi, Boaz told her to stay in his field, near his maidens, and to drink from the vessels. Ruth bowed to the ground and asked why she had found favor, since she was a foreigner. Boaz explained he had heard of her loyalty to Naomi and blessed her: May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

Boaz then became part of the answer to his own prayer. He invited Ruth to eat with the reapers, gave her parched grain until she was satisfied, and quietly ordered his men to let her glean among the sheaves and pull out extra grain. That evening she beat out about an ephah of barley and shared it with Naomi. Naomi blessed Boaz, who had not abandoned his kindness to the living and the dead, and revealed that he was one of their near kinsmen. Ruth gleaned with his maidens until the end of barley and wheat harvest.