by Don Hatfield
Chapter 2
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
1a I, Ruth had traveled back with Naomi my mother in law to the land of Judah, the town of Bethlehem. I came because of Naomi’s God the Existing One. I came because of what she had taught me about His kindness and care. I came because she had taught me that He was the only true God. I came because He is the Jehovah – Shammah, the God who is there. Yes, I came because she had taught me these things and her God had convinced me of these things. Even though she was now bitter I knew in her heart that she still believed and that is why I stayed. Because I knew even in her bitterness she still believed. Food was still scarce for us so Naomi told me of her relative a man named Boaz and of the many fields full of grain that he had.
2. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
2a. I had been taught by Naomi about the one true God of her people. I had heard Him whisper my name. I had listened as He told me to go with her back to land. I did not know why but I went and when we got back things looked no better for us. Naomi had grown more despondent with each passing day. She had told me of Boaz and being desperate I asked if I could go to his field and glean from the corn so that we would have something to eat. Perhaps because she was related God would grant us favor in Boaz’s sight. I, Ruth knew that El- Shaddai was there but I knew not what His purpose was in this bareness, bitterness and silence.
2:3 And she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz who was the kindred of Elimelech
3a The saying you are going to do something is much easier than the doing to the thing that you said you were going to do. The closer I got to the fields the more frighten I became. I knew not these people. I, a Moabites and they Jewish. I knew not their customs. I only knew Naomi and the God that she had introduced me to. Naomi was not with me and so I began to pray to the Jehovah – Shammah, the God who is there. Though I could not see Him or feel Him I prayed. I prayed for a guidance that I could not see. I prayed for a path that I could not recognize. My feet led me to a part of the field that seemed the farthest from those who were reaping and I began to pick up and gather that which was left.
4. And behold Boaz came from Bethlehem and said unto the reapers the Lord be with you. And they answered him The Lord bless thee.
4a And as I gleaned I was thankful for those who were reaping left me alone. And then a man came riding in on a horse. He was a man dressed in fine clothes. His horse was adorned with the finest of saddles. As he rode into the field all work stopped and all eyes gazed upon him. This must be Boaz the one who I heard about. The one who owned all of this. With one word he could have me beaten and thrown off the land. Because of his power I knew that he could do unmentionable things to me and no one would say a word. I, out of fear kept my head down and my eyes staring at the ground. I knelt down on the ground and prayed that he would not take notice of me. Then I heard him say Jehovah be with thee, he spoke of Jehovah the Lord, the Existing One. Then I heard the reapers speak back to him, Jehovah the Lord, the Existing One bless thee. In my spirit came a calmness that I had never know before for he spoke of the same God that Naomi had taught me about. The one true God.
5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers. Whose damsel is this?
5a The calmness that I felt quickly disappeared because the one who had the power of nourishment or starvation. The one who had the power of life or death over me took notice of me. If I could have disappeared into the ground I would have. If I could have made myself invisible I would have done it. Then a thought flashed through my mind. If you are so frightened of the power of this mere man what would you do if the gaze of Jehovah – Shamman, the One who is there, came to light on you? What would you say if He called you into account for the things that you were doing? Then the calmness again. The calmness in front of the mortal and the respect in front of El-Shaddai , the Almighty One. I knew that I no longer had to fear what man could or would do to me but only to honor the One who held everything in His hands.
6. And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said it is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.
6a. Then gratefully on my part the servant who was the head of reapers answered and I did not have to. But he then spoke of my heritage which I knew that the Jews frowned upon. For he called me a Moabitish damsel from the land of Moab. The land of the descendants of Lot. Lot who had lived with the wicked of Sodom and Gormah. Lot whose daughters had sexual relations with him and bore his children. Lot who followed the ways of the world around him instead of the ways of the God above him. Would Boaz, could Boaz know that I was now a believer in the same God that he had just spoken of.
7. And she said I pray you let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves so she came and hath continued even from the morning until now that she had tarried a little in the house.
7a. The servant of Boaz was an honest man for he told the truth. He could have lied and said that I was trying to get or steal more than what was left in the field. But he did not. He could have said that I did not do my part but went around begging because of mine and Naomi’s plight. But he did not. I had come with an honest heart and asked with an honest request to glean behind the reapers and that is what I had done. I now waited for Boaz to speak for now had come the time for him the owner to decide my fate. As I stood there I thanked Jehovah for I had nothing to be ashamed of. My conscience was clear, my heart was set on El – Shaddai, the Almighty One and it was on Him that I leaned.
8. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not my daughter? Go not to glean in another field neither go from hence but abide here fast by my maidens.
8a And then I knew for sure that Jehovah –Shamman was there all around us as we believe in Him and live our lives for Him. I knew because Boaz called me his daughter, his relative. Me a Moabite had been accepted as a Jew. I, Ruth who had descended from Lot who lived so much for the world had been accepted by the ones that God had chosen to show Himself to the world
9.Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap and go thou after them: have not I charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art thirsty go unto the vessels and drink of that which the young men have drawn
9a And then I lifted up my eyes and look into his and I could see kindness there. Then he spoke again and I could hear the Jehovah –Raah (the Lord my Shepherd) speaking through Boaz. He told me to stay and I would be fed and protected. He told me to drink and my thirst would be quenched and I knew that the heartache that Naomi had experienced was for good for I had come to know El-Shaddai, (the Almighty One) through her.
10. Then she fell on her face bowed herself to the ground and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
10a I became overwhelmed. I could not stand I only could bow I literally fell to the ground in worship. It was Boaz and the others that heard my words but it was to Jehovah, the Lord, the Existing One that I spoke. Why have I found acceptance in thine eyes El- Shaddai, (the Almighty One)? Why should You who have been before time began take notice of me who did not take notice you though you have always been Jehovah- Shamman, the One who is there.
11. And Boaz answered and said unto her it hath fully been showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine and how thou hast left thy father and mother and the land of thy nativity and art come unto a people which thou knew not heretofore.
11a It was then in his answer that I, Ruth knew that I would see my husband again. It was then that I knew that Naomi’s coming to the land of the descendants of Lot was not in vain. It was then that I knew that Jehovah –Rapha (the One who heals) would
take us who believed into His bosom and that there would be no more tears. He asked but one thing and that is that we believe that He knows what goes on in our life and that no matter what that may be He will make it right for He is Jehovah-Raah (the Lord is my Shepherd)
12. The Lord recompense thy work and a full reward be given thee of the Lord, God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust.
12a As Boaz further spoke I realized that God had given me a full reward for He, the God of Israel (the one who prevails) had come looking for me there in the land of the descendants of Lot. He had come through Namoi who felt so scorned but in reality was so blessed that He, El-Shaddai (the Almighty One) would use her to find one such as I. I just knelt down on the ground for I had come to rest under the wings of El-Olam, the Everlasting God.
13. Then she said Let me find favor in thy sight my lord for thus hast comforted me and for thou has spoken friendly to unto thy handmaiden thou I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
13a Then I spoke to Boaz but again it was El-Olam, the everlasting God that I was speaking to for I had been accepted in His sight though I was different from the rest. He came looking for me there in the land of the descendants of Lot. It was there He found me for I knew Him not. It was there He wooed me to believe through Naomi and brought me to the land of His chosen people. And it was here that I, Ruth had come to rest in the sight of one of His servants Boaz the kinsman of Naomi.
14. And Boaz said unto her. At mealtime come thou hither and of the bread and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers and he reached her parched grain and she did eat and was sufficed and left.
14a Then as I turned to go back to the field the man Boaz spoke again. He extended me an invitation. He said at mealtime come and draw close. Partake of the bread with us. Sit with my servants and dip thy bread with us. And I, Ruth sat at the table with Boaz, the lord of the land and with his servants. And as they broke bread Boaz thanked El-Olam, the Almighty One, who provided for us. Then he extended his hand to me and gave me roasted grain. I then knew that someday I would sit with Jehovah – Raah, the Lord who is my Shepherd in heaven and He would extend His hand of mercy to me and welcome me there.
15. And when she had risen up to glean Boaz commanded his young men saying let her glean even among the sheaves and reproach her not
15a Then I, Boaz watched her as she got up to go back to the fields. After she left I gave my young men orders and told them to let glean where ever she goes for I knew that she did not know all of our customs. Then I told them not to reproach her or insult her in any way for she had become as one of us. She now believed as we believed. She now prayed as we prayed. She now worshipped as we worshipped.
16. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her and leave them that she may glean them and rebuke her not.
16a Then the Lord spoke to me and allowed me to partake of His blessing to Ruth for I told my reapers to leave some of the grain on purpose and let her glean it also. I also again reminded them not to rebuke her or reproach her. Then I went my way praising El –Shaddai, the everlasting God, for another who had come to believe in Him. How often we think the Jehovah – Shamman, the God who is there, is done with us when He has only begun.
17. So she gleaned in the field until even and beat out that she had gleaned it was about an ephah (about one bushel) of barley.
17a And I, Ruth went back to the field and I gleaned in safety and peace. And I sang praises to Jehovah-Raah, the Lord is my Shepherd, and I thanked Him for men like Boaz. The day passed and I threshed what I had of the barley and I was shocked that it came to almost and ephah.
18. And she took it up and went into the city and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned and she brought forth and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
18a Then I gathered what Jehovah had provided and hurried back to the city and as I grew near the load which was so bountiful began to be heavy in my arms. Naomi had been watching for me for it was the time of day when the reapers returned home. Yet when she saw all that I had she was so shocked that she just stood there staring at me as I labored towards her. Then I gave to her and we began to laugh together as we placed our hands into the wonderful grain. Then tears of joy began to flow down my face for it was the first time I had seen Naomi smile or laugh since we had left the land of the descendants of Lot.
19. And her mother in law said unto her where has thou gleaned today and where wrought thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought and said, the man’s name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.
19a I, Naomi knew that what Ruth had brought home was much more than any could glean just from following the reapers. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the grain. I asked her where in the world did she go to glean and as she said the man’s name was Boaz my knees almost buckle out from under me. I asked again just to make sure I had heard right. What was the man’s name? Her lips again formed the name Boaz but my ears heard the name Jehovah- Shamman, the God who is there.
20. And Naomi said unto her daughter in law blessed be he of the Lord who hath not left off his kindness to the living and the dead. And Naomi said unto her the man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
20a Then I spoke at Ruth for had she not been there I would have spoken anyway for it was to Jehovah, the Existing One that I spoke. I did not know all, nor did I know why but I did know that He remember the living for He saw Ruth, little Ruth, and her faith there in that field of reapers. And I now also knew that He saw me the dead in spirit and soul here in the land of Judah. Then I looked into Ruth’s eyes and saw Jehovah there and I said unto her Boaz is our kin he is our relative. And we both knew that Jehovah-Shamman, the God who is there, had more planned although we knew not what it was. Then we prayed together for the first time in a long time there in the land of the descendants of Abraham.
21. And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, thou shall keep fast by my young men until they have ended the harvest
21a Then I remembered to tell Naomi that Boaz had also told me that I could stay with the reapers until all the harvest had ended. I could gather the grain there in the field in the land of the living. There in the land of the descendants of Abraham and to my surprise and delight Naomi again praised Jehovah.
22. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law it is good my daughter that thou go out with his maidens that they meet thee not in any other field.
22a And I, Naomi said unto Ruth it is good that you go out with his maidens. Oh, how look since I had used that little word good. I Naomi who had so long been embittered who had called myself Naomi – Mara actually used the word good for it was pleasant, agreeable, and excellent to my soul to once again praise El-Shaddai, the Everlasting God.
23. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of the barley harvest and of wheat harvest and dwelt with her mother in law
23a And so I, Ruth did as I was told and kept close to the maidens of Boaz until the end of the barley harvest and then until the end of the wheat harvest. Naomi and I dwelt together and she taught me much of the God of the Israelites. She taught me much of Jehvoah-Raah, the Lord who had become my Shepherd. And together we slowly healed from the hurts, wounds, and scars that we had encountered there in the land of the descendants of Lot.