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This was a handsome offer indeed, and Ruth was overwhelmed at his generosity to her.
"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why
have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a
stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that
thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou
hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a
people which thou knewest not therefore. 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. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast
comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be
not like unto one of thine handmaidens. And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou
hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the
reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left"
(2: 10-14).
Boaz is revealed here as a man of God. He was not only rich in worldly possessions,
he was rich in faith. This is shown by his words commending her to the Lord: "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, or flee for refuge". This implies a genuine
expression of admiration for the generous courage and loyalty shown by Ruth in being
willing to leave her people and bring Naomi safely home. Also to be willing to toil in the
hot sun all day to provide for her. He also invited her to join his work force for lunch,
which apparently he provided. Not only that, but he took a special interest in her by
serving her himself. This showed his more than passing interest, but Ruth, immediately
she had finished the meal, left to get on with her work. She took no advantage of his
favour but quietly slipped away, considerably heartened no doubt by the unexpected
kindness of the great man.
"And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let
her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the
handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about
an ephah of barley. 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" (2: 15-18).
Boaz makes sure Ruth takes back plenty of barley. An ephah is the equivalent of just
under our English bushel, so she would have gleaned about 20 lbs of grain after it had
been beaten out. Quite a weight for her to carry. We can imagine Naomi's amazement
when she saw the result of Ruth's day.
"And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where
wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her
mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I
wrought to day is Boaz. And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blesseed be he of the
Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said
unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. And Ruth the
Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they
have ended all my harvest. 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.