Ruth chapter 2

vs 13

The expectation of this verse is that someone speaks kindly to his servants - or at least, more kindly to a servant than to a beggar. It's good to know that the pecking order still goes strong in our society.

The important thing, though, is that not only did Ruth see it as kindness, but it seems to be reasonably measurable against the tone of the day as kind action.

vs 14

Unfortunately, I don't know what sort of social status bread and wine vinegar and roasted grain gives you. I'm assuming it's pretty standard fare, but the fact is the meal is for the servants (harvesters in this case), not for beggars. So this is a very kind thing to do.

Apparently this is the midday meal. That would seem implicit from the context (assuming the dinner meal was served at home), because she goes on to glean until evening.

vs 15

This is going beyond the kindness expected by the Law. You really do have to start asking questions about Boaz' intent around now. It's one thing to follow the tenets of the Law and to show kindness to a stranger. But now he is showing her extra kindness and favour. Is it because he found out that she was Naomi's daughter in law? Well, he found that out from his overseer.

So does he have the hots for her? If he does, he shows it at least in a nice and favourable way. But also in a totally not approaching her way. Perhaps the answer to this question is lost in the mists of time and cultural difference.

vs 16

Just further kindness.

vs 17

Just take a look at how much that is. 13 kilos. That's a lot. I've always read that as "Ruth worked hard to support her mother in law, and look at the fruits of her labour." And I still think that stands - she went out and worked the fields as a gleaner all day.

But now there's another part to that story - through Boaz's kindness, Ruth would have been able to glean more than was normally possible - thanks to the dropped sheaves and such. So between the two of our heroes, there is a reason she had so much.

Now, how long would 13 kilos of barley last them for? I have no idea.

vs 18

Were they going to sell the barley, or eat it? Don't know. You can make barley flour I'm sure.

Ruth carried 13 kilos of worked barley all the way home. She's quite a woman. Do they make them like that anymore? I guess so, just not in the first world.

vs 19

This question could have arisen due to the fact that Ruth brought home that extra food from the mealtime. This extra food would have been a clear mark to Naomi that something out of the ordinary was happening, and that a man had 'taken notice of her'.

Note that, for all her "bitterness towards God" (or piestic lamenting) she is still happy to ask that God pour out praises on such a man.

vs 20

Wait, when did he start showing kindness? Unless Naomi is talking about the Lord's kindness, which would seem out of character. And doesn't really flow with the idea either.

Perhaps this was a comment made after Naomi heard the whole story - and the kindness upon kindness caused this comment.

Now, if you want an interesting topic, look at how the bibles translate the term: "closest relatives" (NASB), " "next kinsman" (KJV), "kinsman redeemers" (NIV) and now the TNIV comes up with "family guardians".

The hebrew is actually quite simple, for once. I'm no expert, but it says something like... erm, qarov... aha! "Near to us the man from redeemer us he." Now if that's not a wooden translation, I don't know what is! So really, make up whatever term you like - the word is redeemer.

One thing I will say about the TNIV is that it has a note explaining what it means, and also giving a link to Lev 25:25-55. So it wins my vote, even though I prefer the term "kinsman redeemer".

vs 21

Awww, what a sweetheart! Although I guess if the translators had translated an exclamation mark there, Ruth would have sounded too much like a teenage girl. OMG OMG he wants me to harvest in his fields!

vs 22

Well, if we had any misgivings about the chances of being harmed in another person's field, then this clinches it. Judges time was a dangerous time. As if any time isn't a dangerous time for single women with no-one to back them up.

vs 23

Again, a nice wrapup for the chapter. I must say, miscellaneous monk who did the chapters and verses for Ruth - well done! I haven't had any grumblings so far, and indeed I've thought they were quite logical! Smart man.