Ruth 2:15-16
When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Boaz commands his young men to let Ruth glean "even among the sheaves," a privilege usually reserved for after the main harvest. This instruction goes beyond mere permission; it's an active safeguarding, ensuring she isn't shamed or hindered while gathering a more abundant portion, anticipating her and Naomi's need.
Boaz has just encountered Ruth in his field and learned she is Naomi's daughter-in-law. He blesses her, instructs his reapers to leave grain for her, and invites her to drink water. Now, as Ruth prepares to resume gleaning, Boaz gives a more specific and generous command to his young men, allowing her to glean even among the bound sheaves and explicitly forbidding them from bothering or shaming her.
Boaz doesn't just follow the rules for gleaning; he goes way above and beyond. What does this tell us about his heart?
In ancient Israel, the Law (Leviticus 23:22) commanded landowners to leave some grain for the poor and foreigners to glean. This was a vital safety net.
But Boaz’s instruction to his reapers – "Let her glean even among the sheaves" – was exceptional. Normally, gleaning happened after the sheaves were gathered and bound. Allowing Ruth to glean among the sheaves meant she could gather fallen grain directly from the bundles, a much richer harvest and a sign of significant favor.
This wasn't just about meeting a legal requirement; it was about demonstrating extraordinary compassion and respect. Boaz saw Ruth not just as a foreigner or a poor woman, but as someone worthy of his protection and generosity.
Boaz doesn't just feed Ruth; he shields her. How does his command about 'reproach' reveal his deep care?
The second part of Boaz’s command, "do not reproach her," is just as crucial as the first. Gleaning was often a difficult and even shameful task, making the gleaner vulnerable to mockery or accusations of theft.
Boaz’s words were a public declaration of his protection. He was telling his workers not to insult Ruth, question her presence, or imply she was stealing. This ensured she could glean with dignity, feeling safe and respected.
This care for Ruth’s reputation highlights a key aspect of godly leadership: protecting the vulnerable and ensuring they are treated with honor, not just given charity.
Boaz's actions toward Ruth echo a deeper, divine love. Can you see the Savior's heart in this ancient field?
Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, steps in to care for Ruth, a foreigner and a widow. He not only provides for her physical needs but also safeguards her reputation and integrates her into his community.
This beautiful picture in Ruth is a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Like Boaz, Jesus reaches out to those who are outsiders, strangers to God's covenant, and vulnerable. He doesn’t just offer us forgiveness; He adopts us into His family, gives us an inheritance, and protects us with His unfailing love.
Understand the original words
laqat · Hebrew Verb
The act of gathering leftover crops after the harvest, a provision mandated by the Mosaic Law to support the poor, the widow, and the sojourner.
kalam · Hebrew Verb
The public act of shaming, blaming, or finding fault in someone; in a legal or social context, it refers to causing someone distress or bringing disgrace upon them.
laqath · Hebrew Verb
The act of gathering leftover crops after the main harvest, a provision mandated by the Mosaic Law to provide for the poor, widows, and foreigners.
Boaz's generous and protective commands reveal not only his deep respect for the Law and compassion for the vulnerable but also his keen observation and desire to bless Ruth beyond the basic requirements for gleaners.
c. 11th Century BC
Period of the Judges
Ruth and Naomi lived during the turbulent Period of the Judges, a time marked by cycles of Israel's disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. This era fostered a sense of precariousness and a strong reliance on community structures and divine favor.
c. 11th Century BC
Israelite harvest customs established
The Law of Moses mandated specific gleaning rights for the poor and for foreigners, ensuring they could gather leftover grain from harvests. These customs were deeply ingrained in the agricultural and social fabric of Israel.
c. 11th Century BC— this verse
Boaz observes Ruth gleaning
Boaz, a respected landowner in Bethlehem, notices Ruth, a foreigner and widow, diligently gleaning in his fields. This marks the beginning of his awareness of her presence and need.
c. 11th Century BC
Boaz instructs his reapers
Boaz gives specific orders to his reapers to allow Ruth to glean freely, even from between the sheaves, and to treat her with respect and kindness, forbidding any mockery.
This passage reveals the original divine command for the poor and sojourners to glean, establishing a foundational principle of care and provision within Israelite society.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22Here, the law explicitly instructs landowners not to go back for a forgotten sheaf or a second time to the vineyard, ensuring that the gleaning provisions were for the needy, reinforcing the protective aspect of Boaz's command.
Luke 10:7Jesus uses the imagery of the laborer being worthy of their wages, which parallels the idea that Ruth should be allowed to glean without hindrance or reproach, receiving what was rightfully hers by provision.
1 Timothy 5:8The principle that those who do not provide for their own are worse than unbelievers resonates with Boaz's generous provision for Ruth, ensuring she could gather enough to provide for herself and Naomi.
Ephesians 6:5-8This passage speaks to both servants and masters acting with sincerity, akin to how Boaz instructed his reapers to treat Ruth with respect, reflecting the Lord's impartial favor.
henryRuth 2:4-16: "And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee."
2:4-16 The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct…
clarkeRuth 2:15: "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:"
Let her glean even among the sheaves - This was a privilege; for no person should glean till the sheaves were all bound, and the shocks set up.
Boaz commands his young men to let Ruth glean "even among the sheaves," a privilege usually reserved for after the main harvest. This instruction goes beyond mere permission; it's an active safeguarding, ensuring she isn't shamed or hindered while gathering a more abundant portion, anticipating her and Naomi's need.
Boaz has just encountered Ruth in his field and learned she is Naomi's daughter-in-law. He blesses her, instructs his reapers to leave grain for her, and invites her to drink water. Now, as Ruth prepares to resume gleaning, Boaz gives a more specific and generous command to his young men, allowing her to glean even among the bound sheaves and explicitly forbidding them from bothering or shaming her.
Boaz has just encountered Ruth in his field and learned she is Naomi's daughter-in-law. He blesses her, instructs his reapers to leave grain for her, and invites her to drink water. Now, as Ruth prepares to resume gleaning, Boaz gives a more specific and generous command to his young men, allowing her to glean even among the bound sheaves and explicitly forbidding them from bothering or shaming her.
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Boaz's kindness wasn’t just an act of human compassion; it was a divine provision, pointing towards the greater redemption and inclusion that Christ offers to all who believe.
c. 11th Century BC
Ruth receives exceptional favor
Ruth's gleaning is unusually abundant due to Boaz's protection and provision, allowing her to bring home significantly more than she normally could have gathered.
"When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”" — Boaz commands his young men to let Ruth glean "even among the sheaves," a privilege usually reserved for after the main harvest. This instruction goes beyond mere permission; it's an active safeguard…
