Ruth 2:2
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ruth's request to glean "after him in whose sight I shall find favor" reveals a subtle understanding of social dynamics: even though God's law provided for gleaning, she recognized that personal kindness and permission were still crucial, especially as a foreigner. This shows her humility and awareness that favor, not just entitlement, would be needed to survive.
Having just arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth, the Moabite widow, proposes a plan to support herself and her mother-in-law Naomi, who is in dire straits. Ruth insists on going into the fields to gather leftover grain, a practice permitted for the poor and foreigners, but she humbly asks to do so "in whose sight I shall find favor," acknowledging it as a kindness rather than a right. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and perhaps touched by Ruth's initiative and humility, agrees.
Ruth faced a stark reality: poverty and hunger. Instead of despair, she proposed a plan that required grit and grace. What can we learn from her willingness to do 'lesser' work?
Ruth's proposal to glean isn't just about gathering food; it's a powerful statement of her character.
Willingness to Work
Ruth didn't wait for Naomi to assign her tasks. She initiated the plan, showing incredible initiative and a desire to contribute.
No Shame in Honest Labor
Gleaning involved picking up leftover grain dropped by reapers. This was humble work, often seen as beneath those who had once known comfort. Yet, Ruth embraced it without shame, recognizing that honest labor, no matter how small, is dignified. It's a far cry from 'the bread of idleness.'
Dependence, Not Demand
She asked to glean 'after him in whose sight I shall find favor.' This wasn't demanding a right, but humbly seeking permission and kindness. She understood that even a legal right could be denied or grudgingly given, and she preferred to rely on grace.
The Law of Moses made provisions for the poor and the stranger. So why did Ruth feel the need to ask permission? Explore the tension between entitlement and humility.
The Mosaic Law included specific provisions for the vulnerable:
A Legal Right to Glean
Laws like Leviticus 19:9 and Deuteronomy 24:19 explicitly instructed landowners not to harvest to the very edge of their fields and to leave fallen grain for the poor and the stranger. This wasn't just charity; it was a divinely ordained system of social support.
Understand the original words
laqat · Hebrew Verb
To gather leftover crops from a field after the main harvest. This was a God-ordained provision for the poor, the sojourner, and the widow, as commanded in the Mosaic Law.
chen · Hebrew Noun
An expression of gracious kindness, goodwill, or acceptance shown by one person toward another. In a theological sense, it is often linked to the unmerited extension of compassion or benevolence.
Ruth's request to glean highlights ancient Israelite laws and customs designed to care for the vulnerable, like widows and foreigners. Her humility and willingness to engage in this humble work, even if not legally obligated as a foreigner, reveal her character and set the stage for divine providence.
c. 13th-11th century BC
Period of the Judges
The book of Ruth is set during the turbulent era of the Judges, a period marked by moral and political instability in Israel, where 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes.' This backdrop highlights the precariousness of life and the importance of loyalty and divine provision.
c. 11th century BC
Famine in Bethlehem
A severe famine strikes the land of Judah, prompting Elimelech and Naomi to leave Bethlehem for the foreign land of Moab. This scarcity directly leads to their displacement and sets the stage for the events of the book.
c. 11th century BC
Death of Elimelech and Sons
While in Moab, Elimelech dies, followed by the deaths of his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, who had married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. This leaves Naomi widowed and with two daughters-in-law.
c. 11th century BC
Naomi's Return to Bethlehem
Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, her ancestral home, urging her daughters-in-law to return to their own families. Orpah complies, but Ruth famously pledges her loyalty to Naomi and the God of Israel.
This passage establishes the ancient Israelite law allowing the poor and foreigners to glean in fields, directly paralleling Ruth's humble request and action.
Deuteronomy 24:19This reiterates the commandment to leave gleanings for the poor and the sojourner, underscoring the legal and social context of Ruth's provision for herself and Naomi.
Matthew 13:30Jesus uses a parable about allowing wheat and weeds to grow together until the harvest, touching on the idea of separate gathering and judgment, which resonates with the practice of gleaning after the main harvest.
1 Corinthians 10:31Paul's exhortation to do everything for God's glory finds expression in Ruth's diligent and humble pursuit of provision, turning a potentially demeaning task into an act of faithfulness.
Philippians 2:3Ruth's willingness to stoop to the humbling work of gleaning, seeking favor rather than asserting rights, perfectly illustrates the attitude of humility and considering others better than oneself.
clarkeRuth 2:2: "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."
Glean ears of corn - The word glean comes from the French glaner, to gather ears or grains of corn. This was formerly a general custom in England and Ireland; the poor went into the fields and collected the straggling ears of corn after the reapers; and it was long supposed that this was their right, and that…
pooleRuth 2:2: "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."
Gleaning was permitted to the poor and the stranger, Deu 24:19 , both which she was; nor was she ashamed to confess her poverty, nor would she eat the bread of idleness; whereby she showeth herself to be a prudent, and diligent, and virtuous woman, as she is called, Ruth 3:11 . In whose sight I shall find grac…
Ruth's request to glean "after him in whose sight I shall find favor" reveals a subtle understanding of social dynamics: even though God's law provided for gleaning, she recognized that personal kindness and permission were still crucial, especially as a foreigner. This shows her humility and awareness that favor, not just entitlement, would be needed to survive.
Having just arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth, the Moabite widow, proposes a plan to support herself and her mother-in-law Naomi, who is in dire straits. Ruth insists on going into the fields to gather leftover grain, a practice permitted for the poor and foreigners, but she humbly asks to do so "in whose sight I shall find favor," acknowledging it as a kindness rather than a right. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and perhaps touched by Ruth's initiative and humility, agrees.
Having just arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth, the Moabite widow, proposes a plan to support herself and her mother-in-law Naomi, who is in dire straits. Ruth insists on going into the fields to gather leftover grain, a practice permitted for the poor and foreigners, but she humbly asks to do so "in whose sight I shall find favor," acknowledging it as a kindness rather than a right. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and perhaps touched by Ruth's initiative and humility, agrees.
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While the commentary suggests Ruth may have been ignorant of this law, it's more likely, given her situation and relationship with Naomi, that she knew but chose humility. As a Moabite stranger, she might have feared her right would be challenged or grudgingly given. Therefore, she sought favor, making her request personal and her gain a gesture of kindness, not a legal claim.
Naomi's Gracious Approval
Naomi's simple 'Go, my daughter' is more than just permission. It’s an acknowledgment of Ruth’s character, her difficult circumstances, and perhaps a quiet trust in God's unfolding plan.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Ruth Gleans in Boaz's Field
Upon arriving in Bethlehem during the barley harvest, Ruth, a foreigner and a widow, proposes to go to the fields to glean leftover grain. She seeks permission from Naomi and humbly asks to glean after a kind landowner, eventually finding favor with Boaz.
c. 11th century BC
The Barley Harvest
The story unfolds during the barley harvest, a time of significant agricultural activity and provision in ancient Israel. This season is crucial as it provides the means for Ruth and Naomi's immediate sustenance through gleaning.
"And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”" — Ruth's request to glean "after him in whose sight I shall find favor" reveals a subtle understanding of social dynamics: even though God's law provided for gleaning, she recognized that personal kind…
