Ruth 2:8

6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman ^awho came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.

9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”

10 So she ^afell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found ^bfavor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, ^aall that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.

12 ^aThe Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, ^bunder whose wings you have come for refuge.”

13 Then she said, ^a“Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken¹ kindly to your maidservant, ^bthough I am not like one of your maidservants.”

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and ^awas satisfied, and kept some back.

15 And when she rose up to¹ glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not² reproach her.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Ruth 2:8 Mean?

Ruth 2:8-9

When we remember that Boaz is clearly a type of Christ and Ruth symbolizes the Christian who is being redeemed, Boaz' instructions take on a heightened meaning. His immediate concern is for Ruth's safety and health. Notice, too, that when he speaks to her, he does not mention her foreignness but calls her "my daughter." He was most likely older than she was, but what is striking is that his first words to her are familial, as if he had already accepted her. She was not a stranger and a foreigner to him but part of the community and maybe even part of his extended family.

His speech is essentially five consecutive commands. As a type of Christ, Boaz is lord and master of his domain, in complete control of the situation. He knows what she should do and gives her clear instructions about it. Though he has already determined to provide for her—which he does lavishly throughout the rest of the book—he gives her some ground rules to guide her gleaning.

First, he tells her to listen, to pay attention, to heed his instruction. If she wishes to place herself under his care, she must abide by his rules. He does not say this because he is a tyrant but because it is for her good to do as he says. As the master of the harvest, he knows the situation and how she could be most successful. As Jesus would say, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 11:15).

Second, he forbids her to glean anywhere else, "but stay close by my young women." This is the equivalent of Christ telling us, "Do not gather spiritual food from any other source." His field is sufficient to supply her with all she needs to be filled, and the implication is that gleaning in other fields would not be safe. In fellowship with his other servants, she would be safe and satisfied with food.

Third, he tells her to keep her eyes on his field and his servants. A person's eyes show where he is focused, and Boaz does not want her to stray off his land. He does not want her to think that the gleaning was better elsewhere because, frankly, he knows it is not. He also desires that she follow the example of his servants, as they could give her help in doing her work.

Fourth, he assures her that his young men will not touch her. Boaz' servants are under strict orders to be kind and proper toward those under his care. They are not to take advantage of her in any way or to treat her harshly. The "young men" are equivalent to the ministry of God's church, who are commanded to "tend His sheep" in love (John 21:15-17).

Finally, he instructs Ruth to drink only what the young men have drawn from the well. Boaz knows that his water is clean and safe and that going to draw water from another well could put her in a dangerous situation. Water, as we know, is a type of God's Spirit, and here, it represents teaching inspired by God's Spirit—what is offered through His true servants. Clearly, God is very concerned about what we consume spiritually, and so Jesus tells us in John 4:14, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

In Boaz' instructions to Ruth, we see the concern of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, for His people. He wants us to follow these instructions because they will keep us from harm, they will keep us nourished and satisfied, and they will keep us in the right environment so that we will grow and have a successful harvest. God gives us only good and wise advice, so if he tells us to stay in His church, listen to His ministers, and fellowship among His servants so that we will endure through the harvest, we would do well to heed Him.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Christ as Provider

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What Does Ruth 2:8 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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