Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 18

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ÁRDÍ S
beautiful Ruth, inquired of his servants who she was. They told
him that she was the woman that had come with Naomi from
Moab. He at once offered her his protection and asked her not to
glean from any field except his own. He also ordered his men not
to touch her, and invited her to drink of the water which they
had drawn. He showed his admiration for her in many ways; such
as instructing his helpers to pull stalks from their bundles and
leave them for her to make her work easier, and invited her to
come and eat bread and dip her morsel in wine. In short, used
the age old tactics of honorable men to show their preference for
the woman of their choice.
To understand the rest of the story, it is necessary for us to
know an old Hebrew custom. The winnowing of the grain is the
end of the harvest. That evening there is always a big celebration,
and after the celebration, everyone lies down on the threshing floor,
under a cloak and sleeps until dawn. This night only, the women
of Israel can choose the man they want to marry. The old law
says that if a woman lies under the cloak of a man that night, he
must buy her as his wife.
Naomi wanted to repay Ruth for all the goodness she had
shown her. She was aware of the fact that an old kinsman could
according to law, marry the widow Ruth. She also knew, that Boaz
had a great admiration for the lovely Ruth, so on the night of the
winnowing, she advised Ruth to dress herself in her finest, and to
go, when Boaz was asleep and lie down under his cloak. Naomi
was not afraid of leaving the matter in the hands of Boaz for she
knew him to be a God fearing man, also a man of intelligence and
high morals. Ruth was at first not willing to consent to the scheme,
but knowing her mother-in-law would not advise her to do any-
thing which was not proper, consented to do this. Boaz, discovering
her under his cloak did the honorable thing, and according to cus-
tom, sent word to Naomi that he accepted the legal protection of
her daughter-in-law.
Boaz then summoned the kinsman, and he, not caring to redeem
Elimelech’s portion of the land, which was necessary to ensure the
continuation of family life, the preservation of property, and the
welfare of widows, waived his legal rights to the young widow.
Boaz then went to the Gates of the city before the elders, and