3. Ruth the Gleaner (2:1–23)
3. Ruth the Gleaner (2:1–23)
This chapter gives us a glimpse of the life of the poor in ancient Palestine. There were not many ways of making a living open to widows but one such was provided by the custom of gleaning. It was laid down in the law that at harvest-time a man must not reap his land to the very border, nor should he pick up what was left after the reapers went through (Lev. 19:9; 23:22). Indeed, if he forgot a sheaf and left it in the field he was forbidden to go back for it (Deut. 24:19). In such ways as these a certain provision was made for the poor. They could go through the fields after the reapers and glean what they could. Similar provision was made concerning grape harvest (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 24:21) and olive harvest (Deut. 24:20), but these do not concern us here. Ruth and Naomi were obviously very poor, and it was well for them that they arrived in their new home at the beginning of harvest. It enabled them to get some food immediately.