If we were to judge by words alone, Ruth's eventual husband Boaz
3. BOAZ: KINDNESS If we were to judge by words alone, Ruth's eventual husband Boaz might appear to be the main character in the book of Ruth. Boaz actually speaks more "lines" – a total of more words – than either Naomi or her daughter-in-law Ruth, but we are only introduced to him in the second chapter of the book when we are told: "Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz" (Ruth 2:1).
This short "résumé" tells us three things. First, that Boaz was "a man of standing." The Hebrew phrase (gibbor chayil) can mean "a mighty man" in military contexts, but outside of such settings it usually means "a great man" in the sense of "a man of position and wealth" – as when the expression is used of the father of King Saul in 1 Samuel 9:1.
Second, the description tells us that Boaz was a close relative of Naomi – of the same clan as her husband and thus able to act as a "kinsman-redeemer" for her family. His position and wealth would help him to fulfill this function.
Finally, we are told that his name was Boaz, meaning "strength is within him" – the same name, with the same significance, given to one of the huge pillars later built at the entrance to the Temple of Solomon – although the strength we see in Boaz in this story is the quiet strength of character found in this successful older man (Ruth 3:10). According to Matthew 1:5 Boaz was the son of Rahab who helped the Israelites conquer Jericho (Joshua 2:1-21), but this family relationship is perhaps not a direct one as Matthew may skip a couple of generations here as he appears to do in other parts of his genealogy (Matthew 1:8, 11). Yet whether directly or indirectly, Boaz was at least partially of foreign background.
Given his actions in our story, it is not surprising that Jewish tradition states that Boaz was a just and upright judge in the period
described in the biblical book of Judges. But the most notable characteristic of Boaz displayed in the book of Ruth is his kindness. The first words spoken by Boaz in the story are when he asks the overseer of his harvesters, "Who does that young woman belong to?" (Ruth 2:5). This is not an attitude of "Whose property is this woman?" but one of enquiring who was responsible for her safety, as he did not recognize her – it was an attitude of kind concern.
When he is told who Ruth is, Boaz says to her: … My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me … I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled. (Ruth 2:8-9). The kindness here is a double one. Boaz not only tells her she can freely take of the water his men have, but also and more importantly, he puts her mind at rest by letting her know she will be protected in his fields (as is also stressed in Ruth 2:22).
At the meal time, Boaz invites Ruth to eat with his men and tells her she may glean among the sheaves (rather than just following behind the harvesters). Even more, he tells his men to leave part of their harvest for Ruth to pick up, so that she is able to gather "an ephah" of barley – between 30 and 40 pounds – which would be a huge amount for the two women, giving them ample to eat and some left over to trade for other needs (Ruth 2:17).
In all of this, the kindness of Boaz is apparent. Small wonder that when Ruth tells Naomi what happened that day she exclaims: "The Lord bless him … He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead" (Ruth 2:20). This is an interesting statement as it does not just say that Boaz had acted kindly, but that he continued to act in a kindly manner that was evidently characteristic of him.
Another aspect of Boaz's inherent kindness is that he comments on the kindly acts of others. It is often said that "the kind notice the
kindness of others," and this was certainly true of Boaz. Among his first words to Ruth we find him saying "… I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband … May the Lord repay you for what you have done…" (Ruth 2:11-12). Later, when Ruth lies down at his feet on the threshing floor he tells her: "The Lord bless you, my daughter … This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor" (Ruth 3:10). We will return to the matter of kindness in this story in Part Two of this book, but a great deal of the theme of kindness in the book of Ruth can be said to revolve around Boaz.
The most significant act of kindness on the part of Boaz is seen in the final section of the book. When Boaz agreed to act as kinsmanredeemer for the family of Naomi, he did so at considerable personal expense. It was not uncommon for widows in ancient Israel to have to sell ancestral property in order to survive, so when Boaz tells Naomi's nearest male relative that her land is available for purchase, the relative immediately agrees to buy it for himself (Ruth 4:4), thinking that because Naomi was childless the property would permanently become his. It is only when Boaz tells the relative that in purchasing the land he must also marry Ruth and provide a child for her (Ruth 4:5) that the man changes his mind immediately.
This is because according to biblical law, a son of that marriage would be legally assigned to Naomi and when that child of Ruth's came of age, the property would revert to him. This meant that the relative would not only have to pay for the land and eventually lose it, but he would also have to shoulder the expense of raising a child who would not continue the relative's family line and name. That is why the relative turns down the opportunity, saying: "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate" (Ruth 4:6). Boaz then agrees to purchase the land and to marry Ruth – gladly, as we know – but we should not forget the personal cost this incurred for him.
While the relative selfishly declined to help Ruth, ironically it is his name (which is not mentioned in the book) that has not survived, and the name of Boaz, who made the financial sacrifice, that has survived. The name of Boaz lives, in fact, largely because of his kindness. It is because of his kindness that he becomes part of the blessing eventually bestowed on the two leading women of this story. He fulfills both of their hopes – by becoming a kinsmanredeemer to Naomi, and a husband to Ruth.
In many ways Boaz – the "just judge" who acted kindly and who humbly thanked Ruth for choosing him – exemplified the ideal later stated in the book of Micah that calls on those who love and fear God "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8 ESV).
PART TWO:
THE STORY