The Threshing Floor Incident

Scene 1:
Naomi evaluates the meeting in the field; Boaz is one of their “family guardians” (2:17b-23).

The following are the legal duties the Law of Moses prescribes for the family guardian/redeemer/goel. These are duties the family guardian is legally obligated to perform.

1. If a Jew, living in the theocracy that is Israel, was wronged and restitution was legally due, but the person wronged was dead, the goel would receive the payment on the victim's behalf. (Num.5:5-8)

2. To act as, literally “blood-redeemer.” The goel was to avenge the killing of a clan relative. (Num. 35:12, 19-27; Deut. 19:6, 12)

3. To redeem impoverished clan members who were forced to sell themselves into slavery to a non-Israelite (Lev. 25:47-55).

4. The redemption of land, i.e., the responsibility to purchase family property that, because of poverty, must be or has been sold outside the family (Lev. 25:24-34).

Scene 2: Naomi sends Ruth to Boaz on the threshing floor (3:1-18)

a) Naomi reveals her plan for a home and husband for Ruth (3:1-5).

b) Ruth carries out Naomi's plan and Boaz offers to be the redeemer (3:6-15).

c) Naomi evaluates the encounter: Boaz will act (3:16-18).