Judges, Ruth: Revised Edition (The NIV Application Commentary)

by K. Lawson Younger

In his seven statements Boaz is granting her more than the ordinary rights of gleanage.32 Ruth must be careful not to inadvertently glean in some other field adjoining Boaz’s property. She is to glean in that portion of the field normally off limits to poor gleaners. In order to help ensure this, Boaz instructs her to stick close to his young women workers, and he instructs his workers not to interfere with (lit., touch) her. Finally, if she is thirsty, she can drink from the more immediately available water jars rather than seek refreshment elsewhere and lose time in gleaning. Normally in the ancient Near East, foreigners would draw water for Israelites, and women would draw it for men. Thus Boaz’s provision is extraordinary.33 Verse 10 records Ruth’s reaction and reply. Overwhelmed by Boaz’s unexpected protection and generosity, she falls to the ground. This gesture consists of dropping to the knees and touching the forehead to the ground. As Gruber has shown, this nonverbal gesture is often used as a posture expressing gratitude.34 Ruth asks why she has found such favor with him that he has paid any attention (lehakkireni) to her—a foreign woman (nokriyah).35 There is a play on words between the two opposing meanings of lhkyr (to recognize, pay attention to) and nkryh (foreign woman).36 This wordplay heightens Ruth’s surprise reaction to Boaz’s graciousness: “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreign woman!?” (nokriyah often has negative conn...