How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
At midnight [Boaz] was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin." (NRSV 3:8-9)
At midnight, [Boaz] was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. (KJV 3:8-9)
Wait a second. Which is she—servant or family? We're guessing that since she's a woman, it just might be a little bit of both. And maybe that family connection is what allows Ruth to be so bold here. She knows she can be all like "yoo-hoo, lemme get some of that cloak action," because he's family and can't just kick her out onto the mean streets of Bethlehem.
Quote #5
[Ruth] came to her mother-in-law, who said, "How did things go with you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" (NRSV 3:16-17)
[Ruth] came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. (KJV 3:16-17)
The Book of Ruth is full of all kinds of familial wisdom, like this little gem: never—and we mean never—go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed. That's a surefire way to get on her bad side for the rest of your relationship. And when you're a biblical lady like Ruth, that relationship is for life. Here again, Naomi refers to Ruth as her daughter, showing the close-knit family bond between the women.
Quote #6
[Boaz] then said to the next-of-kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it." (NRSV 4:3-6)
[Boaz] said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. (KJV 4:3-6)
Okay, so this family tree is getting a little bit too weird for the other kinsman, and we can't really blame him for finding an out. He'd like the land, but not the lady who goes with it (poor Ruth). He has his own family to watch out for, and having kids with Ruth that belong to a dead man would split up his fortune even more. Plus, think of the awkward family dinners. Luckily, this swift rejection works out quite nicely for Ruth, who's had her hooks into Boaz all along.