1:22 They returned in the beginning of barley harvest. Barley was the harvest of Passover time. No better time for Ruth to be brought to Bethlehem than at the Passover time which speaks to us of our redemption in Christ. Christ is our Passover. 1 Cor. 1:7b This was the first Feast of their religious year. It was a time of new beginnings. Real life begins with Christ, the Passover in our hearts.
Ruth 2:1 A kinsman, a close relative of Naomi’s husband. Boaz, son of strength, of enduring vigor. Boaz was accounted to be a man of considerable consequences in the community. A man of great wealth. The RV translates him to be a valiant hero. The reasons for his esteem in Bethlehem become self evident as we view the rest of the story. Boaz is a beautiful type of Christ. Our redeemer and kinsman, who daily loads us with benefits, from his riches in glory.
2:2 Ruth requested of Naomi that she be permitted to go into the fields and glean after the reapers. The law required that the corners of the fields be left unharvested nor were they to glean their fields. Lev.19:9 This was for the poor in Israel, who were permitted to obtain food in this fashion. This would also indicate that Naomi and Ruth were among the poor of the country.
2:3 The leading of the Lord is always perfect. It could not have been circumstantial that she found herself gleaning in the field of Boaz. She had come to Israel to find love and shelter. It had been a great step of faith. Now the blessing of the Lord is about to be made manifest to her. While her words of commitment were made to Naomi, the Lord was not unaware of the desire of Ruth.
2:4 Boaz came to his field to view the labors of his work men. His Spirituality is noted by his greeting to the harvesters; The Lord be with you. These were not casual nor formal words of greeting but the expression of a heart that loved the Lord. Their response to him was of the same caliber.
2:5 Who is this young woman? Ruth was still in her youth. A stranger, foreigner not yet one who fit into the community. But that is all about to change. She has attracted the attention of Boaz. He is going to make her accepted. He will completely alter her future for her. How Christ like!.
Ruth 2:6–7 Identified as the Moabite, not exactly the kind of an introduction that one would want. Her association with Naomi made her accepted. Note that the foreman said she came out of Moab. She had forsaken her country and religion to come to Bethlehem. She had politely requested to glean behind the reapers. Her industrious nature is noted she had continued working from morning until that very moment. She had spent very little time in the shelter, perhaps in contrast to the reapers involved in the harvest.