Ruth 2:14-18
Pull Out Some Stalks for Her
Read the passage
14At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here; have some bread and dip it into the vinegar sauce.” So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left over.
15When Ruth got up to glean, Boaz ordered his young men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, do not insult her.
16Rather, pull out for her some stalks from the bundles and leave them for her to gather. Do not rebuke her.”
17So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. And when she beat out what she had gleaned, it was about an ephah of barley.
18She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. And she brought out what she had saved from her meal and gave it to Naomi.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
At mealtime Boaz invites Ruth to sit beside the harvesters. He gives her bread and roasted grain, and she eats until satisfied, with some left over. The woman who came looking for grain is welcomed to a meal as well as to work.
When she returns to gleaning, he tells the young men to let her gather even among the sheaves without insulting her. They are to pull stalks from the bundles and leave them for her. This is deliberate extra provision, not merely grain that happens to be missed.
Ruth works until evening and beats out what she has gathered. It amounts to about an ephah of barley. She carries it into town, where Naomi sees the day's harvest. Then Ruth gives her the food saved from the meal.
The kindness travels beyond the field. Boaz makes room for Ruth to eat and gather abundantly, and Ruth carries both grain and ready food home to Naomi. Her long day of work ends with enough to share. Naomi, who has lost her husband and sons, receives care through the daughter-in-law who stayed with her.
How We Know
Leviticus 19:9–10 requires leaving field edges and gleanings for the poor and the foreigner. Boaz goes further here by telling his workers to pull grain from the bundles for Ruth. He adds to the provision God's law already made for someone in her position.
Questions
1 How does Boaz include Ruth at mealtime?
AnswerHe invites her to sit beside the harvesters and gives her food. She eats enough to be satisfied and has some left over.
2 What extra help does he arrange in the field?
AnswerHe tells the men to allow her among the sheaves and deliberately leave stalks from the bundles for her, without insult or rebuke.
3 What does Ruth bring home to Naomi?
AnswerShe brings about an ephah of barley and the food she saved from her meal, which she gives to Naomi.
4 How can generosity preserve another person’s dignity?
AnswerWe can listen to what is needed, give respectfully, and avoid making gratitude or attention the price of help. Both practical assistance and direct gifts can be offered with care.
What This Means for Us
Boaz's generosity includes how his workers are to treat Ruth, not only how much grain she receives. Help can be spoiled by an insulting word or a demand for appreciation. Give in a way that respects the person receiving it. Ruth also reminds us that someone receiving help may have much love and care to offer another.
Prayer
Father, make our generosity respectful as well as useful. Keep us from seeking praise at another person's expense, and help us share the care and provision we receive. Amen.