Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Reconsidered)
“So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.” Ruth 3:3 JPS
Disclose – Your mother-in-law suggests that you prepare yourself for an evening seduction. She gives you specific instructions that remind you of the kind of preparation women make before marriage. But this is no wedding. She tells you not to make yourself known until after the potential mark is at least slightly inebriated. What kind of mother-in-law is this? And why go through all of this effort with its undercurrent of sexual intimacy when the man she has in mind is the go’el, the kinsman redeemer who by law would come to the rescue. Furthermore, if Ruth is caught, would she not risk serious community reprisal? How are we to explain Naomi’s guidance here?
There is little doubt that Naomi directs Ruth to use her feminine wiles. But the arrangement of the circumstances and the choice of words suggest a lot more than is actually described. First, of course, is the parallel to Ezekiel 16:9-10. The preparations are allusions to the wedding night. Even the rabbis struggled with the implications of sexual impropriety. They interpreted Naomi’s explicit directions as purification rites for Ruth. In their view, Naomi is assisting Ruth in finally putting away all idolatry. But this seems to be quite a stretch given Ruth’s prior declaration, subsequent action and the plain reading of the text.
Next we should consider Naomi’s choice of the word yada’, translated “disclose.” The breadth of this word certainly includes sexual intimacy. Is that what Naomi subtlety implies? The text isn’t clear. The imagery is left up to the reader. It is certainly curious that Naomi explicitly tells Ruth not to reveal herself in public, and not before Boaz’ faculties of discrimination are impaired. It is odd, isn’t it? In this instance, the verb is in the niphal form (for you technical types) and in this form, never refers to carnal knowledge as it would in the qal form, but it is certainly suggestive. All this secrecy opposes traditional disclosure of kinsman-redeemer relationships. One wonders why Naomi thinks it is necessary. Is it possible that Naomi knows there is an intermediate kinsman (as we discover much later) and so sets up circumstances that will ensure Boaz takes the lead role rather than the potential rival? Or is it that the text allows the reader to look into his own heart to see what his imagination adds to the hints?
The story continues with other multi-layered verbs, like shakav (used eight times in this chapter) with considerable overtones of sexual involvement (compare Genesis 19:32-35), and with one derivation shekovet (cf. Leviticus 18:20) where copulation is explicit. Frankly, it’s hard to read this story without questioning the underlying motivations of Naomi and the subsequent actions of Ruth. But there is a lot at stake for these women. Life and death, more or less. Without some male to care for them, it seems as though they are certainly doomed to abject poverty and potential starvation. What would you do to prevent such tragedy? You might think you are above the tactics of Naomi. But you aren’t starving yet, are you?
The bottom line is the surprising connection between the actions of these women and the sovereignty of God. The text never actually says what happened on the threshing floor, but it certainly reminds us that God can use just about anything for His purposes. David, Israel’s greatest king and the progenitor of the line of the Messiah, is ultimately born from what started in a night in the garden of good and evil. Do you think that God can produce a wonder from your own shadowy garden?
Topical Index: disclose, yada’, lie down, shakav, Ruth 3:3, Genesis 19:32-35, Leviticus 18:20, sex
Ummmm
What is the rite of marriage for? Is it more to sanctify the ‘purity’ of a union between a man and a woman, or is it more to make it harder for the marriage to be abrogated or cheated on later? Ultimately, is it just as much about the families as it is about the couple? What does the Scripture say? Does it prescribe marriage ritual?
I’m just musing, but Adam and Eve had none. They got declared as man and woman before God, and that was it. Was it because neither of them had a family? Isaac and Rebekah’s ‘ritual’ apparently consisted of him taking her to his mom’s place.
And what kind of marriage ceremony was Ruth going to get? Where was her family to host it?
Finally, on the other hand, marriage is assumed to be the case in scripture if a man and woman ‘know’ each other already. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be reasonable to consider that what is good for the goose, legally speaking, might also be considered, as good for the gander?
Down here in Georgia, anyway, these questions are not out of the question. Common-law marriage is still legal here. These questions still come up.
What is considered “marriage” before God? That may be the only question that needs to be considered?
Still thinking, but I have always taken Naomi’s action as the ultimate vote of confidence in Boaz’s character. Sure, it would give him a chance to sneak a good one, but, if she already knew him to be as honorable as he did prove himself to be, then I think he would have taken it as approval and blessing from her.
This…”Do you think that God can produce a wonder from your own shadowy garden?” ….is an amazing question!
We are not given the entire, exact story with Ruth, Naomi and Boaz but enough to certainly get our minds working. I think this has a lot to do with honor and humbleness. I would have loved to met all three of these people and to know them. Boaz seems to be an incredibly kind, honorable man and Ruth seems to be the same and yet what Naomi encourages seems pretty down and dirty. Let him be drunk and then have sex with him and he will do the right thing by you. Pretty big gamble by the worlds standards I think. But we see God’s hand as we read. Hindsight is great!
Anyways, God did make something tremendous from this. Using ordinary people who used pretty basic human nature to accomplish His works! WOW
Yes, my garden is filled with shadows mainly in my past. I don’t know what all God is going to do with me yet but what He has done so far leaves me speechless. I was absolutely nothing and filled with myself and the world at one time. He has called to me and raised me up from the muck to experience His love and to become His servant. The things I had to walk thru were pretty base and nothing I am proud of.
The things I have had to walk thru in the near past have been difficult BUT a difference……I know my Father and He knows me. I know that the trials are to make me a better person more fit to be salt and light. I do not blame God for my difficulties any more but love Him and depend on Him to see me thru all things. I see myself getting stronger because of Him.
Wonder how Ruth felt after that night in the garden of good and evil? If Boaz continued to be as he is portrayed, she must have been truly grateful for what she was given. Naomi too as she was cared for as well. Truly amazing story and one of my favorites. God’s hand is seen so clearly as I read the story. I can see His hand almost that clearly in my own life as I reread that story!
There’s also the story of Judah and Tamar. Another gentile woman who took the matter into her own hands and received the blessing of twins.
Ruth knows that she has every right to a redeemer and her dead husband has every right to a seed.
The thing I love about these stories is the chutzpah of these most deserving but rejected gentiles to grasp the tzitzit of their redeemers and lay claim what is rightfully theirs according to the Torah. 😀
Thank’s for an awesome topic of study this morning, Skip! I had never really thought deeply on this story in the Scriptures before. However, I did think that Boaz was a very honourable man and Ruth, a woman who “did not go after young men” (Ruth 3:10)
When the barley and wheat harvest were ended (Ruth 2:23), Naomi most likely decided that she would not let this opportunity at finding a husband for Ruth pass by. (Ruth 1:9, 3:1-2) And, being a little selfish, by finding Ruth a husband from her kinsmen redeemers, (Ruth 2:20, 3:2, 3:9) Naomi would benefit as well in having her land restored (Ruth 4:3)
In the bigger picture, we see YAH bringing about His plans for His Son, Yahshua, who was to come to this sin-filled world as the Redeemer of all men. Despite Naomi taking matters into her own hands much like Rebekah did with Yaaqob, we see the heavenly Father still accomplishing His will in both circumstances. And perhaps there is another picture here that bears looking at, Ruth, and then David’s wife, Bathsheba were Gentiles and in taking humanity, Yahshua also took the lineage of these women, giving us Gentiles the surety of a Redeemer as well. Halleluyah!!
Another note, in this story of Ruth and Naomi, as well as Adam and Hawwah, Abraham and Sarah, Yitshaq and Ribqah, and with digging I am sure that we can come up with other, the women are the ones who decide to take matters into their own hands rather than waiting upon YAH. Hmmm…
Shalom
Skip said: “Do you think that God can produce a wonder from your own shadowy garden?’ .
I’m sure counting on it!
What a topic! One that is close to my heart, and to those who are digging into YHWH’s Word.
Pretty unthinkable, in those days of purity, comparatively, for Noami to instruct Ruth for such a redeeming mission for both Boaz and Ruth, that Ruth should lay at Boaz’s feet! That is provocative. I wonder how Boaz felt then?! Poor guy! Did he think Ruth was trying to trap him? He must already have some feelings for her, seeing her diligence in faithfully caring for her mother-in-law in working in the fields gleaning, and was pleasantly surprised to find Ruth at his feet.
His actions revealed he was responsible, and caring, sending her away before daybreak.
Even in my days of growing up and dating (not that long ago 😉 ), first dates were never on my own. Nor were we allowed to stay out over night. That would be outrageous! But Ruth and Boaz were grown ups, both were simple, trusting folks.
Noami was a tremendous matchmaker, under YHWH’s prompting for sure. A beautiful love story similar to Book of Ester/Hadassah.
The similarity between these two love stories is that ABBA’s the One orchestrating behind the scenes among simple trusting folks. I love it!
On Ruth’s part, she would be aware of what Naomi had in mind, was she in shock, or had she complete trust in Naomi to obey her?
Such midrash is invigorating and enriching. Toda Skip.
Thanks for your comments. However, I read the text as if Naomi is more manipulative than matchmaking. After all, she knew Boaz was a near kinsman long before she set up Ruth for a potentially disastrous encounter. And “covering the feet” isn’t quite the same as passive submission. I think we tend to read this story as if Naomi is a good-hearted mother-in-law, but I think the text suggests (although it does not say) that she is far more concerned for herself than for Ruth.