I mentioned yesterday that Boaz is one of Naomi and Ruth's kinsman-redeemers, and that this sets up the next part of our story, so I should probably begin by explaining what that means. According to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, it designates "a male relative who delivers or rescues; redeems property or person; avenges the murder of a relative as a guiltless executioner; and receives restitution for wrong done to a relative who has since died". The term only appears in the Book of Ruth, but the Hebrew word it is translated from is used around one hundred times in the Old Testament, and is elsewhere rendered more simply as "redeemer" or "near relative", suggesting that the two go hand in hand and it should go without saying that we have a duty of care towards those closest to us.
We can already see how this may relate to the story of Ruth, but as always there is more going on here. God is the father and deliverer of Israel, so a clear parallel may be drawn between divine action and human responsibility. The parallel becomes all the clearer when we remember that Jesus called us brothers and redeemed us with his blood, and that John spoke of walking in the way Christ walked. The idea of playing God has been so capitalised by arguments surrounding reproductive science and capital punishment that it is easy to forget that playing God is exactly what we're supposed to be doing. Of course there are limitations on what we can do, but we are called to follow his example and act towards others as he has acted towards us.
Now that we've got that sorted, we can get back to the story. One day Naomi tells Ruth that she should find a home for her where she will be provided for. Naomi calls Ruth her daughter and so it is natural that she should assume the maternal responsibility of finding her a husband, but it can't be easy for her to let her go. In fact, it seems from the last verse of chapter two that the harvests are now over, and so we may suppose that Naomi has been working herself up to the moment for quite some time. Perhaps she only speaks now because Ruth will no longer be able to gather grain and so they will no longer be able to support themselves.
Naomi again notes that Boaz is their kinsman-redeemer and suggests to Ruth that she put on her best clothes, go to the threshing floor, wait till Boaz goes to sleep, then uncover his feet and lie down. This may seem remarkably forward, but Ruth is doing no more than holding Boaz accountable to his role as kinsman-redeemer and claiming her right to be protected, even if her method of approaching him is rather bold and a little strange. Perhaps it has something to do with putting herself in a vulnerable position in order to demonstrate her need and show that she trusts him.
Ruth clearly does place a great deal in trust both in Boaz and in Naomi, as she goes ahead and does exactly what her mother-in-law has suggested. When Boaz wakes up (perhaps because he has cold toes!) he is understandably a little surprised to find someone at his feet. Ruth tells him who she is and asks him to spread his garment over her, an act which symbolises protection, and would here indicate a promise of marriage.
Boaz's response is quite interesting. First of all he calls Ruth "daughter", recognising that she is approaching him as a relative needing help rather than a lover seeking affection. He then says that "this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier [for] you have not run after the younger men", recognising that Ruth is acting out of her love for Naomi by choosing a husband who will care for them both. It seems that this will be a marriage based on respect and convenience, which may seem distasteful to modern sensibilities, but would have been a good foundation in a culture that was pragmatic rather than romantic.
Ultimately, Boaz reveals that there is another who is a closer relative and must be given the chance to do his duty, but promises that if this relative refuses then he will redeem her. Naomi must surely know about this other relative, and so perhaps she tells Ruth to dress up and approach Boaz in the dead of night because she thinks he will be a better option and so Ruth must win him over in order to convince him to be the one to redeem her. She perhaps underestimated Boaz however, as we have already seen in chapter two that it is Ruth herself and not her finery that impresses Boaz, and here he says that the whole town knows she is a woman of noble character.
Boaz tells Ruth to stay for the rest of the night, perhaps so she does not have to walk home alone in the dark, and so she lies at his feet until morning. She leaves before it is light enough for anyone to recognise her, and Boaz makes sure that no one will know she has been there and tarnish her reputation. He then fills her shawl with barley so that she does not return to Naomi empty-handed, and perhaps as an indication that he hopes to provide for and take care of them. I can imagine Naomi smiling to herself as she tells Ruth to wait and see what happens because she knows that Boaz will not rest until he has settled things.
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