What condition does Booz put on his promise to take Ruth by the right of kindred?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

He says there is another kinsman nearer than he. If that man takes her in the morning, all is well; if he will not, Booz promises by the living Lord that he will undoubtedly take her.

Chapter breakdown

After Ruth returns, Noemi says she will seek rest for her and provide that it goes well with her. Booz, whose maids Ruth joined in the field, is their near kinsman and winnows barley that night on the threshing floor. Noemi tells Ruth to wash, anoint herself, put on her best garments and go down to the barnfloor, unseen by Booz until he finishes eating and drinking. When he sleeps she is to mark his place, go in, lift the covering toward his feet and lie down there; he will tell her what to do. Ruth promises to do whatever Noemi commands and goes down, doing all she was told.

After eating and drinking, Booz is merry and sleeps by the heap of sheaves. Ruth comes softly, uncovers his feet and lies down. At midnight he is afraid and troubled and sees a woman at his feet. He asks who she is. She identifies herself as Ruth his handmaid and asks him to spread his coverlet over his servant because he is a near kinsman. He blesses her in the Lord, saying her latter kindness exceeds the former because she has not followed young men, poor or rich. Challoner separately explains the latter kindness as seeking to preserve her deceased husband’s name and family by marrying his relation according to the law, rather than following young men. The note says Booz, it seems, was then in years.

Booz tells her not to fear and promises to do whatever she asks, because everyone within his city’s gates knows her as a virtuous woman. He acknowledges his near kinship but says another is nearer. She is to rest that night. In the morning, if the nearer man takes her by right of kindred, all is well; if he will not, Booz will undoubtedly take her, as the Lord lives. He tells her to sleep until morning.

Ruth sleeps at his feet until the night is ending and rises before people can recognize one another. Booz tells her to beware lest anyone know she came there. He asks her to spread her mantle and hold it with both hands; when she does, he measures six measures of barley and lays it upon her. She carries it into the city and comes to Noemi. Asked what she has done, she reports all the man did for her. She shows the six measures and reports his words that he would not have her return empty to her mother-in-law. Noemi tells her to wait until they see the outcome, saying he will not rest until he accomplishes what he said.

The story inside

Noemi’s wish for Ruth’s rest produces detailed instructions for the night when Booz winnows barley. Ruth follows them, lies at his feet and answers his midnight question with a request for the coverlet grounded in kinship. His blessing and the separate note explain latter kindness, with the note qualifying his age. He promises action but names a nearer kinsman and gives two possible morning outcomes. Before recognition is possible Ruth rises; he gives a warning about her visit and six measures of barley. She reports to Noemi, who tells her to wait for the result. The chapter leaves that result pending.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Noemi’s plan has a stated sequence. Washing, anointing and best garments precede the trip; Ruth waits for eating and drinking to finish, marks where he sleeps and lies at his feet. Noemi says he will tell her what to do, and Ruth carries out the instructions.
2
The nearer kinsman qualifies Booz’s commitment. He acknowledges kinship but names someone nearer and distinguishes acceptance from refusal. His oath follows the refusal condition, so the chapter does not deliver an unconditional completed marriage.
3
The actual note preserves a limit. Challoner connects latter kindness with her deceased husband’s name and family and says Booz seems to be in years. The age remains qualified, while the six measures and Noemi’s instruction to wait are the recorded ending.

Test your recall

What instructions bring Ruth to Booz’s feet, how does the nearer kinsman affect his promise, and what does she bring and report to Noemi?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 27948–27974
Ruth Chapter 3 Ruth instructed by her mother in law lieth at Booz’s feet, claiming him for her husband by the law of affinity: she receiveth a good answer, and six measures of barley. 3:1. After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee. 3:2. This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor. 3:3. Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking. 3:4. And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do. 3:5. She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do. 3:6. And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.
Lines 27976–27994
3:7. And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly, and uncovering his feet, laid herself down. 3:8. And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet, 3:9. And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth, thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman. 3:10. And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich. Thy latter kindness, viz.... to thy husband deceased in seeking to keep up his name and family by marrying his relation according to the law, and not following after young men. For Booz, it seems, was then in years.
Lines 27996–28005
3:11. Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman. 3:12. Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I. 3:13. Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.
Lines 28007–28026
3:14. So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither. 3:15. And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it, and went into the city, 3:16. And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 3:17. And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law. 3:18. And Noemi said: Wait, my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.