路得记  第三章

1 有一天，拿娥米对路得说：“女儿，我必须替你找个丈夫，好使你有个归宿。

2 记得波阿斯是我们的亲族吗？你曾经跟他的女工一起工作。听我说，今晚他会在禾场上簸麦子。

3 你去洗澡，擦点香水，穿上最好的衣服，然后到禾场去。但是不要让他知道你在那里，要等他吃完了，喝够了。

4 要看准他躺的地方；他睡着了，你就去，掀开被子，躺在他脚边。他会告诉你该做什么。”

5 路得回答：“你说什么，我就做什么。”

6 于是，路得到禾场去，照着她婆婆告诉她的做了。

7 波阿斯吃完了，喝够了，心情愉快，就到麦堆旁躺下睡了。路得悄悄地走了过去，掀开被子，躺在他脚边。

8 到了半夜，波阿斯忽然醒了，转过身来，惊奇地发现有个女人睡在脚边，

9 就问：“你是谁？”她说：“先生，我是路得，你的婢女。你是我的至亲，有义务照顾我。请你娶我！”

10 波阿斯说：“愿上主赐福给你！从前你对婆婆忠诚，现在你对已故丈夫的家族更忠诚。你大可以去找个年轻人，不管他有钱没钱，你却没有这样做。

11 路得，不要担心！无论你要求什么，我都会替你办到；城里的人都知道你是一个贤慧的女子。

12 我确是你的至亲，对你有义务，但是另有一个人比我更亲。

13 今晚你就留在这里，明早，我们看他愿不愿意对你尽至亲的义务。如果他愿意，那很好；如果他不愿意，我对着永生的上主发誓：我一定尽这个义务。现在你只管躺下，留在这里，直到天亮。”

14 路得就躺在他脚边。但天还没亮，人还辨认不出她的时候，她就起来，因为波阿斯不愿意人家知道她来过这里。

15 波阿斯对她说：“脱下你的披肩，铺在这里。”她照着做了。波阿斯倒了差不多二十公斤的大麦在上面，帮她放在肩膀上，她就回城去了。

16 她到家的时候，婆婆问她：“怎么样啦？女儿！”路得就把波阿斯为她所做的一切都告诉婆婆。

17 路得说：“他告诉我，不可空手回到你这里来，所以给了我这么多麦子。”

18 拿娥米对她说：“路得，你不要急，等着看这件事的发展。波阿斯今天不办妥这事是不会休息的。”

讨论问题：

1.     你认为拿俄米教路得找丈夫的建议怎样？

2.     在你的国家里，求婚的惯例是怎样的？

3.     为什么波阿斯对于路得来见他那么高兴？

RUTH, CHAPTER 3

Because Ruth was still a young woman after her husband had died, her mother-in-law, Naomi, wanted to find her a new husband. Noami knew that Boaz was a member of her husband’s family, and that he was a good man. Naomi had a plan for Ruth to marry Boaz. Naomi told her,

3 “Now do as I tell you-- take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you until he has finished his meal. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do."

Boaz would be working at the threshing floor because it was time for the harvest. This would be a good time for Ruth to show her interest in him as a husband. Ruth did as Naomi told her and went to see Boaz. She waited until Boaz, and the other men, were all asleep. She quietly entered and laid down near the feet of Boaz. During the night Boaz felt someone near his feet.

9 "Who are you?" he demanded. "I am your servant Ruth," she replied. "Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer." 10 "The LORD bless you, my daughter!" Boaz exclaimed. "You are showing more family loyalty now than ever by not running after a younger man, whether rich or poor.”

In those days it was proper for a man in the family to marry the widow of his relative. When he married his relative’s widow he would also receive any land or property that had belonged to the relative who had died. However, if the couple married and had a son, the son would be named after the woman’s dead husband. When the son grew to be a man he would take possession of any property and land which had belonged to his “father.” This was a practice to keep alive a man’s name or his family line. Such a person was known in the community as a family redeemer. Boaz would be Ruth’s redeemer. However, there was another man in the family who was closer to Ruth’s dead husband. According to the law, the other man had first rights to marry Ruth. Boaz must talk to his relative and discuss the situation. Boaz said,

12 “But there is one problem. While it is true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, then let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the LORD lives, I will marry you!”

Early in the morning, before the rising of the sun, Boaz sent Ruth back to her home. He gave her a large amount of barley to take to Naomi. Ruth went home and told Naomi all that Boaz had said and done. Boaz went into the village to find his relative and to discuss the issue of Ruth’s future.

QUESTIONS:

1. What do you think about Naomi’s idea for Ruth to find a husband?

2. What are the customs for a marriage proposal in your country?

3. Why was Boaz so happy about Ruth coming to see him?