Encyclopaedia Judaica. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! 16:1; 20:2728; i Chron. Only one. Then you bravely came to a place where you did not know anyone. Then Boaz made a beautiful picture with his words: May the God of Israel reward you. All rights reserved. Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by drfuss, Dec 5, 2006. As we reflect on the compassion of Boaz for Ruth, certainly it was stirred by many factors. Due to the laws, the were technical already married before the public wedding celebration. I love what l read it had convinced me that though the wives of Boaz were not mentioned it was mentionedhis women.Ruth was not referred to as the first wife. 14:5051); from i Chronicles 8:33 it would appear that A, JONATHAN (Clicking on a category will display all of the posts it, in a continuous scroll with the most recent at the top.). [16] Boaz was especially friendly toward the poor stranger during the meal, when he indicated to her by various symbolic courtesies that she would become the ancestress of the Davidic royal house, including the Messiah (Ruth R. to ii. Was it against the Mosaic Law for Boaz to marry Ruth, according to Deuteronomy 23:3? Boaz was descended from Nahshon, the son of Amminadab (Ruth 4:2022; i Chron. The story of Ruth is a tender one. Be blessed. The poetry absolutely stands out there. [16], The Talmud tells that Boaz was a just, pious, and learned judge. What did it mean to spread the corner of your garment over someone? How did the shepherds know where to find babyJesus? Dr. Christopher R. Smith is an an ordained minister, a writer, and a biblical scholar. R. xiii. Perhaps you were brought here by a search engine or by a link to one of the posts. Boaz was born to Rahab. Encyclopedia.com. He would not have made love with her until they were officially and publicly married, with no obstacles in the way. It is normal to cold feet before wedding? Why did the first kinsman redeemer in Ruth refuse to marry her. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Why are the pyramids of Giza never mentioned in theBible? ." The son of Salmon and his wife Rahab, Boaz was a wealthy landowner of Bethlehem in Judea, and relative of Elimelech, Naomi's late husband. But others are of the opinion that David's flight into Moab (I Sam. The book of Ruth identifies Boaz of a man of godly character and so he would not have taken advantage of her. Is There a Question That God Cannot Answer? xi. As a foreign woman from a cursed nation, Ruth could have easily been rejected or mistreated. Why does Ruth speak in poetry when she pledges loyalty toNaomi? In my post I suggest that this was possible, but that since the Bible doesnt say anything either way, we dont know for sure. xxiii. To whom was Boaz paying when buying Naomi's land? Why didn't Boaz acquire Naomi in Ruth 4:9? The women living there said, Naomi has a son! And they named him Obed [meaning one who serves]. (Parenthetically, I would speculate further that because Ruth and Boazs marriage was based on self-denying sacrifice and compassion, they may well have grown into a deep, strong love for one another, despite the difference in their ages. *Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, came to glean in his fields, and Boaz expressed his appreciation for her kindness and devotion to the widowed Naomi. How was Jesus from the line of King David if his real father was not Joseph? WebThat is, Boazs former wife leaves the arena at just the time that Ruth enters it. Boaz explains to her that he cant say whether or not he can marry her until he finds out from the closer relative, who has to be given the opportunity first, whether that man is willing and able to marry Ruth. Sarna, Nahum "Boaz Ultimately the Lord put the compassion for Ruth in the heart of Boaz. Buber, xvi. Ruth is the only mentioned wife of Boaz. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Ill answer your question about Ruths poetic promise to Naomi in my next post. So the commandment in the law of Moses for a close relative to marry a widow, even if he was already married himself, was a compassionate provision for her needs and those of her current and future children and dependents. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. You can also read or download the study guides in my Understanding the Books of the Bible series by using the Free Study Guides link at the top of this page. The other family guardian is initially willing to make this sacrifice. Actually, the phrase man of standing (ish gibbor, in Boazs case intensified with the synonym chayil), didnt so much indicate a formal position as someone who was outstanding in some way, most often in battle as a warrior, but in this case as an exemplary and influential community member. Buber, 55, Dr. Christopher R. Smith is an an ordained minister, a writer, and a biblical scholar. Does Ruth marry Boaz? Here goes: 1) Having translated the book of Ruth, Im curious about the poetic lines that Ruth recites to Naomi when she makes her pledge in chapter 2. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? Boaz was 80 years old and Ruth 40 when they married (Ruth R. 6:2), and although he died the day after the wedding (Mid. How many The story of Gods faithfulness to my late wife and me during the 4 1/2 years when she battled ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease) with unfailing faith, joy, and courage. 93b; Num. At least in this case, having more than one wife was instituted by God through the law. His army routed, Gideon 12:8) who lost his sixty children during his lifetime (bb 91a). Why was only Miriam punished with leprosy when she and Aaron rebelled against Moses? What are your thoughts about this? ), youngest son of Jesse of the Ephrathite family that lived in Beth-Lehem in Judah (i Sam. You may want to look for further items of interest by using the resources below: the search bar; the lists of posts; and the list of categories. Ruth, Zuta 4:13), their union was blessed with a child, Obed, David's grandfather. At the beginning of Saul's reign, during, David HE WAS A KING LIKE HIS FATHER DAVID, RIGHT? It does not say the brother could not have other wives; He was probably already married. WebWho did Ruth marry after Boaz? Their son was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. Is the house of David good, and how is Jesus a part ofit. I should stick to what the Bible says not to what other people may say. "There is a son born to Naomi"? What we do know about Boaz, as were told when we first meet him, is that hes a man of standing, prosperous and influential. Israel was not settled in Rahabs time and was still lead by Joshua for many more years after the defeat of Jericho. In response, Boaz invites her to eat with him and his workers, as well as deliberately leaving grain for her to claim while keeping a protective eye on her.[10]. What does it mean to wait on your Encyclopedia.com. In response, Boaz invites her to eat wit ), wife of Heber the Kenite. @curiousdannii I did not perceive that the OP was claiming Ruth was 'property'. Knowing that his own Canaanite mother had been saved by the Lord and joined to the covenant people of God, surely this family history moved Boaz to compassion when he saw this immigrant lady before him and contemplated marrying her. In this culture women married when they were in their mid teens. The Jewish Encyclopedia. For, since Manoah was at that time without children, Boaz thought that he need not consider on such occasions a childless man who could not pay him back in kind (B. [citation needed] The term was often used with a pejorative connotation by adherents of Socialist Zionism, who were strongly opposed to "the boazim" and counterposed to them the collective Kibbutz and cooperative Moshav forms of agricultural settlement. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/boaz, ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Boaz The latter Why are physically impossible and logically impossible concepts considered separate in terms of probability? How many wives did Boaz have in the bible? The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Abner Why didn't God give Esau back the blessing that Jacob stole? Is the Bibles perspective on same-sex relationships outdated? (SeeMatthew 1:5) In another incredible story of redemption, Rahab the prostitute was granted faith in the Lord and was spared in the destruction of Jericho. So more children would have been desirable to care for Ruth, as well, as she got older. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/boaz, Sarna, Nahum "Boaz 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and dont rebuke her. 17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? Did Ruth & Boaz have other children beside Obed? (February 22, 2023). 3) is a circumstance that lends historical plausibility to the Moabitic origin of Ruth (so Kuenen, "Historisch-Critisch Onderzoek," etc., i., 36. g.; Nowack, "Ruth," p. 184. I believe youre suggesting that its likely Boaz would have already been married in this culture, since he was so much older than Ruth. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. [9] When he perceived Ruth's pure and holy intentions he not only did not reprove her for her unusual behavior, he blessed her and gave her six measures of barley, indicating thereby that six pious men should spring from her, who would be gifted by God with six excellences (cf. While its possible that Boaz did have another wife (in this culture, this wouldnt have kept him from marrying Ruth), it doesnt say anywhere in the book that he did, so we shouldnt assume this. Today you are witnesses!. Why was only Miriam punished with leprosy when she and Aaron rebelled against Moses? As a foreign woman from a cursed nation, Ruth could have easily been rejected or mistreated. As toward Ruth, Boaz had also been kind toward his kinsmen, Naomi's sons, on hearing of their death, taking care that they had an honorable burial (Ruth R. to ii. While its possible that Boaz did have another wife (in this culture, this wouldnt have kept him from marrying Ruth), it doesnt say anywhere in the book that he did, so we shouldnt assume this. If success makes us feel that God loves us, does that mean God does not love those whofail? Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Buber, 55, below). Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? He was a consulting editor to the International Bible Society (now Biblica) for The Books of the Bible, an edition of the New International Version (NIV) that presents the biblical books according to their natural literary outlines, without chapters and verses. 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. Boaz (/boz/; Hebrew: Baz; Hebrew pronunciation:[boaz]) is a biblical figure appearing in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible and in the genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament and also the name of a pillar in the portico of the historic Temple in Jerusalem. ib.). The hope is that, as the law intends, a, This explains why Boaz is the right husband for Ruth. Web6. "Boaz". Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 91a). How can believers in Jesus do even greater things than hedid? Jael slew *Sisera in the war of *Deborah and *Barak against the Canaanites (Judg. The numbers 80 and 40 in rabbinic tradition may have some symbolic significance. He was active in parish and student ministry for twenty-five years. Although Boaz was the prince of the people, he himself supervised the threshing of the grain in his barn, in order to circumvent any immorality or theft, both of which were rife in his days (Tan., Behar, ed. I think Boaz had other wives, but it was not necessary to mention them. This brevity may, however, strangely accentuate the lessons from their love for today for marriage, yes, but all the more for the pursuit of marriage in dating. The word is found 24 times in the Scriptures, two being in Greek (in the form " (Booz)"). Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/boaz. rev2023.3.3.43278. Why did God give David all of Sauls wives? What impact do exceptions to consent have on the health care industry. But my guess is that they would at least have tried to have more children, because Obed became, in effect, Naomis son and kinsman-redeemer. (Part 1). Sarah - (Genesis 17:15-16)Abraham's wife Ruth - (Ruth 4:13)gave birth to King David's grandfather, Obed. In marrying Ruth, Boaz revives Elimelech's lineage, and the patrimony is secured to Naomi's family. He had a vision that Ruth would be the ancestress of David (Shab. [8], In the Talmud, some rabbis identify Boaz with the judge Ibzan of Bethlehem. [16] This, as well as her grace and her chaste conduct during work, induced Boaz to inquire about the stranger, although he was not in the habit of inquiring after women (Ruth Rabba to ii. WebElimelechs wife, the beautiful Naomi, was left a widow without children. He has a B.A. Used with permission. Naomi was a young woman in the time of the Judges. It was not necessary to mention the other wives because Ruth was the only wife in the lineage of David. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ruths appeal to him to redeem her and Naomi out of their poverty and familial loss, at the sacrifice of pursuing younger men, touched his heart as well (Ruth 3:10). 9, iv. Can archive.org's Wayback Machine ignore some query terms? Isaiah 11:2; Sanhedrin 93b; Numbers Rabba xiii. (LogOut/ This young widow came with her likewise widowed mother-in-law Naomi to Israel and began, through the hard work of gleaning, to provide for them. He was also a consultant to Tyndale House for the Immerse Bible, an edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) that similarly presents the Scriptures in their natural literary forms, without chapters and verses or section headings. Why didn't God give Esau back the blessing that Jacob stole? WebBoaz was eighty and Ruth forty years old ( idem to iii. What are the answers to studies weekly week 26 social studies? How can we prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? All rights reserved. How to tell which packages are held back due to phased updates, Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. [12][13] Its meaning is a subject of controversy. As I explain in my Joshua-Judges-Ruth study guide: To get enough money to live on, Naomi is selling the portion of the fields around Bethlehem that belonged to her late husband Elimelek. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Q. He also appreciated her desire to seek the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12). According to Josephus,[11] he lived at the time of Eli. But it never mentioned if Boaz was married. Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her? 2:1315;, ABSALOM Did Boaz have another wife other than Ruth? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. What evidence is there for the divine inspiration of the NewTestament? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jesse was the son of Ohed, and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. But when he learns he must also marry Ruth and give her children in her late husbands name, he backs out, explaining, I might endanger my own estate. (He cant afford to part with the money for the property and then divide his remaining worth among his current children and those Ruth will have in the future.) took the opportunity to confirm before many witnesses that he was next in line and would take the land and Ruth To get enough money to live on, Naomi is selling the portion of the fields around Bethlehem that belonged to her late husband Elimelek. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. 25) so they could wed and Boaz eagerness to fulfill it not only warms the heart but encourages the soul. Kind of like boats, cars, baseball cards, or other material objects, eh? Boaz was clearly a godly man who knew he was to treat laborers, was the rightful heir. In the series, Testament: The Bible in Animation (1996) he is voiced by Clive Russell. Boaz was especially friendly toward the poor stranger during the meal, when he indicated to her by various symbolic courtesies that she would become the ancestress of the Davidic royal house, including the Messiah (Ruth R. to ii. The Bible doesnt tell us whether they did. Instead, in Gods providence she was led to glean from the fields of Boaz. Dr. Christopher R. Smith, shares his reflections about the Scriptures and answers questions from users of the guides and from others who want to find out more about the Bible. ABSALOM (Heb. Ruth: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament by Daniel Block. You left your father, mother and everything you knew. It is further said that he lost all his sixty children during his lifetime because he did not invite Manoah, Samson's father, to any of the marriage festivities in his house. Matthew 1:56 says, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. The story of Ruth and Boaz offers many wonderful insights for today. Your voice is missing! So the mother of the bride, and the mother of the groom are not contemporaries. 93ab). The tender story of Perhaps you were brought here by a search engine or by a link to one of the posts. he was considerably older than she, the implication being that Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. I think a man could have as many wives as he wanted and could afford. His Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series is keyed to this format. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The requirement in the law is in Duet. She decided to return to her homeland, where her late husband at least owned some land. 23b; Yer. How many wives did Boaz have in the bible? Jane Boleyn was also executed and both were buried in unmarked graves at the Towers parish chapel alongside Catherines cousins, and Janes sister-in-law and husband: Anne and George Boleyn. Who is the son of Ruth and Boaz? The son of Ruth and Boaz was Obed. , , ), third son of *David, born during his reign in Hebron, probably about 1007/06 b.c.e. He then married Ruth (ibid., 2:1112; 3:12; 4:115). However, the date of retrieval is often important. 9:5) and the ceremony of pronouncing benedictions on a bridal couple in the presence of ten men (Ket. take another in addition to her, lest she be a disturbance in my WebSolomon began by being faithful to God (1Kg 3-4), but his many marriages to foreign wives (700 total wives and 300 concubines) led him into worshipping foreign gods and idols, until God pronounced that He would take away the kingdom from Solomons son although, because of His promise to his father David (1Kg 11:1-13), his descendants would retain Encyclopaedia Judaica. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. So the commandment in the law of Moses for a close relative to marry a widow, even if he was already married himself, was a compassionate provision for her needs and those of her current and future children and dependents. For ask a few questions about his or her past. was an inheritance which belonged to her husband and his wife and But in cases that did have to do with inheritance, women in ancient Israel inherited land from the older generation if there were no surviving male heirs. What we do know about Boaz, as were told when we first document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Must women have children in order to be redeemed or absolved from reproach? Why does the Bible prophecy that Jesus will be aNazarene? [9] Boaz fulfilled the promises he had given to Ruth, and when his kinsman (the sources differ as to the precise relationship existing between them) would not marry her because he did not know the halakah which decreed that Moabite women were not excluded from the Israelitic community, Boaz himself married. Per my research, some say they made love. The subsequent appeal by Ruth for him to engage in the kinsman redeemer statutes from the Mosaic law (Lev. S. Yeivin, in: Eretz Israel, 5 (1958), 97104; W. Rudolph, Ruth (19622), 36; J.A. This articleincorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Singer, Isidore; etal., eds. GIDEON (Heb. 7). wife.". The Bible doesnt tell us specifically how old Ruth and Boaz were, but in Old Testament times, women married right around the time they became able to have children, so around 14. Doubling the cube, field extensions and minimal polynoms. Ruth, it appears that he never did get married before and that also Instead, in Gods providence she was led to glean from the fields of Boaz. [6], The son of Salmon[7] and his wife Rahab,[8] Boaz was a wealthy landowner of Bethlehem in Judea, and relative of Elimelech, Naomi's late husband. Regarding 2 Samuel 12:8, please see this post: Why did God give David all of Sauls wives? Ruth 4:9 NIV. ; Ruth R. to iii. Ruths devotion to Naomi as part of his extended family was noticed by him and moved him (Ruth 2:11). (Naomi, an older widow herself, is one of Ruths dependents, and so Ruths proposal to Boaz, as I noted in this post, is also an act of compassion to her.). (LogOut/ This, as well as her grace and her chaste conduct during work, induced Boaz to inquire about the stranger, although he was not in the habit of inquiring after women (Ruth R. to ii. But then later on Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, took upon himself the sin and shame of Judah. Why are the pyramids of Giza never mentioned in the Bible? I suggest in this post that Boaz may have had another wife before Ruth, but if so, her name is not recorded in the Bible. What are your thoughts and fact findings. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Things that Will Keep Me from Coming Back to Your Church, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 10 Things You Should Know about the Intermediate State of Death, 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children Again. ,), eldest son of *Saul, the first king of Israel (i Sam. JONATHAN (Heb. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Ruth is the only mentioned wife of Boaz. Henrys sixth and final wife and his third named Catherine was perhaps his luckiest. Ruth: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament by Daniel Block. The Quest Bible devotional explains: The kinsman of Elimelech, being requested by Boaz to marry Ruth, We could surmise that he wouldnt have achieved this role without being an exemplary husband and father, and that he therefore already had at least one wife when he married Ruth, but as I say in my post, the Bible doesnt say this explicitly and so we cant be certain about it. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Why were some books removed from the Bible and is it a sin to read them? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He had to have been well older than Ruth as many years passed between the time Rahab was a young woman in Jericho, and Naomi a young woman in Israel. 20). The result was just as God had predicted: His wives led him astray. I think this view is based on the fact that Boaz seems to be a wealthy and presumably middle-aged man. Naomi - (Ruth 1:2-4)Ruth's mother- in-law Esther - (Esther 2:15-17)A Jewish orphan who became queen and risked her life for God's people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 5; Talmudic tractate Shabbat 113b). ." One question though did Naomi in fact own any land her husband had owned? Jesus bore that shame as he hung on the cross under a hastily made, mocking sign that read, King of the Jews.. I dont believe Ruth was 40 at that time because the Bible says (in Ruth 4:12) that Ruth was a young woman (surely, not 40). (A-C) Doubleday. Unless that was something specifically for Kings. @NigelJ Well the only reason I can think Ruth would be included in verse 9 is if you thought she should somehow be part of "the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon". Thank you for visiting my blog Good Question. Samuel's father, David,and Solomon. Naomi was not acquired, as it were, because she had already raised up seed to her husband, Elimelech, even though they were deceased, and therefore, Boaz could not, and indeed, did not need to, perform the Levirate vow (Deuteronmy 25:5-10). 14:1). Buber, xvi. A combination of these ideas may also have been in his mind. He was also a consultant to Tyndale House for the Immerse Bible, an edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) that similarly presents the Scriptures in their natural literary forms, without chapters and verses or section headings. When talking about Ruth laying at Boaz feet and him covering her with his robe. 124a). Do you see someone in your congregation that abounds in mercy toward others, far surpassing the efforts of most? 2) I have also heard the theory that Boaz was already married when this story happened, and that he probably took Ruth as a second wife (or perhaps more). . Boaz was clearly a godly man who knew he was to treat laborers, especially poor ones, with kindness (Leviticus 19:9-10). Article Images Copyright , The Hidden Reason Boaz Was Compassionate to Ruth. Im doing a teaching on Ruth and your blog has been quite helpful! If you have a question, please use the link at the top left of this page to reach the comment box. In contemporary Israel, "Boaz" is commonly used as a male first name and carries no special political or social connotations. (LogOut/ We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. And as was the custom in Israel, Boaz takes off his sandal to validate the transaction of his becoming redeemer and says to the witnesses: But it's a grandson -- what's up with that? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. In the early years of Jewish settlement, the term "a boaz" (plural "boazim"), derived from the Biblical character, was used to refer to a rich private farmer or landowner, such as the ones who flourished during the First Aliya. [citation needed]. In the redemption Boaz brought to Ruth and Naomi, we see the merciful and protective love of God revealed in Christ. WebJesse, also spelled Isai, in the Old Testament, the father of King David. , derived from ; "to cast down"), also called Jerubaal (Heb. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 5; Shab. In this blog, the author of the Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series, the Rev. Third, perhaps the man was not as wealthy as Boaz and did not have the ability to buy the land and a spouse as well as take the responsibility of Naomi. how many times greater is 0.0015 then 750.0? In this blog, the author of the Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series, the Rev. Encyclopedia.com. Why are the pyramids of Giza never mentioned in the Bible? But there seems to have been a greater-than-average difference in ages between Boaz and Ruth because he says to her, You have not run after the younger men. He calls this an even greater kindness to Naomi than coming back from Moab with her. B. I don't think it was ever okay for men to have more than one wife - it's just that some men did it. As far as we know from The Bible record yes. Encyclopedia.com. ' I hope this is helpful. 22). View all posts by Christopher R Smith. (Part3). (Naomi, an older widow herself, is one of Ruths dependents, and so Ruths proposal to Boaz, as I noted in, Did Ruth seduce Boaz to get him to marry her?