Ruth carried out Naomi's instructions exactly, further demonstrating her loyal love to her mother-in-law, and encouraged Boaz to pursue the possibility of marriage (vv. 6-9).
"Note that the threshingfloor was a public place and that these incidents all took place in the open. Both men and women were lying about the threshingfloor. Entire families were gathered there. There was not much privacy connected with such circumstances, but it was the custom of the day and was not considered immodest or even questionable. This was a happy family gathering in the spirit of a religious festival. . . .
"Instead of bringing him before the public eye and forcing him to perform the part of a goel[kinsman redeemer], she was giving him the opportunity of rejecting or accepting the office of goelquietly."56
Evidently Ruth assumed or at least hoped that Boaz was the closest living single male relative of her husband Mahlon (cf. 4:10). As such he would have been able to marry her if he desired to do so.
The Old Testament nowhere lists marriage as a duty of a kinsman redeemer. Therefore Ruth's request seems to go beyond Boaz's obligations in that role. However there are indications that the duties of the goelwent beyond what the law stipulated, namely the redemption of property and enslaved relatives.
"The word's metaphorical usage suggests that he also may have assisted a clan member in a lawsuit (Job 19:25; Ps. 119:154; Prov. 23:11; Jer. 50:34; Lam. 3:58). Further, if one assumes that the picture of Yahweh as go'elreflects Israelite legal customs, the go'elalso was an advocate who stood up for vulnerable family members and who took responsibility for unfortunate relatives.57In sum, it seems likely that the duty of go'el was a broad one--indeed, far broader than the redemption acts taught in Lev. 25 and those typical of the levirate. Evidently it aimed to aid clan members, both the living who were perceived to be weak and vulnerable and the dead. Indeed, it may be particularly significant for the book of Ruth that two of the duties concern actions on behalf of the dead (Num. 5:8; 35:12, 19-27; etc.)."58
The Hebrew words translated "spread your covering over your maid"(v. 9) are an idiom referring to marrying (cf. v. 10; Deut. 22:30; 27:20; Ezek. 16:8; Mal. 2:16).
Why did Boaz not initiate a proposal of marriage? Evidently for two reasons: he assumed Ruth wanted to marry a younger man, someone closer to her own age (v. 10), and he was not the closest eligible male relative (v. 12).
The blessing motif surfaces again as Boaz wished God's blessing on Ruth for her kindness to him (v. 10). Evidently her first kindness was her willingness to stay near Boaz by serving as his maidservant and by gleaning in his fields. Her last kindness was her willingness to marry him and thereby provide Naomi with an heir even though Boaz was an older man. She assumed this familial obligation to Naomi of her own free will.
"Kindness"is loyal love (Heb. hesed, v. 10). This motif also appears again here. Previously Naomi had prayed that God would deal kindly with her daughters-in-law as they had dealt with her (1:8). Then she had prayed that Boaz would experience Yahweh's blessing for his loyal love to Naomi, Ruth, and their husbands (2:20). Now Boaz acknowledged that Ruth had been God's channel of blessing to him for her loyal love to him.
Boaz's description of Ruth as a woman of "excellence"(NASB) or "noble character"(NIV, Heb. hayil) is interesting because a similar Hebrew word, gibbor, describes Boaz in 2:1. Hayilmeans a person of wealth, character, virtue, attainment, and comprehensive excellence. As such Ruth was worthy to be the wife of Boaz. They were two of a kind. The word hayilalso describes the ideal woman in Proverbs 31:10 (cf. Prov. 12:4; 19:14).
Boaz promised to marry Ruth if the nearer kinsman chose not to exercise his right to do so (v. 13).59
"Not to carry through his commitment after invoking the Lord's name would have been a violation of the third commandment (Exod 20:7)."60
What the nearer kinsman's decision involved becomes clear later in the story (4:3-5). Even though Boaz wanted to marry Ruth he did not violate the Mosaic Law to do so. His submission to God's law reflects his submission to God. We see here another reason he was an excellent man (2:1).
