And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
When he lies down to sleep, notice where he rests. Then go quietly, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do next.
Naomi is giving Ruth specific instructions for approaching Boaz in a culturally appropriate way to request his protection and provision as their family redeemer.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the Judges in ancient Israel, Ruth, a Moabite widow, was following her mother-in-law Naomi's guidance to secure her future in Bethlehem. This involved ancient customs of redemption, where a close relative like Boaz could act as a kinsman-redeemer to provide for widows through marriage or inheritance. In this specific verse, Naomi instructs Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor at night, uncovering his feet and lying down as a symbolic way to propose and invoke his duty under these traditions.
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