Ruth 2

I like the glimpse we get in this chapter into life during this era. Ruth heads out to pick what were effectively scraps left behind accidentally while the wheat crop was being harvested. In modern days we would expect someone to just go 'get a job' - but I'm guessing women weren't really allowed to work in shops or other occupations, and doing something in this case was certainly better than begging.

Luckily, or perhaps through God's providence, she ends up working in a field owned by a relative of Naomi's who happens to be present at the field and asks about her. When he finds out who she is he takes measures to ensure she is taken care of without revealing his identity to her - though Naomi fills Ruth in on that point once she returns in the evening.

Boaz, the man in question, allows Ruth to continue working in this fashion throughout the end of the harvest. It sounds like that provides for both women during that season, but I wonder if Naomi also worked in some position in the village. Sometimes I wish the Bible had even more details on things like that.