Discovery BoxRuth 1:22 
Context1:22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. 1 (Now they 2 arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) 3
Ruth 2:2
Context2:2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go 4 to the fields so I can gather 5 grain behind whoever permits me to do so.” 6 Naomi 7 replied, “You may go, my daughter.”
Ruth 3:16
Context3:16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.
When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi 8 asked, 9 “How did things turn out for you, 10 my daughter?” Ruth 11 told her about all the man had done for her. 12
Ruth 3:18
Context3:18 Then Naomi 13 said, “Stay put, 14 my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today.”
Ruth 4:15
Context4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, 15 for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She 16 is better to you than seven sons!”
1 tn Heb “and Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, the one who returned from the region of Moab.”
sn This summarizing statement provides closure to the first part of the story. By highlighting Ruth’s willingness to return with Naomi, it also contrasts sharply with Naomi’s remark about being empty-handed.
2 tn The pronoun appears to be third person masculine plural in form, but it is probably an archaic third person dual form (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 94).
3 tn This statement, introduced with a disjunctive structure (vav [ו] + subject + verb) provides closure for the previous scene, while at the same time making a transition to the next scene, which takes place in the barley field. The reference to the harvest also reminds the reader that God has been merciful to his people by replacing the famine with fertility. In the flow of the narrative the question is now, “Will he do the same for Naomi and Ruth?”
sn The barley harvest began in late March. See O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 91.
4 tn The cohortative here (“Let me go”) expresses Ruth’s request. Note Naomi’s response, in which she gives Ruth permission to go to the field.
5 tn Following the preceding cohortative, the cohortative with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result.
6 tn Heb “anyone in whose eyes I may find favor” (ASV, NIV similar). The expression אֶמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינָיו (’emtsa’-khen bÿ’enayv, “to find favor in the eyes of [someone]”) appears in Ruth 2:2, 10, 13. It is most often used when a subordinate or servant requests permission for something from a superior (BDB 336 s.v. חֵן). Ruth will play the role of the subordinate servant, seeking permission from a landowner, who then could show benevolence by granting her request to glean in his field behind the harvest workers.
7 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Heb “said.” Since what follows is a question, the present translation uses “asked” here.
10 tn Heb “Who are you?” In this context Naomi is clearly not asking for Ruth’s identity. Here the question has the semantic force “Are you his wife?” See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 223-24, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 184-85.
11 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 sn All that the man had done. This would have included his promise to marry her and his gift of barley.
13 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn Heb “sit”; KJV “Sit still”; NAB “Wait here”; NLT “Just be patient.”
15 tn Heb “and he will become for you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age” (NASB similar).
16 tn Heb “who, she”; KJV “which is better to thee.”
