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Boaz

iainmason

Registered User
BOAZ
(An example Kindness and Rectitude)
Author Unknown: March, 2005;
Published in PILLARS OF LIGHT; UGLNSW & ACT;

He was a rich landowner who noticed Ruth the widowed Moabite daughter in law of Naomi, a relative of his, gleaning grain from his fields. He soon learns of the difficult circumstances her family is in and Ruth's loyalty to Naomi. In response, Boaz invites her to eat with himself and his workers regularly as well as deliberately leaving grain for her to claim while keeping a protective eye on her.

Eventually, Boaz and Ruth strike up a friendship which heads to Ruth asking him to marry her. Boaz accepts, but cautions that there is a family member who has a superior right to her hand in marriage. However, hear ranges a meeting with her relative and convinces him to buy Naomi's husband's land while forfeiting his right to marry Ruth to avoid complicating his inheritance with his existing heirs.

Although Boaz is noted to be much older than Ruth in the Biblical account and she marries him for Naomi's sake, most dramatic adaptations have Boaz as a handsome young man so as to enhance the romantic nature of the story.

The writs state that being a pious man, Boaz on his first meeting with Ruth perceived her conscientiousness in picking up the grain, as she strictly observed the rules prescribed by the Law. 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.

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. As toward Ruth, Boaz had also been kind towards his kinsmen, Naomi's sons, on hearing of their death, taking care that they had an honorable burial.

In the conversations that followed between Boaz and Ruth, the pious proselyte said that, being a Moabite, she was excluded from associating with the community of God. Boaz however, replied that the prohibition in Scripture applied only to the men of Moab, and not to the women. He furthermore told her that he had heard from the Prophets that she was destined to become the ancestress of kings and prophets; and he blessed her with the words: "May God, who rewards the pious, also reward you."

Boaz was also the name of the northern of the two pillars that stood on the eastern porch or entrance before Solomon's Temple, the first temple in Jerusalem. (The name Boas means in Hebrew: 'With courage', and therefore, 'In Strength.'
 
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