In “Why Did Ruth Enter Boaz’s Tent in the Middle of the Night? (Ruth 3),” Mary Willson Hannah tackles some of the difficult questions surrounding Ruth’s venture to Boaz’ threshing floor to propose marriage. We can rest assured that, as types of greater, righteous actors, their actions were culturally and spiritually aboveboard.
Even though Naomi’s plan is fraught with risk, however, it avoids moral and public disgrace. She devises, for example, for Ruth to engage Boaz in intimate, candid dialogue about marriage but without improperly touching him (only his blanket) or initiating open, public discourse with him. Because Naomi is confident in Boaz’s righteous character (cf. Ruth 2:1), her plan, though decidedly risky, is neither reckless nor risqué.
