Ruth 3

¹ One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?

² Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

³ Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

⁴ When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

⁵ “I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered.

Note · Ruth 3.1–5

Le projet de Naomi cherche un avenir au-delà de la récolte

Le repos qu’elle souhaite reprend celui demandé pour ses belles-filles au chapitre 1. La toilette, les vêtements et le déplacement à l’aire préparent une rencontre qui expose Ruth. Le récit ne fournit pas un conseil universel de séduction : une coutume ancienne ne doit pas être transformée en obligation de se mettre en danger pour obtenir protection ou mariage.

⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

⁷ After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

⁸ At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!

⁹ “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

Note · Ruth 3.6–9

Ruth ne demande pas seulement qu’on lui dise quoi faire

Lorsque Boaz se réveille, elle donne son nom puis demande l’extension de son aile, en invoquant sa responsabilité de parent. La scène porte une proximité et une tension réelles ; elle ne décrit pas explicitement une relation sexuelle. Une note ne doit ni affirmer un rapport qui n’est pas raconté ni prétendre dissiper toutes les ambiguïtés du langage. La demande engage l’union et la protection.

¹⁰ Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

¹¹ And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.

¹² Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.

¹³ Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

Note · Ruth 3.10–13

La reconnaissance de Ruth accompagne une limite à respecter

Boaz loue sa fidélité et reconnaît publiquement connue la valeur de sa conduite. Il accepte d’agir, mais rappelle le droit d’un parent plus proche. Il n’est pas présenté comme le frère du mari défunt : le rachat familial et le souci de maintenir un nom se rejoignent ici sans reproduire simplement, à l’identique, le lévirat de Deutéronome 25.5-10.

¹⁴ So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her. Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

¹⁵ And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured in six measures of barley and placed it on her. Then he went into the city.

¹⁶ When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.

¹⁷ And she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

¹⁸ “Wait, my daughter,” said Naomi, “until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today.”

Note · Ruth 3.14–18

L’attente est soutenue par un engagement et un don

Ruth repart avec de l’orge et raconte l’événement à Naomi. Ne pas rentrer à vide fait contraste avec les mains vides du premier chapitre. La discrétion du départ ne prouve pas qu’un acte sexuel aurait eu lieu ; elle montre aussi l’enjeu social d’une présence nocturne. Naomi peut maintenant attendre une démarche précise, et non seulement espérer une faveur indéfinie.