Ruth 3

¹ Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of?

² Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

³ Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

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

⁵ So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.”

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 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do.

⁷ After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came 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 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family 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 he said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor.

¹¹ Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

¹² Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am.

¹³ Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, I will. Now lie down 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 got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

¹⁵ And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town.

¹⁶ She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?”Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.

¹⁷ She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

¹⁸ Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this 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.