President Spencer W. Kimball said, “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (“The Abundant Life,” Ensign, July 1978, 4). Look for this idea as you continue reading the story of Ruth.
Understanding the Scriptures
Ruth 2
| Kinsman (vv. 1, 20) | Relative | |
| Glean, gleaned (vv. 2–3, 7–8, 15–19, 23) | Pick up grain left over after the harvest | |
| Reapers (vv. 3–7, 9, 14) | People who harvest crops | |
| Light on (v. 3) | Go to | |
| Kindred (v. 3) | Family | |
| Sheaves (vv. 7, 15) | Stalks and ears of grain | |
| Hence (v. 8) | Here | |
| Abide (v. 8) | Stay | |
| Vessels (v. 9) | Containers | |
| Drawn (v. 9) | Pulled up from a well | |
| Nativity (v. 11) | Birth | |
| Recompense (v. 12) | Reward | |
| Wings (v. 12) | Protection | |
| Hither (v. 14) | Here, to this place | |
| Reached (v. 14) | Gave | |
| Sufficed (vv. 14, 18) | Full | |
| Reproach (v. 15) | Shame | |
| Of purpose (v. 16) | On purpose | |
| Rebuke (v. 16) | Stop or reprimand | |
| Even (v. 17) | Sundown | |
| Beat out (v. 17) | To separate the grain from the chaff | |
| Ephah (v. 17) | A little over a bushel (see Bible Dictionary, “weights and measures,” p. 789) | |
| Reserved (v. 18) | Kept apart from, saved | |
| Wrought, wroughtest (v. 19) | Produced | |
| Near of kin (v. 20) | Closely related |
Ruth 2—“Gleaning” the Fields of Boaz
According to the law of Moses, farmers were not to harvest all their crops, but they were to leave some in the field so that the poor could go through and harvest some food (see Leviticus 19:9–10).
Studying the Scriptures
Do activity A as you study Ruth 2.
What Do You Think?
Explain why you think Boaz was so kind to Ruth.
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