How Boaz Redeemed Naomi's Field and Ruth From the Torah

"And his redeemer shall come" (Leviticus 25:25): Who was this? It was Boaz. When? At the time when Naomi sold the field, as it is said, "The parcel of land which belonged to our kinsman Elimelech, Naomi is selling" (Ruth 4:3). Thus, "and he sells some of his property." Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai said: Elimelech, Salmon, and "So-and-so" (Peloni Almoni), and Naomi's father, were all sons of Nahshon ben Amminadab. Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion were the providers of the generation. And for what reason were they punished? Because they went out from the land of Israel to outside the land, as it is said, "And the whole city was stirred over them, and they said, 'Is this Naomi?'" (Ruth 1:19). What is the meaning of "Is this Naomi?" Did you see Naomi, who went out from the land of Israel to outside the land — what has befallen her? "And his redeemer shall come" — this is Boaz, as it is said, "The man is near of kin to us, he is one of our redeemers" (Ruth 2:20). At that hour Ruth went to Boaz. Her mother-in-law said to her, "Behold, he is winnowing the threshing floor of barley tonight" (Ruth 3:2). He was a prince, yet he was winnowing on the threshing floor; but it was because his generation was breached in sexual immorality and in robbery, and he went out to guard his threshing floor. She said to her, "And you shall wash and anoint yourself" (Ruth 3:3), and afterward, "and go down to the threshing floor" (ibid.) — "and I shall go down" is what is written. She said to her: My merit shall go down with you. She did not do as her mother-in-law told her. What did Ruth do? After she went down to the threshing floor, she did so, as it is said, "And she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her" (Ruth 3:6). Why? Rather, she said: The generation is breached in sexual immorality — perhaps they will see me adorned and say, "Perhaps she is a harlot." "And Boaz ate and drank and his heart was merry" (Ruth 3:7). What is "and his heart was merry"? That he occupied himself with Torah, as it is said, "Come, eat of my bread" (Proverbs 9:5). "And he came to lie down at the end of the heap, and she came in stealth" (Ruth 3:7). What is "in stealth" (ba-lat)? In secret, as you say, "Behold, it is wrapped (lutah) in a cloth" (1 Samuel 21:10). "And it came to pass at midnight that the man was startled and turned (va-yilafet)" (Ruth 3:8). What is "va-yilafet"? That he seized the head, for he thought it was a spirit, as you say, "And Samson grasped (va-yilpot) the two middle pillars" (Judges 16:29). "And he said, Who are you? And she said, I am Ruth your handmaid" (Ruth 3:9). He said to her: What have you come to do here? She said to him: To fulfill the Torah — "When your brother becomes poor… and his redeemer shall come" — arise and fulfill the Torah. He said to her: Since you have come to fulfill the Torah, "Stay the night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem you, good (tov)" (Ruth 3:13) — for he had another kinsman, greater than he, whose name was Tov. Rabbi Hanina said: She said to him: Are you putting me off with words? He said to her: "As the Lord lives" (ibid.) — I am not putting you off with words. "And Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there" (Ruth 4:1). He said to him: Sit, and let us look into the Torah: what is "When your brother becomes poor"? Boaz said to Tov: "The parcel of land which belonged to our kinsman Elimelech, Naomi is selling" (Ruth 4:3), "and I said I would disclose it to you, saying, Buy it" (Ruth 4:4), for you are greater than I in the right of redemption; "if you will redeem, redeem" (ibid.). "And the redeemer said to Boaz, Redeem it for yourself" (Ruth 4:6). At that hour Boaz redeemed what Naomi had sold. And from where did Boaz learn it? From this section: "When your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property" (Leviticus 25:25).