"Gleaning among the Ears": "Gathering among the Sheaves": Characterizing the Image of the Supervising Boy (Ruth 2)

Ruth in Recent Research

“…Another indicator of potential violence is the supervisor in Ruth 2, according to Fewell and Gunn (1990: 40-44). Grossman proposes that the supervisor purposefully recrafts Ruth’s words from verse 2 in order to place her in an undesirable light (2007). For example, Grossman proposes, ‘The various differences between the boy’s description and Ruth’s words are all related to the supervising boy’s feeling that Ruth gathered grain excessively…and that she must be carefully watched because she gathers too much grain’ (2007: 710).…”

“…Grossman proposes that the supervisor purposefully recrafts Ruth’s words from verse 2 in order to place her in an undesirable light (2007). For example, Grossman proposes, ‘The various differences between the boy’s description and Ruth’s words are all related to the supervising boy’s feeling that Ruth gathered grain excessively…and that she must be carefully watched because she gathers too much grain’ (2007: 710). In a similar vein, Koosed writes, ‘The supervisor is certainly not very nice’ and gives a ‘negative and even deceptive portrayal of Ruth’ (2011: 75).…”