On the threshing floor, Ruth asks Boaz to redeem her.

Naomi, seeing God's plan, decided to make arrangements for Ruth's future. She told Ruth that Boaz was their close relative, who had the right and responsibility to redeem the property of Elimelek's family and marry Ruth to provide offspring for the deceased husband. Naomi instructed Ruth to bathe, put on perfume, and after Boaz had eaten and lain down, to go quietly to the threshing floor, uncover his feet and lie down there. Ruth completely trusted her mother-in-law's wisdom and did so. At midnight, Boaz woke up and was startled to find someone lying at his feet. Ruth identified herself and asked Boaz to cover her with his garment, meaning to ask him to fulfill the duty of a close relative and redeem her. Boaz was deeply moved and praised Ruth's character, saying she had not sought out young men, whether poor or rich, but had chosen the path of obeying the law. Boaz told Ruth that there was indeed a relative closer than he who had the right of redemption, but he promised that if that person was unwilling to redeem, he would surely do so. Before dawn, Boaz had Ruth leave with six seahs of barley so that no one would know she had come to the threshing floor. Ruth returned to her mother-in-law and told her everything that had happened. Naomi comforted her to wait patiently, for Boaz would certainly take care of the matter that very day.